Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Lingfield Park, Southwell and Wolverhampton on 21 January 2023.
HAYDOCK
Race 3 Sky Bet Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
No1 CHASING FIRE
Trainer: Olly Murphy – Jockey: Aidan Coleman
This always has a beating on the long-distance novice hurdle at Cheltenham and CHASING FIRE can extend his unbeaten record to five. His owners put a lot of money into National Hunt and are overdue a good horse, while this fellow has totally dominated in his two races over jumps. This will tell,us how good he is, and I fancy him to stave off the challenges of Doyen Star and Toothless.
Race 4 New One Unibet Hurdle ( Grade 2)
No6 EPATANTE
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Aidan Coleman
EPATANTE has spent most of her time chasing the shadow of stablemate Constitution Hill, but should pick up a major prize in her own right without him to worry about in this Champion Hurdle trial. It’s her first run outside Grade 1 company in well over three years, and the mare can outclass her rivals.
Race 5 Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (Grade 2)
No1 BRISTOL DE MAI (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
BRISTOL DE MAI has been the king of long-distance chases at this course with three successes in the Betfair Chase as well as a second in that contest. He ran well in the Grand National Trial here last February and can step up on his fourth in last November’s Betfair to gain a first success in well over two years. He’s been in great form at home.
Race 7 No7 GARDENER (Each Way)
Trainer: Alex Hales – Jockey: Kielan Woods
GARDENER makes his entrance to the handicap hurdle stage off the back of a plucky Leicester success. He has scope to make the improvement necessary to take the spoils in this wickedly competitive race.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 2 No2 POCKET THE PACKET (Nap)
Trainer: George Boughey – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Moore is an eye-catching booking for POCKET THE PACKET who is well drawn and absolutely hacked up here last week. The chestnut is the winner of five of his last eight outings, and even though this race is tougher, he is strongly advised as the horse to beat.
Race 3 No2 BEAU GESTE (Each Way)
Trainer: Tony Carroll – Jockey: Molly Gunn
The admirably consistent BEAU GESTE put in another earning run when returning to sand here earlier in the week when unconsidered in the betting market. It raises hoped that he can break a long losing run going back to the summer of 2021, and one thing for certain for that run is he will have benefitted from it.
Race 5 No11 MISS BELLA BRAND (Each Way)
Trainer: Ilka Gansera-leveque – Jockey: George Wood
Respect is afforded to recent scorer Poetic Force, but narrowly preferred is MISS BELLA BRAND, whose incredible earning run stretched itself to a sequence eleven from her last 12 starts in which she has stayed away from Lingfield. The Poet’s Voice mare won here last Match, and following a narrow defeat at Kempton last week can bring her A-game to the table.
Race 6 No3 AL AGAILA
Trainer: Simon Crisford – Jockey: James Doyle
This is a fascinating distaffers’ race in which memories of AL AGAILA hardly coming off the bridle to score on her handicap debut over course and distance last month resonate. The daughter of Lope De Vega surely has more to offer, and although this race has strength in depth she looks the answer.
Race 8 No3 MILLTOWN STAR (Each Way)
Trainer: Jamie Osborne – Jockey: Shane Kelly
MILLTOWN STAR did is a good turn when delivering as a 16-1 roughie at Southwell earlier in the month. That followed a more than three-month break, and the six-year-old is rekindling the ability shown in his early career for a stable that’s amongst the winners.
SOUTHWELL
Race 2 No6 ANIF
Trainer: Michael Herrington – Jockey: Tom Eaves
ANIF looks like a winner waiting to happen after posting a couple of good efforts in defeat this month. He wasn’t beaten far here last time after an eye taking first run of the year at Newcastle and has a better chance than his price indicates.
Race 5 No5 MMS RAMOTSWEE (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Charles Bishop
BungleInthejungle filly MMS RAMOTSWEE has shown promise in her work and should not be underestimated on debut for her rookie trainer for whom she is only a second career runner.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 2 No3 PROSPERING (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: Ross Coakley
A step up the distance ladder can do no harm to the prospects of PROPERING, who was gaining on the horse that beat him at the end of his latest start at Chelmsford. The son of Profitable had been heavily supported, and now gets the chance to recoup losses as he holds plenty of the key cards to this.
Race 3 No3 ROWDOWN ROSA (Each Way)
Trainer: Mark Usher – Jockey: Mark Winn
Tennessee Dream seeks a quick-fire hat-trick but has been done no favours with an outer draw, which draws my eye to TOWDOWN ROSA as one to oppose her with. The latter looked at the end of 2022 to be nearing a breakthrough and overdue first career triumph. She never attracts interest in the betting, so don’t be surprised if she’s unwanted in the market as it doesn’t mean she’s not fancied.
Race 7 No4 JENNY REN (Each Way)
Trainer: Sarah Hollinshead – Jockey: Gina Mangan
JENNY REN left her best work for the finish when second to Gentle Fire over course and distance on her first outing of 2023. Both her career successes happened at Dunstall Park, and in the last two years she’s only made one appearance from 14 on a different all-weather track. That latest evidence suggests she’s on the cusp of a return to the winner’s circle.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 2-8)
3 x 3, 1 x 10, 4, 6 x 7, 6 x 8, 4, 10 x 4, 2, 6 x 2, 4
R216
