Neil Morrice brings you all of his best bets and tips for Tuesday’s racing coming your way from Exeter, Fakenham, and Southwell.
EXETER
Race 2 No4 WELSH SAINT (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
The best horse in action on Haldon Hill today is WELSH SAINT who is confidently napped for this debut over fences. Coming back from a wind operation, he landed a novice hurdle at Warwick and a handicap at Haydock in a select programme last season, culminating in a below par effort at the Cheltenham Festival in March. He’s schooled proficiently at home and is a horse to follow.
Race 3 No8 PATROCLUS
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
It should be Henderson and de Boinville again with PATROCLUS in this maiden hurdle in which the gelding is just preferred to Astigar. The selection was turned over when odds-on for his debut for Seven Barrows at Warwick but the yard were going through a quiet patch at the time, and he’s better than the bare facts indicate.
Race 7 No3 DEL LA MAR ROCKET
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: David Bass
DEL LA MAR ROCKET put in a pleasing first effort under Rules when second to Bahamas Collins in a Carlisle bumper in November when his stable wasn’t firing. He’s been given plenty of time to strengthen up, and with his yard now amongst the winners has to be afforded considerable respect.
FAKENHAM
Race 3 No5 CROSSGALESFAMEGAME
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien – Jockey: Paddy Brennan
The lightly-raced mare CROSSGALESFAMEGAME has to be of interest following a cracking run in defeat at Cheltenham before Christmas. She handled those undulations well against The White Mouse but as a Market Rasen winner last season has shown she can operate on an easier track. Her stable is in terrific form.
Race 4 No2 MINELLA ENCORE
Trainer: Dr Richard Newland – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
If jumping proves the key to this four-cornered novices’ limited handicap chase then MINELLA ENCORE is the one to be on. He was very good at the Kelso fences when giving Mahlervous plenty to think about in a straight novice chase last month and returns fresh and fancied from a break.
Race 7 No3 UISCE UR (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Luca Morgan
UISCE UR reappears unpenalised for her cosy Doncaster success last week when she successfully returned to hurdles from fences and made much of the running. Her trainer looks to have found a perfect opportunity for a follow-up on a sharp track that will lend itself to he4 style of racing.
SOUTHWELL
Race 6 No1 NICK VEDDER (Nap)
Trainer: Robyn Brisland – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
If he had not blown the start it might have been a different story for NICK VEDDER when he finished fourth here on Sunday. He made up a lot of ground in the straight but was beaten a total of two and a quarter lengths by Motawaafeq. As long as he’s alert at the gate he can put that expensive lapse behind him on a quick return to action.
Race 7 No1 BEACH BREAK
Trainer: Donald McCain – Jockey: Ella McCain
BEACH BREAK looked as happy as Larry on a belated first run on Fibresand when chasing home the in-form Ravenscar earlier in the month. The accomplished hurdler made that rival pull out all the stops under a fine ride from his apprentice pilot who again does the steering. In a poor race the combination can go one better.
