Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from UK Racing at Leicester, Hexham, Kempton Park and Lingfield.
Leicester Best Bets
Race 3: PISTOL WHIPPED (5)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson
Jockey: Jerry McGrath
PISTOL WHIPPED is a fascinating candidate on his seasonal reappearance for a top stable. With only three outings under rules to his name, he has more potential than anything in the field, while the way he’s been working suggests first time back is a good time to catch him. His only blip was when pulled up on his final start at Sandown in March when he started a strong favourite. Those losses can now be seen to be merely lent.
Hexham Best Bets
Race 2: LOWANBEHOLD (4)
Trainer: Miss S Forster
Jockey: Thomas Willmott
Veteran course specialist LOWANBEHOLD has plenty to recommend him in this staying handicap chase. His forcing tactics will lend themselves to the conditions and after a string of near-misses his winning turn is overdue. There’s no obvious rival that will take him on for early supremacy, while most of the others have been out of form.
Race 3: MIAH GRACE (1)
Trainer: Jedd O’Keeffe
Jockey: Joe Colliver
The best bet on the card is MIAH GRACE who takes a class drop and is an automatic choice in spite of her penalty. Her only win came over this course and distance, while when narrowly failing to hold off Big Bad Bear at Wetherby she was taking on stronger opposition. Carlisle bumper scorer Legends Rydevis the obvious danger.
Race 5: CUDGEL (8)
Trainer: James Walton
Jockey: Conor O’Farrell
Another boasting good course form, CUDGEL can confirm recent superiority over Espoir Moriviere. The selection has few miles on the clock and looks handily weighted.
Race 6: LASTIN’ MEMORIES (3)
Trainer: Miss S Forster
Jockey: Tom Dowson
If LASTIN’ MEMORIES can match the good run he produced on his reappearance over this course and distance he will be a tough nut to crack. It was a belated entry back into the fray but he really knuckled down towards the finish and was only a length and a half behind Mah Mate Bob at the line.
Kempton Park Best Bets
Race 1: SHINE ON BRENDAN (5)
Trainer: Clive Cox
Jockey: Adam Kirby
Everything points to a massive run by SHINE ON BRENDAN who has everything in his favour. He went down in a photo on his Wolverhampton debut and not only the winner Waddat has won since but also the third home and granted normal improvement from a good draw he looks the answer.
Lingfield Best Bets
Race 2: REINE DE VITESSE (3)
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam
Jockey: Ray Dawson
A smooth course and distance winner when breaking her maiden, REINE DE VITESSE bombed out on her handicap bow at Chelmsford but there were mitigating circumstances that require giving her another chance. She works better than her rating and with her pilot taking 5lbs off her back is one to take seriously.
Leicester Best Bets
Race 1: DARK PHOENIX (4) (Each Way)
Trainer: Paul Cole
Jockey: Hector Crouch
Handicap debutant DARK PHOENIX is better than his form figures indicate and can figure at a big price. His chance disappeared when he was taken out at the start on his Polytrack introduction here last month, while he was too green to do himself justice on two previous outings. Furthermore, he’s had breathing issues which will hopefully be corrected by a first time tongue strap.
Written by Neil Morrice for Hollywoodbets
