Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Monday’s racing coming your way from Hereford, Plumpton, and Kempton
HEREFORD
Race 3 No1 BENSON
Trainer: Dr Richard Newland – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
BENSON had to dig deep to land the odds on seasonal return over this course and distance last month. That was a first outing following wind surgery and the level of support behind him is indicative of how well he’d been working at home. He now goes for a follow-up under a penalty, and can prove too strong for the promising Franco D’Aunou.
Race 5 No6 KAUTO THE KING (Nap)
Trainer: Colin Tizzard – Jockey: Adrian Heskin
Another worth backing to defy a penalty is KAUTO THE KING, who looked much improved when routing his foes in a similar contest at Wincanton. It seems the switch to fences has been a godsend to the six-year-old, who always promised to find his
metier in chases.
Race 7 No5 FAIR KATE
Trainer: Tom Lacey – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
FAIR KATE needed a run to bring her to the boil last season but returns straighter for this mares’ handicap hurdle. The improvement shown in her final three starts was part brought about by the application of a tongue strap, while her trainer’s team remains in good order.
PLUMPTON
Race 4 No2 VIVE LE ROI (Nap)
Trainer: Tony Carroll – Jockey: Harry Bannister
VIVE LE ROI took home a cheque in some better races than this last season without managing to get his head in front. His second to Burrows Edge in a Listed hurdle at Kempton reads very well in the context of the new task at hand, and he can take the spoils at the main expense of Amour De Nuit.
Race 5 No3 VICENZO MIO
Trainer: Chris Gordon – Jockey: Nathan Brennan
VICENZO MIO has a good chance to post a first triumph for
Chris Gordon on what is his 22nd outing for that trainer. He’s hit the crossbar
on several visits to this course, but with most of his foes out of form can at
last deliver the goods.
Race 6 No1 MEDALLA DE ORO
Trainer: Harry Whittington – Jockey: Jamie Neill
The ultra-consistent MEDALLA DE ORO has a welter burden
considerably eased by the 10lb claim of his competent rider as he steps into
handicap company for the first time. With a win and three seconds to his name
the six-year-old is in the mood to add to his laurels, especially with the
refitting of a hood which served him well on his last outing at Fakenham.
Race 7 No2 SIXTIES SECRET
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: N Houlihan
Plumpton regular SIXTIES SECRET looks poised to notch a
third success at the track. She posted a decisive course and distance triumph
on her seasonal return before troubling the judge in a better race at Fontwell,
and this looks her most straightforward task to date.
KEMPTON
Race 5 No2 ARATUS (Nap)
Trainer: Clive Cox – Jockey: Adam Kirby
With a peach of a draw one off the fence and a highly
promising first effort behind him, ARATUS can step up to the plate and take out
this stayers’ maiden. The Free Eagle colt started an unconsidered 33-1 shot on
debut at Newbury, but made Oo De Lally pull out all the stops. He’s come on in
leaps and bounds for the outing.
Race 6 No2 LOXLEY
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: William Buick
Godolphin is enjoying abundant success in the back end
Listed races and can take out this featured Floodlit Stakes with LOXLEY. The
five-year-old posted two near-misses at this course a year ago before enjoying
a successful campaign at the Dubai Carnival. And though well beaten on his
Newmarket return in September, he will have benefitted from that run.
