Neil Morrice brings you all of his best bets and tips for Tuesday’s racing coming your way from Taunton, Wetherby, and Newcastle.
TAUNTON
Race 2 No3 LILY OF LEYSBOURNE
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien – Jockey: Paddy Brennan
LILY OF LEYSBOURNE was ridden with stone-cold confidence from well off the pace when scoring on seasonal reappearance at Doncaster last month. Owned by former trainer Charlie Brooks, she swooped to conquer over the last couple of flights and if again consenting to settle should have too much for Global Harmony and Allavina at the business end of this distaffers’ contest.
Race 3 No9 THE WIDDOW MAKER
Trainer: Colin Tizzard – Jockey: Harry Cobden
There doesn’t seem to be much depth to this maiden hurdle, which suggests THE WIDDOW MAKER can take the spoils. He’s getting better with racing, and only needs to build on his creditable earning run behind Fabrique En France at Wincanton to open his account.
Race 5 No3 MASTERS LEGACY
Trainer: Philip Hobbs – Jockey: Michael Nolan
The one with scope for most progression is MASTERS LEGACY whose form has worked out particularly well. His clear cut triumph over Polish here was made to look very good through that rival’s success in a hot race at Newbury on Sunday, and while it was gained more than a year ago his astute trainer will have him ready for this belated seasonal return.
WETHERBY
Race 1 No4 FRAGINANETrainer: Harry Whittington – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
FRAGINANE represents a stable that’s climbing out of a quiet spell through which the horses were sick. He made an encouraging hurdling debut when second at Ffos Las back in November, and is ready to build on return from his enforced break.
Race 5 No6 FONTAINE COLLONGESTrainer: Venetia Williams – Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
Former French-trained FONTAINE COLLONGES has looked an improved entity following wind surgery. She gamely opened her account over jumps in the UK in a Leicester novice hurdle and there should be more to come.
Race 6 No4 DUHALLOW TORNADO (Nap)
Trainer: O Pimlott – Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
DUHALLOW TORNADO ruined his chance by running in snatches at Catterick, and now gets first time blinkers in a move to sharpen his concentration. He’s going to be fitter for that effort, while market rival and Aintree Foxhunters winner Road To Rome is returning from a near two-year absence.
NEWCASTLE
Race 1 No2 TAXMEIFYOUCAN
Trainer: Keith Dalgleish – Jockey: Billy Garrity
Caribeno will be hard to beat in the opener and has a good chance of completing a four-timer under a penalty, but one that could earn at a big price is TAXMEIFYOUCAN who hasn’t run on the Flat for well over a year. He comes here on the back of a shock win over hurdles at Musselburgh in search of a first win on the Tapeta surface, but will not lack for fitness.
Race 2 No8 BINT AUSTRALIATrainer: James Fanshawe – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
Several in this novice stakes have claims, but BINT AUSTRALIA is going to relish a big step up the distance ladder on her first run out of Pegasus Stables. She finished second on her final three of four starts as a two-year-old and deserves a change of luck on a first run over five months.
Race 5 No4 REPERTOIRE (Nap)Trainer: David Simcock – Jockey: Callum Shepherd
It’s hard to strike your pen through many in this all-aged handicap but REPERTOIRE could be a bit better than the others based on the fact that he’s still relatively unexposed after joining his trainer from Andre Fabre in France. He landed the odds laid on him without breaking sweat at Wolverhampton, and granted normal improvement on only a second outing for new connections will be hard to beat.
Place Accumulator Perm: Races 1-7
2, 6 x 8, 7 x 8, 5 x 4 x 4, 7, 10 x 1 x 8, 5
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