Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing from Catterick, Bath, Sandown and Lingfield.
Catterick Best Bets
Race 4: BEDTIME BELLA (6)
Trainer: Mike Appleby
Jockey: S P Davis
The consistent BEDTIME BELLA could do with a change of luck and might get it in this competitive claimer. After overcoming an awkward start she held every chance in an 18-runner Class 6 at Thirsk before keeping on to finish a creditable third to Related and a repetition of that level of form would see her firmly in the mix.
Race 5: MERRY BANTER (1)
Trainer: Paul Midgley
Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
After proving strong in the on-course market MERRY BANTER went off too fast for her own good and was reeled in by Queens Gift at Ripon last week. She carried my money that day and I shall back her to get it back with a little interest at a track that suits trailblazing front runners.
Bath Best Bets
Race 1: THE GAME IS ON (2)
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott
Jockey: Ryan Tate
The money that came for THE GAME IS ON here earlier in the month went west when the 5-2 favourite weekend at the end of a Class 6 over a mile. However, he was too keen for his own good in the early stages which accounted for his fading away in the closing stages. Rather than pull The Game Is On back on the distance scale, Prescott moves him up to a mile and a quarter and the move can pay off.
Race 6: WELCOMING (5)
Trainer: Mark Johnston
Jockey: Franny Norton
Yet to add to his laurels this season, WELCOMING gets a fine opportunity to better his recent narrow defeat at Beverley in almost identical circumstance. This long-distance traveller should get the decent early gallop required for him to outstay his foes in the home straight. He represents a yard that does particularly well with its runners here.
Sandown Best Bets
Race 5: LET RIP (5)
Trainer: Henry Candy
Jockey: Kieren Shoemark
With very few miles on the click, LET RIP is the type of unexposed individual that can do well on his switch to handicapping on grass. His trainer has kept him to Polytrack but after breaking his maiden and finishing just out of the money in a warm Class 4 at Kempton he is the one that could spoil the party for the only three-year-old in the field, Motawaj.
Race 6: TROUBLE AND STRIFE (6)
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott
Jockey: Luke Morris
The key to TROUBLE AND STRIFE is if he can rediscover his good form from this time last season. The bold front runner has looked well short of his best on two outings this season but with the Prescott horses starting to get into the groove he has a chance to bounce back.
Lingfield Best Bets
Race 3: DISTANT CHIMES (2)
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott
Jockey: Luke Morris
Added weight to the resurgence of the Prescott stable can be provided by DISTANT CHIMES who impressed on his reappearance at Wolverhampton to show his liking for the all-weather. Having been heavily supported he quickly set his seal on the race and his prospects of following-up are increased by the fact that he now drops into a Class 5.
Race 5: SIR ARTHUR DAYNE (1)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Silvestre de Sousa
The promise SIR ARTHUR DAYNE has exhibited at home is yet to manifest itself on the racecourse itself, but there should be an improvement now that he’s competing in handicaps. The assessor has taken no chances with him even though he was a 22-1 roughie in the Epsom race that gained him a handicap mark, and beat only one of his three rivals home.
