Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Carlisle, Haydock Park, Newton Abbot and Wolverhampton.
CARLISLE
Race 5 No2 STORM NELSON (Nap)
Trainer: Sandy Thomson – Jockey: Brian Hughes
Hat-trick seeking STORM NELSON is hard to oppose after bolting up over course and distance earlier in the week. He has a 7lb penalty to shoulder, but looked very good value for that wide margin success over Ashfield Paddy.
Race 8 No8 PISTOL
Trainer: John Dixon – Jockey: Mr J Dixon
Veteran PISTOL shaped well when last seen here last autumn to indicate he’s benefitted from a wind op. He’s returning from five months off but has shown in the past that he operates effectively when fresh.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 4 No1 CHECKITOUT (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
Young improver CHECKITOUT has the size and scope to carry a big weight, suggesting he can complete a hat-trick in this long distance handicap chase. He looked to score with plenty up his sleeve at Ludlow last week, and has come out of that in tip top order.
Race 5 No4 SUPAKALANISTIC
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Mr Zac Baker
SUPAKALANISTIC has been a star for his owners in posting a win and two seconds in jumper-bumpers as well as going close in a competitive handicap at Doncaster in late February. This is tougher, but he will love the stiffer Haydock obstacles and should again finish in the money.
Race 7 No6 REGAL FLOW
Trainer: Bob Buckler – Jockey: Sean Houlihan
Now in the super-veteran stage, REGAL FLOW is still more than capable of serving it up to them as he demonstrated at Taunton last month. He came out of the wilderness to hold at bay all but Somekindofking, and is now back in the zone, and can go be better.
NEWTON ABBOT
Race 3 No1 DORKING LAD (Nap)
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: Jamie Moore
DORKING LAD held sway for the majority of the trip when contesting a better race than this at Sandown after frustratingly hitting the crossbar three times on the bounce. Back in a maiden hurdle he can finally break his duck.
Race 7 No5 COUNT MERIBEL
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Mark Grant
Although he’s been out of form, COUNT MERIBEL can bounce back. He’s been given a chance by the assessor and should appreciate the track, trip and ground.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 6 No2 CORRIDA DE TOROS
Trainer: Ed De Giles – Jockey: Callum Shepherd
The blinkered CORRIDA DE TOROS has knocked on the door in back-to-back outings and can now gain a deserved breakthrough. He enjoys the Polytrack surface and is in a good place to take down paper favourite Nine Elms.
Race 8 No3 WELOOF
Trainer: John Butler – Jockey: Adam Kirby
WELOOF scored impressively at Lingfield and has to be taken seriously if turning up in similar form under a 7lb penalty. It’s taken him a long time to come out of a spell in the wilderness, but he can now show consistency.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 2-8)
3 x 8 x 2, 7 x 3, 5 x 2, 1 x 4 x 3, 5, 4
R24
