Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Tuesday 6 February 2024

MARKET RASEN

Race 3 No1 GREATNESS AWAITS (Each Way)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Beau Morgan

GREATNESS AWAITS hasn’t quite lived up to his name since joining Pauling but it’s possible he needed his first race of the year which followed a four-month absence. The top weight meets a possible blot on the handicap in Plumpton scorer Good Lord, but is the type that could cash in should the odds-on favourite fail to show up.

Race 4 No2 BLUE BIKINI (Nap)
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien – Jockey: Conor Brace

BLUE BIKINI is a five-race winner from only ten starts over hurdles and was impressive when returning to winning ways at Catterick in December. The eight-year-old enjoys a gap between her races, and is fancied to stem the hot streak of Top Cloud.

Race 5 No2 JIMMY THE DIGGER (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: Alice Stevens

Mixedwave looks sure to go well from the base of the handicap in this stayers’ chase, but at the top of the weights JIMMY THE DIGGER is also respected. He needs to bounce back from a couple of underwhelming efforts for a stable that has been noticeably quiet, but given the rub of the green he can get into the shake-up.

TAUNTON

Race 1 No2 CLASSIC KING
Trainer: Emma Lavelle – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy

At the best meeting for punting CLASSIC LORD can get us off to a good start. He’s the highest rated in this strong field, and though proving expensive when beaten at Doncaster was probably given too much to do that day. His big run against Queens Gamble on his previous start at Kempton is very strong form.

Race 2 No3 SECRET SQUIRREL (Nap)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: David Bass

SECRET SQUIRREL is a flashy-looking individual, but there’s nothing flashy about his racing ability, as shown with a smooth Kempton win and a very p,yucky run to chase home thee citing Jeriko Du Reponet at Newbury. He’s opposed by another well-regarded Nicholls novice in Fire Flyer, but can prove too strong for him.

Race 3 No9 GREYSTOKE (Each Way)
Trainer: Jimmy Frost – Jockey: Ellis Collier

In a very warm heat, GREYSTOKE takes the eye at the foot of the weights. The six-year-old has changed stables since running respectably at Class4 level on the Flat, at which he won an apprentice race at Newbury. He’s relatively unexposed over hurdles and this is only his seventh hurdle race, and though his fitness has to be taken on trust after almost six months off, he could trouble the likes of Inoui Machin and Bold Reaction.

Race 5 No2 GOLDEN ACE
Trainer: Jeremy Scott – Jockey: Lorcan Williams

A more straightforward task hopefully awaits GODEN ACE in this novices’ hurdle. The Golden Horn mare impressed with her demeanour when debuting over jumps at this track last month and looks a natural. She carries a 6lb penalty but should be too strong for the fully exposed Manimole.

WOLVERHAMPTON

Race 1 No4 EASTER ICON
Trainer: Gary Brown – Jockey: Jack Enright

Sales purchase EASTER ICON won or was placed in each of three visits to the all-weather last year, scoring at Southwell in April. He twice showed that he operates well returning from a break, and having been apprentice ridden in most of his races should go well on this debut for his trainer.

Race 4 No2 CRIMSON CORONET (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes – Jockey: Callum Shepherd

CRIMSON CORONET raised her game on a second career start to chase home a well-backed debutant at Newcastle, and if avoiding a rival of similar ilk has a favourite’s chance of going one better. The Zouster filly learned plenty from that solid effort, and should prove hard to beat.

Place Accumulator Perm (Races 1-7)

4, 2 x 3, 4 x 9, 8, 2 x 2, 9 x 1, 5 x 4, 1 x 4, 9

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