Neil Morrice brings you all of his best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing coming your way from Plumpton, Catterick and Southwell .
Plumpton Best Bets
Race 1 No1 SMURPHY ENKI
Trainer: Chris Gordon – Jockey: Tom Cannon
SMURPHI ENKI was engaged at Sandown yesterday, but if connections elect to go down this easier route he looks a banker for favourite backers in the opener. He’s been well supported on all three starts over hurdles and smoothly landed the odds over course and distance last month, since when he’s enjoyed a freshening break.
Race 2 No1 THEBANNERKINGREBEL (Nap)
Trainer: Jamie Snowden – Jockey: Page Fuller
Front runner THEBANNERKINGREBEL gained a bloodless success here last month when his only rival departed at the first. The former high class novice hurdler has to carry a penalty, but connections have always said he would make a better horse over fences, and although this won’t be another school round he should outclass his foes.
Race 3 No3 BARD OF BRITTANY (Each Way)
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: James Best
BARD OF BRITTANY is another advertisement for his trainer’s ability to find money-spinners out of the bargain basement. Since joining her stable and been kept over hurdles he’s won once and been placed on each of his other five outings. He’s shown the ability to run well following a break, and looks a gilt edged win and place entity for this seasonal return while defending an unbeaten record at the course.
Race 7 No5 SIXTIES SECRET (Each Way)
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: Niall Houlihan
Another from the West academy worth siding with is SIXTIES SECRET, who is a dual scorer here. The mare fell on her latest visit, but can show no ill effects from that uncharacteristic lapse of concentration by getting into the shake-up at a tasty price.
Catterick Bridge Best Bets
Race 1 No4 JAYAAH (Nap)
Trainer: Sue Smith – Jockey: Ryan Mania
Much of the betting handle on an interesting opener will go in the direction of unbeaten Bareback Jack, whose stable have been on fire over the New Year holiday. However, the Musselburgh scorer has to concede 6lb to JAYAAH who is worth backing to beat him. The selection finished six lengths behind Sextant on his first run for a year at Carlisle and that seems a cracking effort, given that the winner was Listed class on the Flat. Furthermore he’s entitled to improve for the run.
Race 3 No4 THOMAS MACDONAGH
Trainer: Jamie Snowden – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
There will be little in it as far as the betting is concerned regarding three of the four runners in this novices’ chase. However the hurdling achievements of THOMAS MACDONAGH make him a very interesting prospect for chasing. He wasn’t fancied for either is his outings over fences at Stratford or Chepstow but troubled the judge on each occasion, and should now be fine tuned.
Race 6 No5 SIGURD
Trainer: Joanne Foster – Jockey: Brian Hughes
SIGURD scored with any amount in hand over course and distance last week, and under a 7lb penalty again has champion jockey Hughes in the hot seat. The nine-year-old’s prominent racing style can lend itself to another bold display, and the combination should prove hard to catch.
Southwell Best Bets
Race 1 No1 SOCIAL CITY (Nap)
Trainer: Tony Carroll – Jockey: Cieren Fallon
Prolific winner SOCIAL CITY faces strong opposition from hurdler Quel Destin but such was his degree of authority when scoring here last month that a 6lb rise may not prevent him completing a nap hand of victories. The Cityscape gelding is a credit to his trainer, and has never failed in four starts with Fallon in the irons.
Race 5 No4 MO HENRY (Each Way)
Trainer: Adrian Keatley – Jockey: Harry Russell
Irish based MO HENRY has run consistently well since returning from an enforced break, taking away a cheque on each of his outings at Newcastle, Wolverhampton and latterly on a first visit to this track. He’s in the zone to further raise his game now that connections know he handles the deeper Fibresand surface.
