Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Wincanton, Leicester, Market Rasen, and Chelmsford City on 05 December 2024.
WINCANTON
Race 2 No14 STAR WALKING (Nap)
Trainer: Harry Fry – Jockey: Bryan Carver
Locally based Fry likes to run his best novices here, and I have a strong hunch that STAR WALKING is one of them. The Jukebox Jury mare delivered on her only run in a point in Ireland before sneaking home on her Rules debut in a Fakenham bumper. Her good run against Railway Bell on jumps debut at Uttoxeter last month also saw her strongly supported, and she has the wherewithal to go one better against Betty’s Tiara and Lady D’Arbanville.
Race 3 No1 KEABLE (Each Way)
Trainer: Philip Hobbs – Jockey: Callum Pritchard
KEABLE has endured training issues over the past two years which accounts for his relative inexperience on the race course. This is just a seventh start for the selection, but he should have come forward for his first run back at Lingfield.
Race 5 No3 FLOWING CADENZA
Trainer: Venetia Williams – Jockey: Ned Fox
A chance is taken that FLOWING CADENZA will be ready to fire following a 635-day absence from the racecourse. The mare is certainly in the right hands to strip near full fitness for this handicap chase that remembers Gold Cup winner Silver Buck.
LEICESTER
Race 1 No8 SOLE SOLUTION
Trainer: Venetia Williams – Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
SOLE SOLUTION created a favourable impression when easily winning on both bumper starts in the 2022/23 season only to go into an enforced spell on the injury list. The chestnut was understandably rusty for his first run in almost two years in a novice hurdle at Bangor, but can step up from that to get into the shake-up.
Race 7 No3 PASSING KATE
Trainer: Matt Sheppard – Jockey: Stan Sheppard
PASSNG KATE rarely failed to trouble the judge last season and notched a first of two handicap hurdle successes at this venue 12 months ago. She needed her first run back in that campaign, but should be closer to full fitness this time, and should again make the podium.
MARKET RASEN
Race 3 No1 IT’S HARD TO KNOW (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Ben Jones
IT’S HARD TO KNOW smoothly landed his only run in a point before moving to Pauling’s Naunton base from Ireland. He made a good impression when scoring on Rules debut at Lingfield, looking good value for the 7lb penalty he has to carry as he attempts to remain unbeaten.
Race 5 No3 KELCE
Trainer: Neil Mulholland – Jockey: Conor O’Farrell
This looks a good opportunity for KELCE to make all the running. His forcing tactics have carried him to near misses on both starts this season at Uttoxeter and Hexham and this is only a third run over fences for the six-year-old, whose luck can change.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 2 No8 PLAGE DE HAVRE
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Jason Watson
Runners from this stable in the Suhail colours are worth a second look, and I shall be surprised if PLAGE DE HAVRE doesn’t provide us with a pleasant place to go in wagering terms. The selection was making his AW debut when just held at Wolverhampton and is going to be suited by a slightly longer trip in his match up with previous winners By The Book and Jolly Jack Tar.
Race 9 No6 ELTERWATER (Nap)
Trainer: Daniel Kubler – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
ELTERWATER opened her account over this course and distance last month on a first visit to the Essex venue. She achieved that following a light campaign in which she earned on both her other starts. She has a reasonable draw, and probably only needs to run to a similar level in order to follow-up.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 3-9)
5, 10 x 9, 3 x 3, 6, 7 x 9, 5 x 12, 10 x 4, 3 x 6, 2 192
