Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing taking place Musselburgh, Taunton and Leopardstown.
Musselburgh Best Bets
Race 1: BUCKLED (9)
Trainer: Sandy Thomson
Jockey: Ryan Mania
Getting weigh5 from all his rivals, BUCKLED has a fine chance to endorse his liking for this course following a spirited revival that saw him come home unchallenged over this trip last month. This is a stronger race but he’s a relatively fresh horse and even at ten has scope to progress off his current mark.
Race 2: EL PICADOR (1) (Each Way)
Trainer: Keith Dalgleish
Jockey: Sean Quinlan
The Scottish Triumph Hurdle can remain on home soil via EL PICADOR who is the only course winner in the field. He carries a penalty for his troubles but has subsequently run valiantly in defeat against the smart Never Do Nothing at this course. His familiarity with the terrain can stand him in good stead against some top southern stables.
Taunton Best Bets
Race 4: VIENNA COURT (3)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies
Jockey: Sam Twiston- Davies
The form of VIENNA COURT has a very solid ring to it and the 5yo can return to winning ways in this mares’ novice hurdle. She made Fair Kate pull out all the stops in a Newbury handicap since when she’s enjoyed a refreshing break.
Race 5: QUITE BY CHANCE (10) (Each Way)
Trainer: Colin Tizzard
Jockey: Brendan Powell
QUITE BY CHANCE gives away upwards of three years to his rivals on a return from more than 300 days off the course. However, he likes this course, has shown he can operate well when fresh, and will represent better value than stablemate Shoal Bay who also holds decent claims.
Leopardstown Best Bets
Race 2: CERBERUS (3)
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Jockey: Mark Walsh
Although unable to cope with Allmankind in the Summit Hurdle at Chepstow, CERBERUS remains a top juvenile prospect and can follow in the hoof prints of the ill-fated 2019 winner of this, Sir Erec. Joseph O’Brien can’t put Cerberus in that category just yet, but if the gelding gets a more positive ride than last time this strong galloper and slick jumper can enhance his Cheltenham claims with another win.
Race 4: COLUMN OF FIRE (13) (Each Way)
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Jack Kennedy
This is a baptism of fire for COLUMN OF FIRE in his first venture into a handicap, but as an authoritative winner of a Punchestown maiden hurdle last time and representing top connections he is a prospective joker in the pack and can put in an earning run.
Race 6: DELTA WORK (5)
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Jack Kennedy
Ireland’s version of the Cheltenham Gold Cup can go to DELTA WORK whose connections come here after side-stepping the Cotswold Chase last weekend. As a winner of four of his last six starts the 7yo boasts an upwardly mobile profile that makes him of serious interest against more established performers such as Presenting Percy and Kemboy. He showed a terrific will to win when passing four rivals on the run-in here at Christmas, a quality that can manifest itself again in a cracking feature.
Race 8: BIGBADANDBEAUTIFUL (1)
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Mr Jamie Codd
The heavily penalized BIGBADANDBEAUTIFUL has been strutting her stuff in Listed company and takes very strong claims into this concluding mares’ bumper. She oozed class when completing a hat-trick at Navan back in November and is fresh and fancied to continue her impressive sequence at the main expense of Castra Vetera.
