Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Monday’s racing coming your way from Nottingham , Southwell , Lingfield , Huntingdon and Hexham on 20 May 2025
NOTTINGHAM
Race 2 No5 BANANA
Trainer: Scott Dixon – Jockey: Joey Haynes
BANANA did us a favour when gaining a well overdue first career win at Bath before finishing second at the same track and looks far happier racing on grass than the AW. She enjoys fast ground, and should again finish in the shake-up.
Race 5 No3 DESERT SHADOW
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor – Jockey: Hector Crouch
With three outings under his belt, Siyouni colt DESERT SHADOW can use his experience edge to good effect against newcomer Native Spirit. After a couple of educational runs at Meydan he stayed on well for second behind Kurakka at Chelmsford with the pair finishing clear. That is the best form on offer in the race.
Race 6 No8 DARN HOT MYSTERY (Nap)
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Trevor Whelan
The most interesting runner of the day is DARN HOT MYSTERY. The daughter of Too Darn Hot made the podium on each of her three starts last year, and though beaten as an odds-on shot at Kempton should find her metier now in a handicap and over a longer trip.
SOUTHWELL
Race 4 No4 CHRISTIAN BRUCE (Nap)
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Tom Cannon
Le Havre filly CHRISTIAN BRUCE raised her game on the second of two starts out of Barbary Castle to trouble the judge at Kempton. She now has a hood added to enable her to settle, and if doing so should prove hard to beat.
Race 5 No2 THE LAST DROP (Each Way)
Trainer: Richard Phillips – Jockey: Finn Lambert
THE LAST DROP has shown traces of ability since joining Phillips and was having a first outing for almost a year on her latest appearance at Uttoxeter. That should have blown away any cobwebs for this weakly contested novices’ handicap hurdle.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 4 No1 PROFIT RECEIVED (Nap)
Trainer: Ollie Sangster – Jockey: Jamie Spencer
It’s hard to look away from PROFIT RECEIVED on an otherwise tricky card for punting. The Profitable filly made no mistake on her first start out of Manton at Wetherby after joining her trainer from Ireland, and this looks easier.
HUNTINGDON
Race 4 No3 KITESURFER
Trainer: Jamie Snowden – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
Fast ground lover KITESURFER has shown an affinity for running well after a break but is fully tuned for this after being raised 4lb for his Ludlow win, which has been boosted. He can kick off a good night for his trainer by taking the spoils.
Race 5 No1 DOC McCOY (Nap)
Trainer: Jamie Snowden – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
The same trainer/jockey combo should deliver with DOC McCOY, who benefitted from an enterprising ride when successful at Fakenham. This is a similarly sharp course round which he will operate and prove hard to peg back.
HEXHAM
Race 3 No5 AM STILL HERE
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Sean Quinlan
AM STILL HERE has encountered cut in the ground when finishing second in three of his last four starts. This is just a second chase start for the gelding, who deserves a change of luck and should operate on this different terrain.
Race 4 No6 HALFWAY HOUSE LAD (Nap
Trainer: Maurice Barnes – Jockey: Charlie Price
Superior jumping helped HALFWAY HOUSE LAD notch back-to-back successes and he only surrendered on the run in when second to Kickaftersix here last time. His recent course knowledge combined with a swing in the weights can enable him to turn the tables on his rival.
Race 7 No9 GRAND SCHEME
Trainer: Sam England – Jockey: Jonathan England
GRAND SCHEME found new reserves to post a first career success at Southwell and will be very hard to beat if running up to that level at the same grade. Aside from Addosh the others are mainly out of form, and that rival has to give the Nap more than a stone.
