Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets from Saturday’s racing (4th January 2020) at Lingfield, Newcastle, Sandown Park, Wincanton, and Kempton.
—
Lingfield Park Best Bet
Race 6 – No 2 VENTURE
Trainer: Tom Ward
Jockey: Adam Kirby
There’s nothing in the race with the same room for improvement as VENTURE who returned from a lay off to bolt up at Kempton in November. There seemed to be absolutely no fluke about the performance which stamps him as the one to be on as he takes to the track for only a fourth career start, but with a tricky wide draw to overcome.
—
Race 5 – No 3 BILLY RAY (Each Way)
Trainer: Jonathan England
Jockey: Sam England
A smart stayer on the Flat who endured wind problems before joining his new handler, BILLY RAY was afforded sympathetic handling on his debut over jumps at Uttoxeter when very easy to back. From well off the pace set by winner Bullionaire he stayed on encouragingly to claim third over the last couple of hurdles and should have learned sufficiently from that to get into the money.
Race 6 – No 2 ALBERT’S BACK
Trainer: Mick Easterby
Jockey: Brian Hughes
ALBERT’S BACK has a good edge on his two opponents and if stepping up from his eye-catching third on his chase debut at Wetherby should be another winner for champion jockey elect Hughes. The winner of that race was Good Boy Bobby whose overall form is far superior to the other two candidates here.
—
Sandown Park Best Bets
Race 2 – No 1 INDEFATIGABLE
Trainer: Paul Webber
Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
This has been the target of INDEFATIGABLE for several months and no mare in trainer deserves to plunder a decent prize more than her. She’s played the bridesmaid’s role on her last two starts but lost no caste in defeat when beaten by Lady Buttons at Wetherby and then again when running into the much improved Dame De Compagnie at Cheltenham. She has subsequently delighted her trainer and can give him his biggest success of the season.
Race 4: LOCKER ROOM TALK (2)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies
Jockey: Mr Jack Savage
LOCKER ROOM TALK aims higher after skipping a good opportunity at Hereford but I think he can prove up to the task. His forcing style and slick jumping should marry themselves to this circuit with its tricky Railway fences, while as the only confirmed front runner in the field he can get onto an easy lead.
Race 5: FIDDLERONTHEROOF (2)
Trainer: Colin Tizzard
Jockey: Robbie Power
The featured Unibet Tolworth Hurdle looks as good a renewal as we’ve seen for a while with Son Of Camas and FIDDLERONTHEROOF giving your correspondent a mouth-watering dilemma. Son Of Camas has looked just as good over jumps as in bumpers, winning one of the latter stylishly at Newbury before returning to his local course to outpoint the highly regarded King Roland in a novice hurdle. That looks very solid form but I just prefer Fiddlerontheroof who is proven on this course. Before that resounding triumph when he made all to beat Arrivederci he was a victim of the easy track when outgunned at Wincanton. His trainer thinks he a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle candidate and he can endorse that view here.
Race 7: TOTTERDOWN (4)
Trainer: Richard Phillips
Jockey: Paddy Brennan
The hooded TOTTERDOWN goes off like a scalded cat but to his credit, he has surprising reserves of stamina and often pulls out extra at the business end as he showed when getting out of his rivals’ sight over this course and distance in November. Freshened up by a short break he can prove too hot for the promising Eldorado Allen to handle.
—
Wincanton Best Bets
Race 3 – No 2 ST BARTS
Trainer: Philip Hobbs
Jockey: Tom O’Brien
There’s few miles on the clock of ST BARTS who despite showing signs of inexperience nevertheless ran out a most impressive winner of a maiden hurdle before Christmas and he looks an exciting recruit with whom his astute trainer can real a rich harvest during the weeks ahead. He spent the last couple of hurdles in total isolation and comes here with his tail up.
Race 6 – No 2 GALA BALL
Trainer: Philip Hobbs
Jockey: Tom O’Brien
GALA BALL was entitled to need his seasonal comeback at Newbury. He was beaten a distance and finished last behind Oldgrangewood but that form has been well and truly endorsed, making the selection a value play here. His trainer state£ there were legitimate excuses for that flop.
Race 7 – No 4 ARRIVEDERCI
Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill
Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jnr
If you think Fiddlerontheroof will win the big hurdle at Sandown you have to give ARRIVEDERCI a huge chance in this concluding maiden hurdle. The latter chased home that rival without holding a candle to him but is a smart novice in his own right, as he can display by winning this.
—
Kempton Park Best Bets
Race 2 – No 2 DARK PHOENIX (Each Way)
Trainer: Paul Cole
Jockey: Ben Curtis
Moving up from seven furlongs to a mile, DARK PHOENIX needs to be sharper at the gate than when blowing the start at Chelmsford last week. The grey nevertheless ran with credit as despite running wide into the short home straight he finished strongly to be beaten just a length and a half by Annie Quickstep. He also has a good draw, and there will be no excuses if he breaks well.
Race 5 – No 8 STANFORD
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: David Probert
Although he could have done with a better draw, STANFORD is the logical choice based on the way his previous form has worked out, together with a pleasing report from his astute trainer. He tried to go all the way when last seen at Kempton in October, and though failing by half a lengthy to cope with First View that form was boosted when the winner followed-up for his owners Godolphin.
