Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Market Rasen, Wincanton, Newcastle and Wolverhampton on 23 November 2023.
MARKET RASEN
Race 3 No5 GAYE LEGACY (Each Way)
Trainer: Tom Symonds – Jockey: Benjamin Poste
GAYE LEGACY hails from a very good jumping family and runs in the colours of Scarlet Knipe, sister of former trainer Mercy Rimell. She’s picked up minor cheques in all but one of her six outings under Rules, is a good jumper and will be fitter for her pleasing comeback effort when third at Chepstow.
Race 4 No1 LE MILOS
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
Granted his good record when fresh, LE MILOS looks the way to go in this long distance handicap hurdle. Winner of last season’s Coral Trophy and not disgraced in the Grand National, the eight-year-old is on a readying mission but shouldn’t be understated on this brief flirtation with hurdles.
Race 6 No2 HAUT FOLIN (Nap)
Trainer: Venetia Williams – Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
The best bet on this card is HAUT FOLIN. The former French-based gelding put a disappointing 2022/23 season behind him with a taking comeback success at Ffos Las where he was comfortably in control at the business end. He’s carrying a 7lb penalty, but should prove hard to stop as the track, trip and ground are all in his favour.
WINCANTON
Race 2 No4 SCARFACE
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell
SCARFACE made early mistakes and lost his confidence on chase debut at Ascot, but now finds himself in a calmer situation in which he should be able to get a proper look at his fences. He’s been given plenty of jumping practice since that first run of the season, and is worth another chance.
Race 3 No6 PENTIRE HEAD
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Bryony Frost
Nicholls saddles the first two in the betting for this novices’ hurdle but PENTIRE HEAD could usurp his shorter proved barnmate Il Pino. The selection has strong form in bumpers against Il Pink’s success in a single point-to-point outing, and can give the champion trainer a seventh success in the last nine runnings of the contest.
Race 5 No8 THE TURTLE SAID
Trainer: Neil Mulholland – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
It’s hard to know what THE TURTLE SAID achieved when coming home by a wide margin when last seen at Worcester well over a year ago. The Manduro gelding has endured training issues, but if ready can exploit what could be a handy mark for a trainer adept at getting one fit from a protracted lay off.
Race 6 No4 PILSDON PEN (Nap)
Trainer: Jeremy Scott – Jockey: Rex Dingle
PILSDON PEN is of considerable interest in this two and a half mile handicap chase. The ultra consistent six-year-old was thrown in at the deep end for his first run over fences at Warwick when weak in the market. However, he jumped and travelled beautifully until lack of condition told over the last couple of fences. If that has served to blow away the cobwebs, he can have a big say in the outcome.
NEWCASTLE
Race 1 No12 TAKE IT UPSTAIRS (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Mr William Easterby
TAKE IT UPSTAIRS faces solid opposition in the opening mares’ maiden hurdle but could prove the best value. While coming back off a five-month absence is not ideal, she showed abundant improvement when beaten in a close photo at Hexham in the summer. Though well beaten by Staunton Surf on her only other start at Aintree, she‘s learned plenty since, and can narrow the gap on this switch to hurdles.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 2 No6 SOUTH KENSINGTON (Nap)
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Jason Hart
Blue Point filly SOUTH KENSINGTON failed by an inch to deliver a first career triumph here last week and is out again quickly to make amends. She needs to turn round a Newcastle defeat by Elegant Appeal but is weighted to do so, and will be hard to beat as long as those recent exertions don’t take their toll.
Race 3 No4 PITNEY
Trainer: Hugo Palmer – Jockey: Jason Hart
The same trainer/jockey combo can double up with PITNEY who brings strong form to them table in this novice over a lap of the track. The Mehmas colt needs to circumnavigate a wide draw, but if doing so should prove too strong for Leveret, who has an even bigger mountain to climb from the outer gate (10).
Race 6 No2 CHILLINGHAM (Each Way)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: PJ McDonald
CHILLINGHAM ran well enough in the circumstances even though beaten into ninth in the November Handicap. The fact that the race was switched to Newcastle from Doncaster didn’t help the four-year-old who was unable to show his true ability owing to a sedate early pace, which meant the race turned into a sprint in the last two and a half furlongs. As long as this is run at a decent gallop he can get into the argument, and he has a good winning chance.
