Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday's racing coming your way from Sedgefield, Ludlow, Kempton Park and Nottingham on 11 October 2023.
SEDGEFIELD
Race 1 No3 JOHNNY M (Nap)
Trainer: John McConnell – Jockey: M Nolan
JOHNNY M, who is surely named after his trainer, can start the ball rolling for it on a positive note by taking out this maiden hurdle. He’s bringing the experience card to the table, and would rely have figured in the finish had he not departed in the latter stages of his run at Kilbeggan.
Race 5 No7 A SHINING MOON (Each Way)
Trainer: Paul Midgley – Jockey: Tom Midgley
A SHINING MOON deserves a change of luck after being touched off by the narrowest of margins at Kelso. That was his third earning run in as many appearances this season, and in a tight knit affair he can outpoint Leopolds Rock and Ambassador.
LUDLOW
Race 2 No4 KUNDALINE
Trainer: Amanda Zetterholm – Jockey: James Reveley
KUNDALINE has performed with credit in Listed hurdles in France. Her appearance with French champion Reveley on her back adds lustre to a card on which overseas horses can profit.
Race 3 No1 REXEM
Trainer: John McConnell – Jockey: Ben Harvey
REXEM can show that he hasn’t crossed the Irish Sea just for the goodness of his health. His three efforts in novice chases at home have each earned him a cheque, and he looks primed for a winning show on this first run in a handicap.
Race 4 No2 LISNAMULT LAD (Nap)
Trainer: John McConnell – Jockey: Ben Harvey
His stablemate LISNAMULT LAD is race fit for this stayers’ novices’ hurdle, having scored at Sligo and Hexham. He came home a distance clear of his foes on that first visit to Britain, and should enjoy a fitness edge over hat-trick seeker Ooh Betty.
NOTTINGHAM
Race 1 No1 GLOBAL SKIES
Trainer: Ben Brookhouse – Jockey: Tommie Jakes
GLOBAL SKIES outstayed his opponents when opening his account at Haydock, looking good value for the win. He will need to have improved to defy a 7lb penalty, but with his yard in such potent form another success is on the cards.
Race 3 No1 GOING THE DISTANCE (Nap)
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
Lope De Vega colt GOING THE DISTANCE is another burdened with a penalty and is the only winner in a novice for future stayers. He met a smart foe in Devil’s Point when fourth on debut at Ffos Las in August before making a winning return to that course later that month. Underfoot conditions should be largely the same, and his experience can count for much.
Race 5 No9 MARCHING BAND (Each Way)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
MARCHING BAND has the wherewithal to up his game in this interesting all-aged handicap. He was a shade disappointing at Pontefract on his first run on grass, but can do better if he’s made more use of, as he’s shown in his work that he’s a galloper rather than a quickener.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 1 No4 MEZZO SOPRANO
Trainer: Simon Crisford – Jockey: William Buick
Unbeaten filly MEZZO SOPRANO can cut the mustard on this switch to handicaps for a bang-in-form trainer. The daughter of Exceed And Excel has been impressive on both career starts on turf, but trained well on Polytrack in Newmarket ahead of this switch of surface. She is well drawn for a big earning run under the champion jockey.
Race 2 No7 ODONNELL’S ORCHARD (Each Way)
Trainer: Tom Dascombe – Jockey: Pierre-Louis Jamin
There should be more to come from paper favourite Age Of Baroque, but Ashe needs to handle a tricky gate position which will almost certainly keep him wide, ODONNELL’S ORCHARD is preferred. All four of the colt’s starts have been strongly contested affairs, including when just out of the money behind Miss Information at Ascot. It’s interesting that connections have opted to go for another novice when they could have chosen the nursery route.
Race 4 No11 TAMFANA (Nap)
Trainer: David Menuisier – Jockey: Kevin Stott
TAMFANA is in a perfect slot in the gate to progress from her promising first effort at Ffos Las. The German-bred filly can get the better of Middlesex, who enjoys a slight edge in experience but might not possess the scope of the selection.
Race 7 No10 GLORIOUS LION (Each Way)
Trainer: James Ferguson – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
GLORIOUS LION returns from a protracted break equipped with the cheek pieces he wore on his latest start at Redcar back in the spring. The son of Roaring Lion usually attracts support, but needs to fulfil his early potential now moved up to a mile and a half on just a second run in a handicap.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 2-8)
7, 1 x 5, 6 x 11 x 6, 1 x 12, 11, 14 x 10, 3, 7 x 6, 4
R144
