Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing taking place at Sandown Park, Exeter and Sedgefield.
Sandown Park Best Bets
Race 3: BURBANK (1)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Jockey: Jerry McGrath
BURBANK has to give away upwards of 3lb to his foes in this novices’ limited handicap chase but the lightly-raced gelding has bundles of potential after making a smooth transition to fences at Kempton. While he only had two opponents he came home a distance clear of Sao who is no slouch, a win that will have done bundles for his confidence level.
Race 4: HOUSE ISLAND (1)
Trainer: Paul Webber
Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
From a stable that provided us with a winner yesterday, HOUSE ISLAND can step up to the plate in this Grade 2 hurdle. He has nothing to fear from Enrilo on Ludlow form from last month and although facing highly rated novices from top stables is good value at a big double-figure price.
Race 5: BOUGHTBEFORELUNCH (7)
Trainer: Paul Webber
Jockey: Mr Jack Savage
Consistency is the watchword of BOUGHTBEFORELUNCH who should relish the Sandown fences that make jumping a premium requirement. He has a pull 8n the weights with Barbrook Star and Follow The Swallowwho beat h8m at Warwick and his small stable is amongst the winners.
Exeter Best Bets
Race 1: ALL GOOD THINGS (5)
Trainer: Matt Sheppard
Jockey: Stan Sheppard
It was a modest contest that ALL GOOD THINGS won at Southwell but in coming home 15 lengths clear of Agentleman could hardly have been more impressive. It’s most unlikely that the handicapper has got hold of him yet, and he’s strongly fancied by connections to follow up under a penalty.
Race 3: PRESENT VALUE (5)
Trainer: Evan Williams
Jockey: Adam Wedge
In a race won by the outstanding Defi Di Seuil last year, PRESENT VALUE can emerge triumphant in a tightly knit novices’ chase. The selection was ridden with kid-glove preservation on his debut over fences at Aintree but picked up steadily from a long way off the pace to chase home Champagne Mystery. That educational outing has done him the world of good, and he has more scope for progression that any of these.
Race 2: SHAWS BRIDGE (10)
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: Craig Nichol
Dakota Beat will be a tough nut to crack chasing a hat-trick but in SHAWS BRIDGE he has a doughty opponent who will represent better value. The selection was a costly failure when backed as if defeat was out of the question at Downpatrick back in September but has schooled and worked well ahead of this switch to hurdles.
