Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from UK Racing at Catterick and Chepstow on Tuesday 29 October.
Catterick Best Bets
Race 5: CORNERSTONE LAD (5)
Trainer: Micky Hammond
Jockey: Graham Lee
Returning from an absence of five months, CORNERSTONE LAD can gain a deserved success on the level before reverting to jumping in the winter. He coped well with the testing conditions when heavily backed and beaten only a neck at Carlisle in May and is fresh and fancied for this. He can show that the losses were merely lent.
Race 8: CHICKENFORTEA (7)
Trainer: Eric Alston
Jockey: Graham Lee
In this ground a high draw might not necessarily be a disadvantage to CHICKENFORTEA who posted his best run of the season when second to Grimsdyke at Redcar last month. He has the natural pace to lead up, and might be hard to catch for a stable that does well with its sprinters.
Chepstow Best Bets
Race 3: SEVERANO (13)
Trainer: Oliver Sherwood
Jockey: Leighton Aspell
SEVERANO is too good to remain a maiden for long and ran well on all four starts last season when never out of the frame. He went into close season quarters early, having put in his best run to get within 11 lengths of subsequent Grade 1 winner Reserve Tank at Sandown in February. He’s reported to have worked well ahead of this, and though opposed by some equally promising foes looks the safest play.
Race 5: COPPERHEAD (2)
Trainer: Colin Tizzard
Jockey: Robbie Power
COPPERHEAD ended last season with all guns blazing and is strongly fancied to complete a hat-trick on this seasonal comeback. His successes over hurdles came on the same winter ground he’ll encounter today, and he’s schooled well for this switch to fences. He has the make and shape to do well as a chaser.
Race 7: GUARDIA TOP (17)
Trainer: Nigel Hawke
Jockey: Sean Bowen
GUARDIA TOP had a choice of engagements at this meeting and this handicap hurdle choice seems logical. He has improved from race to race and revelled on the heavy ground when scoring an all the way first victory at Perth. Similar enterprising tactics could see him in the winners’ circle again.
