Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Monday’s racing coming your way from Ffos Las, Ayr, And Plumpton.
FFOS LAS
Race 2 No5 GLADIATEUR ALLEN
Trainer: Mrs J Williams – Jockey: Chester Williams
French-bred GLADIATEUR ALLEN put up a good performance on debut here, running Pats Fancy to two and a quarter lengths and showing a liking for the testing conditions. With the benefit of that outing behind him he can go one better.
Race 4 No1 ALAPHILIPPE (Nap)
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien – Jockey: Paddy Brennan
ALAPHILIPPE can extend his unblemished record for O’Brien and complete a fine hat-trick. The former Irish pointer landed a bumper here and a maiden hurdle at Ayr and can make light of his penalty on the way to better things.
AYR
Race 1 No6 WETLANDS
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Brian Hughes
WETLANDS ran into a smart foe in Gaston Phoebus at Carlisle, where he gave that rival plenty to think about. The Newcastle bumper winner has made a smooth transition to jumps and gets the added assistance of the champion jockey in the irons.
Race 3 No3 UNOHU (Nap)
Trainer: Tom Lacey – Jockey: Stan Sheppard
This handicap hurdle can fall to the unexposed UNOHU who hacked up his second hurdles start over course and distance and has the potential for plenty more improvement. He rates the best bet on the card and can land the spoils at the main expense of Rio Quinto.
PLUMPTON
Race 1 No1 ANNUAL INVICTUS (Nap)
Trainer: Chris Gordon – Jockey: Tom Cannon
This stable has a high strike-rate here, and following a taking first success over jumps at Lingfield, ANNUAL INVICTUS is ready to keep up that good work. He looked value for his margin of victory over The Mick Preston, who is a reliable yardstick by which to judge the form.
Race 5 No5 SIXTIES SECRET
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: Niall Houlihan
West does well with rejects from other stables and has campaigned SIXTIES SECRET to prove a money spinner for her owners. The Sixties Icon mare won here on her seasonal return and has not been disgraced in two subsequent runs in better company.
