Neil Morrice shares his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing from around the United Kingdom and Ireland. UK racing on Thursday comes your way from Leicester, Sandown Park, Lingfield and Newcastle while Irish racing is from Dundalk.
Here is the list of racing on offer at Hollywoodbets on Friday 8th March 2019.
Ireland
19:15 – Dundalk
UK
15:50 – Leicester
16:00 – Sandown Park
16:10 – Lingfield
19:20 – Newcastle
International
12:00 – Jebel Ali
12:10 – Fairview
14:10 – Chantilly
17:22 – Enghien
Australia
Ireland
19:15 – Dundalk
UK
15:50 – Leicester
16:00 – Sandown Park
16:10 – Lingfield
19:20 – Newcastle
International
12:00 – Jebel Ali
12:10 – Fairview
14:10 – Chantilly
17:22 – Enghien
Australia
05:00 – Ararat
05:03 – Maryborough
05:10 – Sapphire Coast
05:25 – Newcastle
05:34 – Ipswich
05:52 – Albion Park
08:55 – Cranbourne
09:34 – Bankstown
09:42 – Geelong
10:15 – Sunshine Coast
11:29 – Narrogin
11:52 – Gloucester Park
Opening prices shown below:
Dundalk Best Bets
Race 1: HEE HAW (5) – 2/1
Trainer: Adrian McGuinness
Jockey: T P Madden
The manner of HEE HAW’s success over this 1000m last month strongly suggests he is capable of a follow-up as it served the purpose of giving the 5yo a confidence boost. Togoville takes similar credentials into this and has also plied his trade exclusively on the Polytrack, but if Hee Haw delivers the same turn of foot as when last seen he should go in again.
Race 5: CAUTIOUS APPROACH (6) – 9/4
Trainer: Richard O’Brien
Jockey: Ronnie Whelan
This filly’s performance to trouble the judge in a big field when last seen in September was eye-catching in that she covered more ground than most of the principals by challenging wide, though in truth she never had a hope of catching Liberty Lass and should have learned much from what looked an educational ride. That’s arguably the best form on offer here, and CAUTIOUS APPROACH can open her account.
Race 8: NEW VOCATION (5) – 5/2
Trainer: Jim Bolger
Jockey: W T Byrne
It’s never easy to lead throughout over this 2100m trip but NEW VOCATION dug deep to keep finding and ultimately ran out a clear cut scorer in an identical race last month. Representing top connections, the 4yo has scope for further improvement and can carry on the good work.
Leicester Best Bets
Race 5: DOUBLE ROSS (5) – 8/1
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies
Jockey: Mr Zac Baker
Since entering the hunter-chase division DOUBLE ROSS has performed as if age is catching up with him but having seen the 13-year-old put in some encouraging work at Guiting Power this week prepared to give him another chance. If anywhere near his best this bold jumper would wipe the floor with his rivals and the Leicester course and fences are tailor-made for him.
Race 2: MIDNIGHT CHILL (6) – 7/2
Trainer: Jamie Snowden
Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
The Leicester fences take some jumping and that’s why MIDNIGHT CHILL gets a confident vote to return to winning ways. He enters the fray with fewer question marks against him than his five foes and is receiving upwards of 8lb from them. If afforded his usual attacking ride he will be hard to beat.
Sandown Park Best Bets
Race 3: PISTOL WHIPPED (5) – 2/1
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Representing the combination successful in the race 12 months ago, PISTOL WHIPPED is a novice jumping into handicap company but must have a great chance of adding to his laurels. A relentless galloper, he found the tight Fakenham track far from ideal yet still readily opened his account in a novice last time. Sandown’s wider spaces should be much more to his liking, whilst the uphill run to the line should play to his stamina reserves.
Race 4: MR MERCURIAL (8) – 4/1
Trainer: Will Ramsay
Jockey: Mr William Ramsay
Those with winning form at this course include Royal Artillery Gold Cup hero Carlos Du Fruitier whose success here three weeks ago sets the standard but the vote goes to MR MERCURIAL. A prolific winner in the hunter-chase division and one of the veterans in the field, there was no disgrace in his defeat by the smart Shantou Flyer at Kelso and there is arguably nothing of that standard up against him here.
Newcastle Best Bets
Race 1: GLACIER FOX (2) – 28/10
Trainer: Tom Tate
Jockey: P J McDonald
For a horse that likes to get on with things this weakly contested maiden appeals as an ideal stepping stone for GLACIER FOX on his return from a more than 200 day lay off. He improved from race to race in a 2018 campaign restricted to just three starts, but the form he showed when second to Born To Spend at Nottingham is good enough to win this, whilst the step up in trip should also count in the selection’s favour.
Race 3: FAIR COP (3) – 33/20
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: P J McDonald
Although she is returning from a near 600-day enforced absence, there’s plenty to recommend FAIR COP who brings smart turf form to the table. Balding has his all-weather team pinging and this mare has looked sharp in her work at Park House. She could be a cut above her foes.
