Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Sunday’s UK racing (5th January 2020) taking place at Plumpton and Southwell.
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Southwell Best Bets
Race 1 – No 1 ZAPPER CLASS
Trainer: Mike Appleby
Jockey: Ben Curtis
ZAPPER CLASS landed some good bets over course and distance last week and bids to strike while the iron’s still hot. The visored 4yo made virtually all but was ultimately well on top and powered clear in the final furlong. If turning up in similar mood he will be hard to stop.
Race 2 – No 1 SHERPA TRAIL
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: Luke Morris
Inexperience cost SHERPA TRAIL possibly victory on his Wolverhampton introduction in which he ran green when hitting the front early in the short home straight. Although the cash that came for him went west, he has a fine chance to prove now that the losses were merely lent.
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Plumpton Best Bets
Race 1 – No 1 HIGHWAY ONE O TWO
Trainer: Chris Gordon
Jockey: Leighton Aspell
The hooded HIGHWAY ONE O TWO impressed over this course and distance, opening his account by a wide margin last month. He justified good market support and showed that testing underfoot conditions hold no perils for him. His stable is going through a purple patch, and he looks a good bet for early bird punters to hit the ground running.
Race 2 – No 3 KINGS WALK
Trainer: Colin Tizzard
Jockey: Harry Cobden
Tizzard has chosen a quiet return to the fray for KINGS WALK who although only appearing five times over hurdles last season has always promised to find his forte over fences. He’s shown an aptitude for the larger obstacles at home and is fit for this after a near 300-day absence.
Race 3 – No 2 TOP MAN
Trainer: Chris Gordon
Jockey: Leighton Aspell
This looks another great chance for the Gordon yard to strike, as TOP MAN lived up to his billing when hacking up over this course and distance last month after being backed as if defeat was out of the question. He gets the vote over Cat Tiger who was turned over when long odds-on at Lingfield in November.
Race 4 – No 4 THE PREMIER CELTIC
Trainer: Pat Phelan
Jockey: Sean Houlihan
Connections of THE PREMIER CELTIC went for a touch at Fontwell and the gelding looked for a long way like footing the bill for Christmas. He travelled kindly and was only run out of it by Jimmy over the last flight of hurdles and on the run in. That marked a step up on previous efforts, and if repeated should see him go one better.
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