Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips for Monday’s racing at Southwell, Wolverhampton and Lingfield.
Southwell Best Bets
Race 2: NATIONAL ANTHEM (2)
Trainer: David Brown
Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
NATIONAL ANTHEM absolutely bolted up over course and distance when returning from a protracted lay off earlier in the month. The 5yo was out of the stalls like a flash and powered home by four lengths. While the assessor has taken action, he remains a horse with scope for plenty more improvement and can win again.
Race 4: LUCK OF CLOVER (9)
Trainer: Andrew Balding
Jockey: David Probert
There is the mark of a perennial bridesmaid against LUCK OF CLOVER but she is worth a final chance in this weakly contested novice stakes. She hit the board almost every time she ran last year, but has had the first half of the winter to freshen up, suggesting this is the time to catch her.
Wolverhampton Best Bets
Race 2: BARBAROSA (5)
Trainer: Michael Herrington
Jockey: Tom Eaves
The blinkered BARBAROSA is of some interest here, having a good draw and the added advantage of a needed drop in trip. At this distance here last month he would have gone all the way, but the final furlong and a half found him out. He looks guaranteed to enjoy an easy lead, and will be hard to peg back.
Race 8: BEAU GESTE (11)
Trainer: Tony Carroll
Jockey: Ben Curtis
The penny dropped for BEAU GESTE on his latest start here last month when he put all previous disappointments behind him with a resounding success. He’s competing at the same level with a wide draw the only negative but one he can overcome.
Race 3: COLONEL KEATING (2)
Trainer: Richard Rowe
Jockey: James Davies
Although running a stinker at Leicester last time COLONEL KEATING can bounce back returned to a left-handed course where he jumped and shaped beautifully on his seasonal reappearance. That fine effort should have brought him to full fitness but at Leicester he never looked happy and was pulled up. Connections now pull him back on the distance ladder, which will hopefully bring about an escalation in his fortunes.
Race 5: BACT TO BLACK (3)
Last year’s winner BACT TO BLACK has had a couple of outings to put an edge on him and can go well as one of the roughies in this handicap hurdle. He fell away in the home straight in the race won by Pres here back in November but can prove competitive at a time of year when he usually finds some form.
Written by Neil Morrice for Hollywoodbets
