Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Monday’s racing coming your way from Leicester, Plumpton, Kempton Park, and Dundalk.
LEICESTER
Race
4 No1 ISOLATE (Nap)
Trainer:
Alan King – Jockey: Tom Cannon
ISOLATE
disappointed on comeback at Bangor, but made up for that lapse with a
convincing success at Taunton where he was always in control. He’s definitely
horse to follow, not only under a penalty today but also when he moves into the
handicap arena.
Race
6 No5 BOUGHTBEFORELUNCH (Each Way)
Trainer:
Paul Webber – Jockey: Mr Jack Savage
BOUGHTBEFORELUNCH ran his heart out in an amateur
riders’ handicap chase at the first Cheltenham meeting, when in hindsight me
may have been made too much use of. The form was boosted when the winner Bermeo
ran well on a return visit to that course. Leicester’s long straight should
suit the selection who is a good jumper and stays well.
PLUMPTON
Race
1 No3 GREENROCK ABBEY
Trainer:
Alan King – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
The
King stable has a good record here, and Irish point winner GREENROCK ABBEY
possesses the wherewithal to take out this novices’ hurdle on debut under
Rules. He was an expensive purchase that has shown abundant promise in his
work, and should be good enough.
Race
3 No7 FLANAGANS FIELD (Nap)
Trainer:
Bernard Llewelyn – Jockey: Jordan Williams
The
strong travelling FLANAGANS FIELD catches the eye in this selling handicap
hurdle. He’s very effective at this level, as demonstrated with a win at
Catterick before lockdown. He also ran well when returning from eight months
off to trouble the judge in normal handicap company at Ffos Las, an exercise
that should have put the edge on him.
Race
6 No2 TZAR DE L’ELFE (Each Way)
Trainer:
Richard Rowe – Jockey: Niall Houlihan
DE L’ELFE needed his first run back and can now return to the form that enabled
him to put together an impressive sequence of earning runs through last winter.
He finished second in four consecutive races before getting his head in front
in the gamest fashion at Plumpton. Furthermore he will enjoy moving back to his
optimum distance on soft ground today.
KEMPTON PARK
Race
1 No3 CARRYONREGARDLESS
Trainer:
George Boughey – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Moore
is an eye taking booking for CARRYONREGARDLESS, a filly be Bated Breath who
shaped with a deal of promise when second on her Lingfield introduction. She
likes the Polytrack surface and has a good draw next to market rival Just
Beautiful.
Race
2 No12 SARGASSO SEA (Nap)
Trainer:
William Haggas – Jockey: Tom Marquand
SARGASSO
SEA needs to look lively at the start in order to capitalise on her rail post
position. The daughter of Sea The Stars showed abundant promise when second on
debut at Newcastle and if showing alertness is in a better place in the gate than
market rival Dollar Bid.
Race
7 No6 BLAIRLOGIE (Each Way)
Trainer:
Laura Mongan – Jockey: Callus Hutchinson
BLAIRLOGIE
has fared far better than the form figures indicate since moving to this
stable. When starting 100-1 at Lingfield two starts back he would have been in
the money with better luck in running, while he ran well to take home a cheque
at Chelmsford last time. Granted the rub of the green he should be right in the
shake-up.
DUNDALK
Race
1 No3 CHARMED
Trainer:
Joseph O’Brien – Jockey: Alan Persse
O’Brien
has experimented with distances for CHARMED and probably deduced that the
minimum suits the Charm Spirit colt. While he’s shown just as much over six and
seven furlongs he is the stand out form pick in this maiden, and should be seen
doing his best work at the business end to get us off to a good start.
5 No3 FERRYBANK
Trainer:
Ted Walsh – Jockey: Mark Gallagher
Cooper’s
Hawk would be interesting if able to recapture his good autumn form, but he
went out quickly at the Curragh last time. I still like him, but in contrast
FERRYBANK seems to be getting better race by race, as evidenced when he
troubled the judge in Aikido’s race here last week. He has a good draw, and can
take out this maiden before embarking down the handicap route.
Race
7 No11 PRAYING MANTIS
Trainer:
John Feane – Jockey: Kevin Manning
A
switch to Polytrack brought about progression from PRAYING MANTIS on her
all-weather debut last week. The daughter of Epaulette finished just a length
and threequarters adrift of Jackmel after a tardy start, which represented a
big step up on anything she’d previously achieved on soft turf. The drop back
to seven furlongs from a mile shouldn’t be a problem, but she needs to be alert
at the gate.
Race
8 No1 LARIAT (Nap)
Trainer:
Adrian McGuinness – Jockey: Adam Farragher
Top
weight LARIAT has it in him to take out the nightcap from a tumbling mark. He
spent a while in the wilderness, but his improved effort to get into the money
behind Storm Steps over course and distance last week shows that he can post
another win for his in-form stable on a first run in this grade.