Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Cheltenham (including video analysis), Wetherby, Uttoxeter, and Lingfield Park.
CHELTENHAM
Race 4: PADDY POWER GOLD CUP HANDICAP CHASE (Grade 3)
No2 – SIMPLY THE BETTS
Trainer: Harry Whittington – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
SIMPLY THE BETTS lived up to his name by converting in all but one of his five outings over fences last season, rounding-off with a memorable Cheltenham Festival triumph in the Brown Advisory Plate back in March. He’s developed physically through the winter, and the form of his success here on Trials Day in January was boosted when Imperial Aura landed an intermediate chase at Carlisle. Furthermore, the selection’s best form has happened here at Prestbury Park, and he schooled brilliantly under Sheehan in a Lambourn midweek. The day’s feature looks destined to go to a second season novice, with AL DANCER another to include in all exotics. The grey swept Master Tommytucker aside at Newton Abbot and that form was endorsed by the second. Add into the equation MISTER FISHER, SLATE HOUSE, and SAINT SONNET and you probably have the bases covered. Mister Fisher has shone in his work for Nicky Henderson, Slate House should have won this last year and hails from a Colin Tizzard stable running into form, while Saint Sonnet has room for progression on only a third start since joining the red hot Paul Nicholls stable from France.
Prediction
1st SIMPLY THE BETTS
2nd Al Dancer
3rd Mister Fisher
4th Slate House
5th Saint Sonnet
Race 5: No3 – TEA CLIPPER
Trainer: Tom Lacey – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
Prolific scorer TEA CLIPPER is going to relish stepping up to three miles in this stayers’ handicap hurdle and can take his career record to five wins from only six starts. The five-year-old completed a hat-trick around this time last year when showing how to win in a tight finish as well as by doing it easily. He wasn’t seen after an unexpected defeat at Huntingdon in February, but that lockdown-enforced absence ended when he strolled home over two and a half miles at Chepstow last month. He competes from a revised mark but remains a horse to follow until beaten.
Race 6: No3 – SON OF CAMAS (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
SON OF CAMAS looked a Cheltenham horse when winning a bumper and novice hurdle on successive visits to Newbury at this time last year. However, after finishing third to Fiddlerontheroof in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown he was plagued by breathing issues and only appeared once more. That problem seems to have been corrected by a wind operation, as the gelding has been flying at home, while the weight of money has forced him to the forefront of the betting market. From what I hear he is going to take plenty of stopping and remains a viable investment at 3-1 with Hollywoodbets.
WETHERBY
Race 1: No7 – POLDARK CROSS (Nap)
Trainer: Harry Whittington – Jockey: James Bowen
POLDARK CROSS has shown ability in his preparation for this first outing for his trainer. He landed a maiden point in Ireland when last seen back in March, and is going to want further than these two and a half miles in due course. Jetaway Joey sets the standard in this novices’ hurdle but might be worth taking on with his longer priced rival.
Race 6: No4 – ALBERT’S BACK
Trainer: Mick Easterby – Jockey: Brian Hughes
ALBERT’S BACK only made it to the track on four occasions last season and they were all novice or novice handicap chases. He looked like a horse that was still raw, with plenty of physical progressions to make. Com8ng back over hurdles is clearly a temporary measure, but he’s a talented horse and could give the likes of Haafapiece and Torigini something to think about.
UTTOXETER
Race 4: No2 – PRESS YOUR LUCK
Trainer: Chris Gordon – Jockey: Joshua Moore
This novices’ hurdle looks a straight match between recent winners Across The Line and PRESS YOUR LUCK, with a preference for the latter. The five-year-old landed a point in Ireland and has progressed nicely since joining his trainer, smoothly taking out a novice hurdle at Newton Abbot. He looked good value for his margin of victory and can follow-up under a penalty.
Race 5: No1 – JAMMY GEORGE (Nap)
Trainer: Harry Whittington – Jockey: Jack Tudor
Tudor’s 5lb claim should greatly boost the claims of JAMMY GEORGE who has conditions in his favour as well as being fitter than for his comeback outing at Aintree. He jumped well that day and should appreciate the step up in trip for this three and a quarter-mile stamina test.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 1: No8 – DANCING JO (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Tom Marquand
Marquand is an eye taking booking for DANCING JO who hasn’t enjoyed the run of the green but finds himself on a fair mark from which to bounce back. The gelding needs to make the rail draw count by getting out and into a handy position. If he achieves that he should get into the argument at the business end of the contest.
Race 5: No2 – LEAPERS WOOD (Nap)
Trainer: Julie Camacho – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
Long-standing maiden LEAPERS WOOD deserves another chance after going close on both starts for this trainer. Some fingers were burned on the Garswood gelding at Southwell last time, but this is the first time he’s run at Lingfield and the first away from the North.
