Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Ludlow, Taunton, Southwell and Chelmsform City.
LUDLOW
Race 1 No2 QUALISMART (Nap)
Trainer: Harry Whittington – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
QUALISMART represents a trainer whose horses are back in the groove following a period in the doldrums, and is napped to offer a clean pair of heels to his foes. In spite of running freely he bolted up on debut at Market Rasen, but his exuberance then cost him at Haydock, where he weakened at the business end of the race won by Adrimel. Competing in a much bigger field and in a first-time hood, he should have a better chance of settling today.
Race 5 No4 ROYAL PRETENDER
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Tom Bellamy
ROYAL PRETENDER displayed a good attitude when gaining a first success under Rules in a jumper-bumper at Kempton. That should have done his confidence a power of good, as he’d disappointed when hot favourite for his previous start over hurdles at Doncaster. The winner The Golden Rebel stole a march on the others that day, and my pick looks very attractive off his mark in this first handicap outing.
Race 7 No6 COPAIN DE CLASSE
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Bryony Frost
COPAIN DE CLASSE didn’t set any rivers on fire in his three handicap chase outings in early 2019, and then endured training issues. However the four-times jumps winner now returns in a hunter-chase for top connections, and should not be underestimated.
TAUNTON
Race 5 No12 MASTER TRADESMAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Robert Mitford-Slade – Jockey: M Nolan
This looks wide open and provides MASTER TRADESMAN with the opportunity to stage a minor upset. He showed when previously coming back from a break that he goes well fresh, and could ruffle a few feathers on a first start for more than 400 days.
Race 7 No5 DEEPER BLUE (Nap)
Trainer: Harry Fry – Jockey: Sean Bowen
Several have chances in the concluding bumper but the one that takes my eye is DEEPER BLUE, who chased home Fame And Concrete on debut in a Southwell bumper before Christmas. In the colours of popular owner Charles Walker he can prove more than a match for hat-trick seeker Mayhem Mya.
SOUTHWELL
Race 4 No6 MARVEL (Nap)
Trainer: Julie Camacho – Jockey: Josh Quinn
MARVEL has flattered to deceive on several occasions, and with a record of six seconds in only ten career starts remains a risky proposition. That said, his best form has happened after a break, and today could be the time to catch him. He will travel kindly but needs to show he can put the race to bed.
Race 5 No1 TRUE HERO
Trainer: David Brown – Jockey: Kevin Stott
Top weight TRUE HERO has to overcome a high draw to take the spoils in this sprint handicap. He won well on his latest visit to the course and enjoys the deep Fibresand surface, and can get the better of another strong traveller in Catapult, who caught my attention on his latest start and needs to be included in all exotics.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 1 No4 COLOUR OF LIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Two horses that found greenness costing them on debut can fight this out, with COLOUR OF LIGHT preferred to Regent. The selection couldn’t hold a candle to the impressive Kestenna at Kempton, but should have learned sufficient to open her account, with Moore a significant jockey booking.
Race 3 No8 SUZI’S CONNOISSEUR
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam – Jockey: Jay Mackay
SUZI’S CONNOISSEUR gets plenty of weight from her main foe Cappananty Con and also receives good assistance from his inexperienced pilot, hopefully enough to take the spoils. He’s taken home a cheque on each of his last four starts clouding when not beaten far into third under Mackay here last time.
Race 6 No6 HIGH COMMISSIONER
Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: David Egan
Egan defends a one race unbeaten record on HIGH COMMISSIONER who has shown in the past that he’s effective after a break. On first start since opening his account at Newcastle back in November, and first visit to this course, this rather flashy individual can prevail.
Place Accumulator Perm: Races 1-7
4 x 4, 2 x 8, 3 x 3 x 2, 11, 6 x 6, 9, 3 x 4, 8
R72
