Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from UK Racing at Ayr, Kempton, Sedgefield and Southwell on Tuesday 1 October.
Ayr Best Bets
Race 6: GET KNOTTED (2)
Trainer: Michael Dods
Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
GET KNOTTED’s third to Golden Apollo at the Western meeting signals the gelding us on the cusp of a return to winning ways. Beaten just a length and a quarter, it was his best run of the season and he’s back in an arena where he’s fully in his comfort zone, with the testing conditions just what he requires.
Race 7: FANNIE BY GASLIGHT (8)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Tom Eaves
Having landed some good bets at Chester on Saturday, FANNIE BY GASLIGHT can strike again under a 5lb penalty. Revelling in the testing conditions, the filly powered home to score unchallenged and stands out as one to follow in the final weeks of the season. This is a stronger race, but with conditions the same she gets the vote.
Kempton Best Bets
Race 1: TWILIGHTING (6)
Trainer: Henry Candy
Jockey: David Probert
Although TWILIGHTING has proved costly to follow and frequently disappointed, she looks to be in a good place to finally open her account. She’s a well related individual and better than she’s shown so far, though this is very much the last chance saloon.
Race 7: BEER WITH THE BOYS (11)
Trainer: Mick Channon
Jockey: Scott McCullough
The blinkered BEER WITH THE BOYS enjoys the luxury of 5lb taken off his back by a capable apprentice and even though he’s mainly struggled to find his form he indicated by troubling the judge at Bath last month that a race of this nature should be in his compass.
Sedgefield Best Bets
Race 1: HEY BOB (13)
Trainer: Chris Grant
Jockey: Thomas Dowson
Having run well in defeat here, HEY BOB looks certain to get the strongly run race needed to show his best and rates a value Bet Win and Place. Only just out of the money on his latest visit, he has a better chance of earning than looks the case at first sight and should give us a good run for our money.
Race 4: SNOOKERED (6)
Trainer: Brian Ellison
Jockey: Henry Brooke
New tactics paid handsome dividend for SNOOKERED when he made all and came home unchallenged over this course and distance last month. In previous starts when held up he’s often flattered to deceive, but under an aggressive ride he had his mind made up for him. It should have injected some confidence into the 5yo who can take full advantage of 20lb he receives from I’m To Blame.
Southwell Best Bets
Race 2: MANOFTHEMOUNTAIN (1)
Trainer: Emma Lavelle
Jockey: Adam Wedge
The lightly race MANOFTHEMOUNTAIN has few miles on the clock which lends itself to further improvement following his commanding triumph over the marathon three and a quarter trip at Newton Abbot. He was in front a long way out which augers well for a step back on the distance ladder in this novices’ handicap chase.
Race 5: BOOK OF INVASIONS (3)
Trainer: John Ryan
Jockey: Paddy Brennan
Bumper winner BOOK OF INVASIONS makes abundant appeal against some in form novice hurdles and can start the season in the manner he means to go on. Although ultimately well beaten on his final start last season at Aintree he did little wrong outside of that and has the most potential in today’s field.
