Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Friday 3 January’s racing at Hereford, Musselburgh, Wolverhampton and Southwell.
Hereford Best Bets
Race 4: FONTLEY HOUSE (2)
Trainer: Tom George – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
Stamina looks the strong suit of FONTLEY HOUSE who can follow up his game success at Kempton. He responded well to pressure to score going away and will appreciate stepping up the distance ladder.
Race 5: LOCKER ROOM TALK (1)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Mr Jack Savage
This is a warm novice chase in which tactics should prove key. LOCKER ROOM TALK spreadeagled his field when scoring in easy conditions at Taunton and there’s every chance he can again dominate on this similarly easy track. If he can shake off the attentions of Colorado Doc he should prove hard to catch.
Race 7: GETAWAY TOTHEROCK (3)
Trainer: Alistair Ralph – Jockey: Liam Treadwell
The Ludlow triumph of GETAWAY TOTHEROCK a fortnight ago suggests she is fast improving and the fact she started a 20-1 roughie indicates that was a pleasant surprise for her connections. She likes to be competitive and given the similarity between the respective courses she should be firmly in her comfort zone.
Wolverhampton Best Bets
Race 2: GRIGGY (5)
Trainer: Sean Curran – Jockey: Adam Kirby
Hat-trick seeker GRIGGY faces a stiffer test off a 7lb higher mark than for his latest triumph at Lingfield but the manner of those lower grade victories suggests he’s improving faster than the assessor can keep up with him, while he has a good draw and a top-flight jockey in the irons.
Race 3: KNOCKABOUT QUEEN (2) (Each Way)
Trainer: Tony Carroll – Jockey: Shane Kelly
The draw is all-important and from her berth two off the fence, KNOCKABOUT QUEEN can’t afford a slip. She blew that start on her latest outing over course and distance but is now down a notch on the class ladder, and holds good win and place claims.
Musselburgh Best Bets
Race 1: TOBY MAGUIRE (7)
Trainer: Ben Pauling- Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Former winning point-to-pointer TOBY MAGUIRE returns from an enforced lay off of 635 days but is still only a 7yo with his future in front of him. After a stuttering start his stable is now firing out winners and he‘s travelled a long way, suggesting the team mean business.
Race 6: IRISH ROE (4)
Trainer: Peter Atkinson – Jockey: Henry Brooke
This is a big step up in trip for IRISH ROE but getting 7lbs from the other three runners could be a telling factor. The selection ran a cracker in defeat to Blu Cavalier at her favourite course of Doncaster and is set to go one better.
Race 7: NOT AT PRESENT (6)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Should the ground continue to dry out it should play to the strengths of NOT AT PRESENT whose sire Presenting produces mainly good ground performers. The 5yo has shown ability in his preparation for this and can make his mark at the first time of asking.
Southwell Best Bets
Race 1: MERRYWEATHER (1)
Trainer: Mike Appleby – Jockey: Alistair Rawlinson
MERRYWEATHER scored at 22-1 in stony silence at Lingfield, managing to overcome a wide draw to lead throughout. The boot’s on the other foot today as the filly breaks from the rail. She’s had a nice break of a month and is fresh and fancied for this.
Race 3: MASTER BURBIDGE (2)
Trainer: Neil Mulholland – Jockey: Liam Keniry
The ultra-consistent MASTER BURBIDGE might have prevailed at Wolverhampton but for running with the choke out and is worth backing to make amends on this much slower surface. He’s a strong traveller that responds well to the kid-glove handling his jockey will orchestrate.
