Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Newbury, Doncaster Newcastle, and Bangor-On-Dee.
NEWBURY
Race 3 No10 DOCTOR DEX
Trainer: Tom George – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
An ability to operate well fresh is the key to DOCTOR DEX’s chance in this handicap chase run in honour of Sir Peter O’Sullevan. The seven-year-old’s three career successes have all happened under Burke, with the selection smoothly landing a novices’ handicap chase at Ascot on seasonal reappearance last year. He followed that with a creditable second to Generous Day at Kempton, before being knocked out of contention in an incident-filled contest at the same course on Boxing Day. His recent work indicates he’s ready to put his best foot forward on this return to the fray.
Race 4 No5 CHAMPAGNE PLATINUM
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Former classy novice CHAMPAGNE PLATINUM was handed some tough tasks in his first season over fences, running into formidable foes such as stablemate Mister Fisher and Itchy Feet. In his final of four starts he wasn’t far out of the money behind Milan Native in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. It makes the JP McManus-owned gelding a fascinating prospect for a return to hurdles, and one to monitor in market exchanges.
Race 5 No6 MARIE’S ROCK (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
With one eye on the Champion Hurdle, Henderson pitches one of his big guns MARIE’S ROCK at this intermediate contest. The mare puts a three-race unbeaten record under Rules on the line but is confidently expected to confirm the promise of those triumphs at Ffos Las, Haydock and Taunton. Breathing issues confined her to the sidelines in the New Year but since undergoing corrective surgery she’s been working the house down at Seven Barrows.
Race 6 LADBROKES TROPHY HANDICAP CHASE (Grade 3)
No10 BLACK OP
Trainer: Tom George – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
The drying ground is sure to play a big part in the outcome of a race affectionately known as the Hennessy. Several in the 18-strong field will struggle on a surface that’s become faster through the week, but BLACK OP is one that although proven on the soft, should act on this. He didn’t take to fences immediately but did nothing wrong when returning to the larger obstacles last season, winning easily at Stratford before chasing home Champ at this meeting and Slate House at Kempton. And when returning in an intermediate chase at Carlisle he travelled and jumped with exuberance before weakening into fourth behind Imperial Aura, who has subsequently boosted the form. VINNDICATION is another from whom improvement is a distinct possibility considering he ran into the sport’s highest-rated horse Cyrname at Wetherby and hails from a stable whose horses are enjoying a hot streak. SECRET INVESTOR is going to love the conditions and is another must for all exotics. His three successes over fences have all happened on good ground, including an eye taking comeback triumph at Chepstow. I never thought KILDISART was quite right last season, but the Ben Pauling-trained gelding looked lively to place behind Roksana when returning in a Listed hurdle, an exercise that will have sharpened him up. AYE RIGHT has been a springer in the ante post-market. Scotland’s hope races as if he will relish this stamina test and along with THE CONDITIONAL is a horse with the profile to prove a genuine contender.
Prediction: 1st BLACK OP, 2nd Secret Investor,
3rd Vindication, 4th Kildisart, 5th Aye Right, 6th The Contender
DONCASTER
Race 4 No4 ASHINGTON (Nap)
Trainer: John Quinn – Jockey: K Brogan
There’s plenty to recommend the strong travelling ASHINGTON in a race that could well be run to suit him. The five-year-old put in a cracking first run back when third to Tegerek at Cheltenham and is going to be more effective on this flatter track, on which his turn of foot can be utilised to good effect.
Race 5 No3 TRINCOMALEE
Trainer: Lucy Wadham – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
TRINCOMALEE is inexperienced over fences, but was travelling well enough within himself when unseating his pilot at halfway in a novices’ handicap chase at Ascot. He’s a good jumper that finds himself on a track and ground that will play to his strengths.
NEWCASTLE
Race 5 BETFAIR ‘FIGHTING FIFTH’ HURDLE (Grade 1)
No7 EPATANTE
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Aidan Coleman
A racecourse gallop at Newbury should have put the cutting edge on EPATANTE for this return to the fray. The mare completed an unbeaten sequence of three successes from as many starts in the Champion Hurdle, taking that Festival highlight out courtesy of a telling turn of foot up the final hill. She will no doubt play a stalking role before pouncing late against hat-trick seeking SCEAU ROYAL and improving novice RIBBLE VALLEY.
Prediction:
1st EPATANTE, 2nd Sceau Royal, 3rd Ribble Valley
Race 7 No5 WHATMORE (Nap)
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: Tom O’Brien
Since running out a wide margin scorer on debut over fences at Market Rasen, WHATMORE has tantalised his followers with a number of earning runs without managing to add to his laurels. He finished fourth to Imperial Aura at the Cheltenham Festival and returned to chase home Regal Encore in a competitive handicap at Ascot. If that’s served to blow away any cobwebs the gelding should go one better in this Listed handicap chase.
BANGOR-ON-DEE
Race 2 No2 RIZZARDO (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
RIZZARDO put in a controlled round of jumping to take out a small race at Southwell and the grey can consolidate from his revised mark. This card is scant of opportunities but eight-year-old Rizzardo can prove an exception with expert assistance from the saddle.
