Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Tuesday 8 April 2025

PONTEFRACT

Race 4 No11 WEN MOON (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Haslam – Jockey: Andrew Mullen

There’s a great deal to like about WEN MOON breaking from the rail on this turning 1000 metres course. He is a winner and placed three times from five visits to the track and has won or been placed on seasonal return for each of the last two seasons. He greatly appeals as a bet worth waiting for.

Race 5 No6 MIDDLETON VIEW
Trainer: Clive Cox – Jockey: David Probert

A race that WEN MOON won two years ago can fall to MIDDLETON VIEW, who served notice he will soon be winning when second in a Kempton novice in February. The Bated Breath gelding should be seen in a better light now going down the handicap route.

CARLISLE

Race 1 No1 DOUBLE DIGITS ( Nap)
Trainer: Ann Hamilton – Jockey: Danny McMenamin

DOUBLE DIGITS takes his chance here after a choice of engagements and his connections must have high hopes of their seven-year-old landing a first success under Rules. He made the podium on two of his three visits to Newcastle and should find this course with its stiff uphill finish just his cup of tea.

Race 7 No1 I’M A STARMAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Mark Rimell – Jockey: Callum Pritchard

I’M A STARMAN is a rare runner here for his trainer who surely means business with the top weight. The booking of top conditional Pritchard is a boon to the veteran, for whom this represents a class drop.

SOUTHWELL

Race 3 No8 ALONDRA (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Hills – Jockey: Jason Watson

Sergei Prokofiev filly ALONDRA showed ability at Grade 1 tracks in a fruitless juvenile campaign and is very much the type to do better in handicaps. However, her trainer appears to have found the perfect opening for her following an earning run at the track on reappearance that has served to sharpen her up.

Race 4 No7 ELIZA BENNETT
Trainer: James Fanshawe – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt

Several take the eye in this all-aged fillies’ handicap but none more so than ELIZA BENNETT. The three-year-old has proved easy to back on all three career starts but raised her game for a near miss on a first all-weather run at this track in the autumn. She just needs to show she’s ready for a first outing in almost six months.

Race 6 No6 HERETIC (Each Way)
Trainer: Michael Herrington – Jockey: Dylan Hogan

Herrington saddles two and the betting suggests BILLY MCGARRY is his main arrow. The six-year-old gained a deserved success over course and distance which followed a sequence of five near misses, but stablemate HERETIC is three times his price and could prove better value. My selection has shown distinct improvement in his last two races, and looks ready to win soon.

Race 7 No2 KIRKDALE
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez

KIRKDALE improved from race to race in three outings as a juvenile to sign off with a Catterick success for which he was very strong in the market. The Zelzal gelding has done well for his winter break, and from a good slot on the rail can take out an interesting finale.