Neil Morrice brings you all of his best bets and tips for Monday’s racing coming your way from Dundalk, Doncaster, Hereford, and Wolverhampton.
DUNDALK
Race 4: No8 – IMPORTANT MESSAGE (Nap)
Trainer: David Dunne – Jockey: Mark Enright
Fresh from hurdling, IMPORTANT MESSAGE warmed up for this with a pleasing run behind Nightly Wailing over course and distance. He’d won a handicap hurdle at Gowran and finished second in another at Punchestown and is in the zone against mainly out of form rivals.
Race 5: No12 – GLOW WORM
Trainer: Jack Davison – Jockey: Joey Sheridan
The blinkered GLOW WORM would be a deserving winner of this maiden after two near misses at Fairyhouse and the Curragh last autumn. The Epailette filly has enjoyed a freshening break and may prove too strong for Woodrow, who has almost identical claims.
Race 6: No5 – VISUALISATION
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien – Jockey: Declan McDonagh
The draw could have been kinder to VISUALISATION but the No Nay Never colt still looks the one to beat on a second start for connections. His debut effort over course and distance behind Chicago Bear promised of better to come and is the best form on offer.
DONCASTER
Race 2: No11 – ROYAL PRETENDER
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Tom Cannon
ROYAL PRETENDER has improved from race to race, with a placed effort behind Danny Kirwan at Ascot the best form on offer in this maiden hurdle. His stable is doing well with its novices, and if showing a similar level of form he’ll be hard to beat.
Race 4: No14 – TRUCKERS PASS (Nap)
Trainer: Philip Hobbs – Jockey: Richard Johnson
TRUCKERS PASS sets the standard for the others to aspire to in this novices’ hurdle and can deservedly open his account under Rules. He joined his trainer with a good reputation and after being denied when favourite for each of his three outings can now go be better.
Race 5: No12 – SPEAK OF THE DEVIL (Each Way)
Trainer: Lucinda Russell – Jockey: Stephen Mulqueen
This doesn’t look the hottest of handicap chases and leaves SPEAK OF THE DEVIL with a good opportunity to take away another cheque. He’s finished in the money in all but one of his 11 career starts and the fact that this is the furthest south he’s travelled to race needs to be taken stock of.
HEREFORD
Race 1: No1 – BALLYBEGG (Nap)
Trainer: Kerry Lee – Jockey: Richard Patrick
In a big field for the opener BALLYBEGG looks the value play and the way to go. He placed in a couple of Irish points before finding the frame on debut under Rules in a Doncaster bumper. After switching to the Lee yard he chased home Minella Drama at Bangor, and can now build on that.
Race 4: No2 – DUSKY LARK (Each Way)
Trainer: Robert Walford – Jockey: Tom O’Brien
Flagrant Delitiep is going to command a good amount of the betting handle for this handicap chase, leaving value in DUSKY LARK, who since finishing second to Severano at Exeter has been all dressed up with nowhere to go owing to abandonments. The selection often improves a long way from his first run back and even though getting longer in the tooth should not be underestimated.
Race 7: No11 – MISS FAIRFAX
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Tom O’Brien
MISS FAIRFAX hails from a yard that excels with its bumper runners who have a 23% strike-rate. She attracted support ahead of an intended debut that didn’t materialise, and has to be respected against the more experienced Ballybough Mary.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 3: No4 – AVIARY
Trainer: Roger Charlton – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
One of the least exposed runners in this three-year-old only contest is AVIARY, and this home-bred daughter of Al Kareem should take a bit of beating if continuing the progression that saw her finish a close-up third in a Lingfield maiden, a run that earned her a handicap mark.
Race 4: No7 – NIGHT NARCISSUS (Nap)
Trainer: Clive Cox – Jockey: Liam Keniry
The one with the points on the board is NIGHT NARCISSUS, whose four earning runs in as many starts include two handicaps here. Dropping back into novice company, the Kodi Bear filly is poised to deliver.
Race 6: No3 – FOREST OF DEAN
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Rab Havlin
One of the best races run here in recent years can fall to FOREST OF DEAN. The four-times winner has delivered on this Tapeta surface at Newcastle and went on to land strongly contested handicaps at York and Newbury before enduring a 16-month enforced absence. He’s up against a reliable yardstick in Sinjaari, who looks the main threat after taking well to the all-weather.
