Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Saturday 8 February 2025

NEWBURY

Race 2 No9 MAGICAL KING (Each Way)
Trainer: Stuart Edmunds – Jockey: Ciaran Gethings

Up For Parol looks certain to run well in this good betting heat, while the giant Ivaldi could easily improve from his first run back and get into the money. That pair will go into all permutations, but for a single bet MAGICAL KING is preferred. While his future will certainly be as a chaser, he deserves to pick up a decent prize and the race should be run to suit him. He’s doesn’t always find as much as it looks like he will, though today can prove an exception.

Race 4 WILLIAM HILL BEST ODDS GUARANTEED GAME SPIRIT CHASE (Grade 2)

No6 MATATA
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: JJ Slevin

With Sir Gino getting ruled out at the eleventh hour this could have fallen into the lap of MATATA. The bold front runner has always been thrilling to watch, but when ridden for the first time by his owners’ newly retained Jockey Slevin he seemed to take his form to a new zenith. He came home unchallenged at the end of that first visit to Windsor, and can preserve a one from one unbeaten record at this track to elevate his Queen Mother Champion Chase claims.

Race 5 WILLIAM HILL HANDICAP HURDLE

No12 SECRET SQUIRREL
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Sean Bowen

Favourites have a habit of running well in this betting extravaganza and the same should ring true about SECRET SQUIRREL, who landed some good bets on his latest start at Windsor and deserves to take out a big pot. The flashy looking chestnut with a flaxen tail is easy to spot, and I’m fairly confident he will be at the forefront of proceedings jumping the final flight. Not only is his normally cautious trainer openly optimistic, but he has title chasing Jockey Bowen in the saddle for the first time. JOYEUSE has run well in both her starts this season and looks the best of Nicky Henderson’s runners while FAVOUR AND FORTUNE should improve from a promising first run back and get into the shake-up.

Prediction: 1st SECRET SQUIRREL, 2nd Favour And Fortune, 3rd Joyeuse, 4th Navajo Indy

Race 6 No3 PIC ROC (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Ben Jones

PIC ROC blotted his copybook when overjumping on his debut over fences at Carlisle. That was a shame, because he’s an exciting prospect who should definitely one to follow as a chaser. On what could be a big day for his trainer, he can stave off the attentions of HILLCREST who after a couple of disappointments should not be written off.

WARWICK

Race 2 No6 CELTIC ART (Each Way)
Trainer: Jeremy Scott – Jockey: Lorcan William

CELTIC ART has shown throughout his career that elevated starting prices are no barrier to success. He went off at 18-1 when winning at Lingfield, and though that was back in 2023 he’s subsequently troubled the judge when 22-1 and 33-1. I can find faults in the claims of most of his rivals, making him an attractive each-way proposition.

Race 5 No2 SHAKEM UP’ARRY (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Callum Pritchard

It was a pity SHAKEM UP’ARRY went out as an early casualty on his seasonal reappearance at Cheltenham, because the way the race unfolded suggests he would have played a big part in the outcome. While that uncharacteristic spill slightly derailed a detailed plan to head back to the Festival, he can put himself in line for a crack at winning The Plate again by delivering on a first visit to this course. The sequence of five fences down the back should play to the strengths of this normally very good jumper, and he’s in great form.

UTTOXETER

Race 3 No3 LUCKY LUGGER (Nap)
Trainer: Matt Sheppard – Jockey: Richard Patrick

After travelling best for much of the journey, LUCKY LUGGER weakened into third at Huntingdon. He has a frustrating habit of finding a couple to beat him, but this race has cut up in his favour, and on just a sixth outing over fences he still possesses room for progression.

Race 5 No1 EL GRANJERO
Trainer: Clive Boultbee-Brooks – Jockey: Richard Patrick

This stable has been amongst the winners, and what’s to like about EL GRANJERO is that he’s inched closer to a win with each of three runs this season and should now be primed for a delivery. He faces strong competition from Hourvari, but should be good enough.

NEWCASTLE

Race 1 No6 PLAGE DE HAVRE (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Jason Watson

PLAGE DE HAVRE rates a winner without a penalty after scoring by a nose and then getting disqualified on handicap debut at Southwell. By Le Havre out of a mare by Lope De Vega, he’s taken well to the all-weather and is a lightly raced individual representing a yard with an enviable strike-rate.

Race 2 No4 CHARLIE’S CHOICE
Trainer: David Simcock – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark

CHARLIE’S CHOICE dug deep to get the job done when a well supported favourite at Southwell and now makes only a second visit to Gosforth Park, and a first in 16 months. Kieran Shoemark is unbeaten on him on two rides and I fancy the combination can keep that record intact.

WOLVERHAMPTON

Race 3 No2 MEET ME IN MERAKI
Trainer: David Evans – Jockey: George Downing

As an authoritative course and distance scorer last time, MEET ME IN MERAKI needs to be taken seriously. He has formed a useful connection with his jockey and is well drawn for this race around a lap of the racecourse.

Race 5 No2 AUTUMN ROSE (Nap)
Trainer: Tony Carroll – Jockey: Hollie Doyle

AUTUMN ROSE demonstrated her liking for Dunstall Park when scoring here last week when Doyle was in her saddle for the first time. From her higher mark the Ten Sovereigns filly can back it up, as this contest doesn’t look any stronger.

Race 8 No5 MOUNT OLYMPUS (Each Way)
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Rossa Ryan

MOUNT OLYMPUS is carded to start a double-figure price in this stayers’ finale and could prove the solution. Not without his issues, he returned from an enforced absence to be greeted with a chequered experience in just three outings in 2024. However, he now has a jockey that’s won three times on him returned to his saddle, and there could be a renaissance.