Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Cheltenham, Wetherby, and Uttoxeter on 14 November 2025.
CHELTENHAM
Race 1 No2 PARCHMENT
Trainer: David Pipe – Jockey: Jack Tudor
Inclement conditions can boost the chances of French import PARCHMENT remaining unbeaten in this juvenile hurdle. The selection landed an equivalent race at Clairefontaine on his only start for Nick Zetterholm where the testing ground was not a problem to him. He has a tall reputation, and can see off the challenge of PRECIOUS MAN, who debuts for the Skeltons after scoring at Auteuil, and is very much a pea out of the same pod.
Race 2 No2 JUBILEE EXPRESS (Each Way)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Mr Harvey Barfoot
With his chasers in such good form Thomas can look to JUBILEE EXPRESS to strike a blow in this amateur jockeys’ handicap chase. The eight-year-old is a lightly raced individual whose rare appearances over the last two years make him unexposed and open to progression. He’s looked unlucky not to win more than once over fences, having been placed in four of his other five chase starts. He can go well fresh off a break, and has been giving off the right signals at home.
Race 3 PADDY POWER ARKLE CHALLENGE TROPHY TRIAL NOVICES’ CHASE (Grade 2)
No4 BURDETT ROAD
Trainer: James Owen – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
BURDETT ROAD finished third by default in last season’s Champion Hurdle, but nevertheless was a classy performer over hurdles who can now cut it as a novice chaser. If handling these easier underfoot conditions the five-year-old can shake up hot favourite JULY FLOWER, a Graded winner in bumpers and over hurdles who scored very easily on her first run over fences in a beginners’ chase at Limerick.
Race 4 PADDY POWER GOLD CUP HANDICAP CHASE
No8 VINCENZO (Nap)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Dylan Johnston
It’s a potentially big day for Thomas whose VINCENZO has attracted steady support for the major betting race of the weekend. The seven-year-old took to fences like a duck to water last season when scoring at Windsor and Sandown, whilst finishing second on his other two outings here and at Newbury. He’s a very good jumper, gets on well with his jockey and will love the cut in the ground. Everything looks right for him, and I will be disappointed if he’s not bang in the money. JAGWAR is deserving of top weight after a stellar season in which he scored on all but one of his five outings including races here at the end of January and in the Plate at the Festival. He’s a strong traveller who could arrive full of running, but the concession of 11lb to Vincenzo may prove too much. If one of these doesn’t win PANIC ATTACK could be the one to pick up the pieces as he won his only chase start for the Skeltons last season and on just a fifth start for them today remains as dark as you like. One that could go well at a longer price is BAD, who after defending his unbeaten record at Kempton last month makes a belated first visit here as a chaser. If he takes to it he can earn.
Prediction: 1st VINCENZO, 2nd Jagwar, 3rd Panic Attack, 4th Bad
Race 6 No2 FRENCH SHIP
Trainer: Philip Hobbs – Jockey: Ben Jones
Moving into this intermediate handicap hurdle is a step up the class ladder that FRENCH SHIP can take in his stride. He’s unlucky not to be unbeaten this season, having been travelling powerfully when falling at Chepstow and making no mistake off the same mark at this course last month when he fairly powered up the final hill. JURANCON is a horse with solid claims in his own right and one to follow whatever happens today, whilst any support for roughie C’EST DIFFERENT would be of interest granted how well his trainer’s horses have been running.
WETHERBY
Race 2 No7 SMART DECISION
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Sean Quinlan
The Easterbys will have their fair share of winners over jumps this winter and one to follow from Habton Grange is SMART DECISION. He won three of four hurdles outings and unseated on the other occasion, while he’s still qualified to run in novice hurdles. He can cash in here on the way to better things.
Race 4 No1 PUSH THE BUTTON (Nap)
Trainer: Mark Walford – Jockey: Jamie Hamilton
PUSH THE BUTTON made the perfect start for his new handler when successful at Carlisle. The forecast storms in this part of England are heaven sent for the grey, whose need for a longer trip can be eradicated by the testing conditions.
Race 5 No3 SMOKERINGINTHEDARK
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Danny McMenamin
Richards provided a nice winner for us on Thursday and SMOKERINGTHEDARK looks another big chance for him in this handicap hurdle. The selection has always shaped as if a longer trip would benefit him, and this is his chance to show it.
UTTOXETER
Race 4 No5 PASSING KATE (Nap)
Trainer: Matt Sheppard – Jockey: Richard Patrick
PASSING KATE was a three times winner last season from just five outings and scored twice in three over fences. It makes her an unexposed mare who can take full advantage of he receipt of 13lb from top weight Lime Drop.
Race 5 No12 US MARSHALL
Trainer: Oliver Greenall – Jockey: Toby Wynne
An interesting contender by way of his inexperience is US MARSHALL. He won the second of two point-to-point starts to make him a dark horse on his first outing under Rules in this novices’ hurdle. A market check is strongly advised.
