Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing coming your way from Lingfield Park and Newcastle on 21 January 2023.
Check out Neil's videp preview for Sunday's racing at Lingfield below:
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 1 No9 MR MACKAY (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
MR MACKAY looks a good starting point on an outstanding nine-race card as he brings rock-solid form to the table. The first of a handful of strong fancies from his stable, he will be hard to beat if reproducing his earning run behind Fiercely Proud at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. Only up the final hill was he found wanting against classy opposition, and he’s been in very good form at home subsequently.
Race 4 No3 IDALKO BIHOUE
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
The same trainer-jockey combo can strike with IDALKO BIHOUE, who,is the least experienced in this field but has the best form. That happene£ when he finished a distant third to Hermes Allen in Newbury’s Challow Hurdle, a run that followed an impressive first success under Rules by the winning Irish pointer at Worcester. It remains to be seen how strong his trainer’s band of novices are this season, but he is undoubtedly one of them.
Race 6 No4 PLAYFUL SAINT
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
PLAYFUL SAINT had an impossible task against Love Envoi at Sandown, but after vainly chasing that rival gained compensation with a resounding 12 lengths triumph at Leicester. The lightly-raced eight-year-old is up against several strongly fancied rivals but can follow up at the main expense of Galice Macalo and Jungle Jack.
Race 7 No1 POPPA POUTINE (Each Way)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
While it’s hard to call POPPA POUTINE a well-handicapped horse, the gelding keeps taking away cheques in valuable handicap chases, and is worth another chance on the back of a good run at Cheltenham where he jumped well and plugged away up the hill to again trouble the judge. He has the look of a Grand National horse, and can demonstrate that by foiling Shanty Alley.
Race 8 No1 GOSHEN
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: Jamie Moore
Jamie Moore understandably has a soft spot for GOSHEN, who though far better operating right-handed has to be of major interest in a class drop at his local course. While getting the trip in the three-mile Long Walk Hurdle, connections have erred on the side of caution on whether he could win a Grade 1 over that trip, and will look after today to run him in Grade 1s and 2s with Wincanton’s Kingwell Hurdle a race that springs to mind. In the meantime he can see off First Street in this conditions race.
Race 9 No4 SHAKEM UP’ARRY (Each Way)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Kielan Woods
I hope SHAKEM UP’ARRY will prove a bet worth waiting for in the nightcap, which could have a bearing on prices for the Grand Annual Challenge Cup at the Festival. The charismatic gelding jumped like a dream only to weaken after the final fence at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and I could see him operating equally as well here. Should that happen he can prevent the penalised Haddex Des Obeaux from completing a hat-trick.
NEWCASTLE
Race 4 No8 COUP DE GOLD (Each Way)
Trainer: David Thompson – Jockey: David Allan
The diminutive COUP DE GOLD finished just out of the money when returned to the all-weather at Southwell, and can earn at a big price if building on that here.
Race 6 No3 WALKING ON CLOUDS (Nap)
Trainer: Grant Tuer – Jockey: Oliver Stammers
WALKING ON CLOUDS steps back to sprinting after getting caught late over seven furlongs at Southwell. A winner of his previous two outings over six, he can return to winning ways as the best bet on a card overshadowed by Lingfield.
