Neil Morrice shares his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing from around the United Kingdom and Ireland. UK racing on Saturday comes your way from Sandown Park, Wolverhampton, Hereford, Ayr and Kempton Park while Irish racing is from Gowran Park.
Ireland
15:25 – Gowran Park
UK
15:20 – Sandown
15:30 – Wolverhampton
15:40 – Hereford
16:10 – Ayr
19:30 – Kempton Park
International
12:00 – Toulouse
12:25 – Turffontein
13:50 – Durbanville
14:00 – Meydan
15:00 – Auteuil
Starting prices below:
Gowran Park Best Bets
Race 5: DOCTOR PHOENIX (1) 11/2
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Davy Russell
Although yet to recapture the same level of form he found at this time last year, there were clear indications on a recent visit to Naas that DOCTOR PHOENIX is on the cusp if a return to winning ways. Ridden with customary patience, he challenged eventual winner Cadmium at the last before going down by three lengths. Admittedly this is a more competetive heat in terms of number of in form runners but the selection should now be cherry ripe.
Race 7: SIZING COAL (2) 17/10
Trainer: Jim Dreaper
Jockey: Jamie Codd
This prolific winner from last year came home unchallenged at the Farmaclaffley point-to-point last month, indicating that he can make his mark in the hunter-chase scene. The booking of Jamie Codd tells its own story. Get on!
Kempton Park Best Bet Saturday
Race 5: MAKSAB (9) 16/10
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Scott McCullough
An attractive son of 2,000 Guineas winner Makfi, MAKSAB successfully made the transition from turf to Polytrack at Lingfield where he displayed a smart turn of foot to score cosily. Although the draw could have been kinder to the four-year-old he’s again getting able assistance from the talented McCullough (who claims 7lb) and will be hard to beat if adopting a forward position as he did last time.
Wolverhampton Best Bets for Saturday
Race 4: OH THIS IS US (7) 33/20
Trainer: Richard Hannon
Jockey: Tom Marquand
Several go into the day’s feature with their tail up including last time out winners Ducumenting, Keystroke and Island Of Life but fresh from his own defeat of Apex King at Lingfield OH THIS IS US looks the one to be on. He displayed a potent change of gear to get the job done in that handicap a fortnight ago but has plenty of experience at Listed level. He can confirm his superiority over Apex King.
Race 7: BATTALION (2) (Each Way) 10/1 | 3/1
Trainer: Jamie Osborne
Jockey: Dougie Costello
Carded to start as one of the roughies for this, the veteran BATTALION is a value option in this open heat. He raced in better company on several occasions last season without enjoying the run of the green, and his trainer wouldn’t persevere with him unless there were tunes to be played with him. He’s a horse that benefits from a strongly run race and could it if Tommy Hallinan takes his usual keen grip, whilst at the business end he needs a little luck in running.
Ayr Best Bets Saturday March 9
Race 5: BUSTER VALENTINE (4) 33/10
Trainer: Ruth Jefferson
Jockey: Henry Brooke
Ruth Jefferson’s ploy of sending the novice BUSTER VALENTINE straight into a handicap on just his fourth career start can pay dividends at a course where the selection has winning form over shorter. And though it’s hard to make an excuse for his thrashing by Birchdale at Cheltenham’s trials meeting, that one is regarded as a bit special by Nicky Henderson. I imagine there will be some shortening of Birchdale’s odds for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle if ‘Buster’ delivers here.
Race 6: STRONG RESEMBLANCE (1) 5/2
Trainer: Oliver Greenall
Jockey: Henry Brooke
This beautiful jumper counts as a winner without a penalty following his unfortunate experience at Wetherby last time. With the race seemingly at his mercy, he made an uncharacteristic howler at the second last fence from which he didn’t have the time to recover. Although the impressive Glittering Love has plenty in his favour the vote goes to STRONG RESEMBLANCE to regain the winning thread.
Kempton Park Best Bet Saturday
Race 5: MAKSAB (9) 9/2
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Scott McCullough
An attractive son of 2,000 Guineas winner Makfi, MAKSAB successfully made the transition from turf to Polytrack at Lingfield where he displayed a smart turn of foot to score cosily. Although the draw could have been kinder to the four-year-old he’s again getting able assistance from the talented McCullough (who claims 7lb) and will be hard to beat if adopting a forward position as he did last time.
