Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Exeter, Warwick, Lingfield Park, Wolverhampton and Dundalk.
EXETER
Race 6 No5 SPECIAL ACCEPTANCE (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Webber – Jockey: Tom Scudamore
Runner-up in the Sussex National and a shade unlucky when second on his latest start at Doncaster, SPECIAL ACCEPTANCE can step up to the plate and go one better in this Devon National over the best part of four miles. An honest galloper and jumper, he has conditions in his favour for another big earning run.
Race 7 No5 LILY THE PINK
Trainer: Anthony Honeyball- Jockey: Ben Godfrey
LILY THE PINK responded positively to the fitting of a first time tongue tie to get the job done on first outing of 2021 at Fontwell. With her breathing issues behind her she can go back to back at the main expense of Fontaine Collonges.
Race 8 No6 TOP OF THE BILL
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Mark Grant
TOP OF THE BILL has earned in two bumper starts including when second at this course last time. The Fame And Glory gelding is now primed to put one on the board for his enthusiastic connections. He looked in good order striding out on the Fibresand gallop at Guiting Power on Wednesday.
WARWICK
Race 5 No3 CLAIMANTAKINFORGAN
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
Henderson sets a poser by saddling Precious Cargo and CLAIMANTAKANFORGAN and if ready for this after well over two years off the latter could outclass his foes. Good enough to finish fifth in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle of 2018, his subsequent appearances have been few and far between, but he’s won first time back in each of the three seasons he’s raced and that in itself suggests fitness will not be an issue.
Race 6 No3 UISCE UR (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Kevin Brogan
UISCE UR impressed me with the way she travelled and jumped before scoring at Doncaster on only a third start for her current handler. Up 5lb for that success, she’s strongly fancied to build on it, having benefitted from a freshening break.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 3 No4 CRIMEWAVE (Nap)
Trainer: Tom Clover – Jockey: Georgia Dobie
CRIMEWAVE reacted well to the female touch when scoring under Laura Pearson here last month and now gets similarly effective steering from Georgia Dobie. He richly deserved to get his head in front and has his tail up on this return under his revised mark.
Race 8 No5 MEHMO
Trainer: Mike Appleby – Jockey: Frederick Larson
Swooper lived up to his name when scoring at Chelmsford, but at the revised weights MEHMO can turn the tables. The selection will possibly be happier here than in the wide open spaces of the Chelmsford circuit, and if enjoying the rub on the green in the short home straight can prevail.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 1 No7 DECEPTION VALLEY (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: George Bass
DECEPTION VALLEY has endured a bunch of training issues that combined to restrict him to just three public outings. He’s started 66-1, 66-1 and 200-1 and been beaten an aggregate of 52 lengths. However, he is not without ability, and if finding handicapping a more suitable pursuit under his capable apprentice pilot he could figure.
Race 2 No3 STEELRIVER (Nap)
Trainer: Michael Herrington – Jockey: Tom Eaves
This race looks set up for STEELRIVER who landed the same race the last time he dropped into plating company a year ago. Multiple scorer Onebaba should make the market for him, while long-standing maiden Quarry Beach is in the last chance saloon. Sure to be ridden patiently, the Nap can pick those two up in the straight and looks the best bet on the card.
Race 4 No2 DANCING JO
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Oliver Timms
Infrequent scorer DANCING JO troubled the judge at Lingfield when last seen back in November. He has a good draw from which to obtain a stalking position and can make life difficult for likely market leader Puffin Island.
Race 6 No4 GREYSTOKE
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: PJ McDonald
Although being done no favours by the draw, GREYSTOKE can play the experience card to winning effect in this novice stakes. He had to waste valuably energy to get to the front on his first outing of 2021 and was unable to withstand Swallowdale. This time his pilot may elect to be more patient and hope he can come through rivals at the business end.
Race 8 No12 STREET POET
Trainer: Michael Herrington- Jockey: Jack Mitchell
STREET POET has the rail and could prove hard to catch at a decent price in this handicap in which apart from Fly The Nest most of the runners are difficult to weigh up. He showed improvement to place here last time.
Place Accumulator Perm: Races 2-8
3 x 7, 2, 9 x 2, 9 x 2, 6 x 4, 1 x 3 x 12, 5, 3
R72
DUNDALK
Race
3 No7 RED STRIKER (Each Way)Trainer:
Andrew McNamara – Jockey: J Sheridan
RED
STRIKER never realised his true potential in England , and although converting
on a first start in Ireland has been mainly disappointing. He now returns after
almost a year off, and could outperform his roughie status.
Race
4 No5 SKILLED WARRIOR
Trainer:
Johnny Murtagh – Jockey: Declan McDonagh
With
the form of his second to Jack Duggan at Tipperary having worked out it’s hard
to get away from SKILLED WARRIOR, who although unaccustomed to an artificial
surface in public has trained well on it at home. He has a good draw in centre
field and should prove very hard to beat.
Race
5 No3 FEELING TIP TOP (Nap)
Trainer:
Jessica Harrington – Jockey: Shane Foley
Having
earned in each of his four outings as a juvenile, FEELING TIP TOP sets a high
bar for the others to aim at and can open his account. The Elzaam colt has good
form at this course, and has strengthened up during his autumn and winter
break.
Race
7 No6 AHUNDREDNOTOUTTrainer:
Leanne Breen – Jockey: S Crosse
Horses
that suddenly find improvement are often worth following and that can prove the
case with AHUNDREDNOTOUT. Lightly campaigned over the past couple of seasons,
he found a new lease of life from the switch to this trainer and gamely repelled
Annabelle Rock over six furlongs earlier in the month. This move up to seven
should prove a plus.
Race
8 No2 FRIDTJOF NANSEN
Trainer:
Ken Cotter – Jockey: Colin Keane
Commentator’s
nightmare FRIDTJOF NANSEN failed to menace last time after two solid earning
efforts and is taken to bounce back. The Kyllachy gelding has largely
frustrated his trainer, but on the balance of his best form on Polytrack he’s
going to be over-priced against hat-trick seeker Togoville.
