Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from UK Racing at Lingfield and Kempton Park.
Lingfield Best Bets
Race 4: SOCIAL CITY (6)
Trainer: Tony Carroll
Jockey: Franny Norton
SOCIAL CITY and Franny Norton gelled to give us an 8-1 winner over a slightly shorter distance at Chelmsford, looking better the further they travelled. That length and a half triumph is there to be improved on over two miles and on an identical surface, making him very hard to beat.
Race 6: PRINCE OF EAGLES (6)
Trainer: David Lanigan
Jockey: Ben Curtis
In what doesn’t look the toughest of maidens PRINCE OF EAGLES has plenty going for him. On his reappearance, at the start of the month, he blew the start but picked up in eyecatching style to stay on into the money behind Summit Reach. Granted a fairer playing field here, and from a good draw, he should get into the shake-up.
Kempton Park Best Bets
Race 2: ROYAL CASTLE (4)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: Adam Kirby
Too green to do himself justice on debut at Chelmsford, ROYAL CASTLE can turn the tables on To Nathaniel who finished one place in front of him. The selection was easy to back and needed to be pushed along from the back of the field but responded and when the penny dropped put in his best work when the birds had flown. He will be more streetwise now.
Race 5: SHINE ON BRENDAN (1)
Trainer: Clive Cox
Jockey: Adam Kirby
From a plum draw, SHINE ON BRENDAN will be hard to beat as he steps out of the sprint bracket. He’s good all-round tactical speed should serve him well to make this handicap bow over a more appealing seven furlongs.
Race 8: MERWEB (7)
Trainer: Heather Main
Jockey: Jack Mitchell
Everything looks right for MERWEB to serve up a repeat of his very good run in defeat here last month. He tried to wire that mile contest and was only denied by Normal Norman in the final 150 yards. From a plum draw one off the fence and back to a more suitable seven furlongs, he should be hard to catch.
Warwick Best Bets
Race 5: KASHMIR PEAK (2)
Trainer: Alan Hill
Jockey: Mr J Andrews
Although he’s been absent for more than 300 days the ultra-consistent KASHMIR PEAK could turn back the clock. The veteran represents top connections in the hunter-Chase division and faces rivals that are beatable.
Race 6: BARDD (6) (Each Way)
Trainer: Danni O’Neill
Jockey: Page Fuller
BARDD was too free in front when starting an 80-1 roughie at Newbury last month but nevertheless remained competitive until after jumping the penultimate flight. He’s always had plenty of ability and a change of stables might help him spring a surprise as he returns to the handicap hurdle sphere.
Catterick Best Bets
Race 4: MINELLA TRUMP (6)
Trainer: Donald McCain
Jockey: Brian Hughes
Connections of unbeaten MINELLA TRUMP had elected to go down the handicap route with the gelding whose been most impressive in his three outings under Rules to date. He has loads more scope for progression than anything else in the field, giving him the look of a ‘good thing’.
Written by Neil Morrice for Hollywoodbets
