Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming from Kempton Park, Lingfield Park , Newcastle, and Kenilworth on 10 January 2025.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 1 No2 BARON NOIR
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
BARON NOIR took out a bumper at the Punchestown Festival last spring and has started odds-on for both outings over hurdles this season. He was turned over without any excuses at Warwick, but then made no mistake at Uttoxeter. He’s well regarded at Barbury Castle, and the type that will improve with racing.
Race 4 No4 WELCOM TO CARTRIES (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Harry Cobden
WELCOM TO CARTRIES made an immediate impact when moving into handicaps with a clear cut triumph at Sandown and comes over as a horse that can do his trainer proud with further successes through the winter. He has relatively few miles on his racing clock whilst looking to have seen off a breathing issue, corrected by a second win op.
Race 5 CORAL SILVINIACO CONTI CHASE (Grade 2)
No4 EDWARDSTONE
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Tom Cannon
Old man of the party EDWARDSTONE can roll back the years to post a deserved first victory in almost two years. He’s gone ten races without success since landing the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury in 2024, but his recent second to Djelo in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon offers encouragement that the veteran still has a tune to play out. This feature has cut up and will be tactical, but if delivered at the right time in the final straight he can get the job done.
Race 6 CORAL LANZAROTE HANDICAP HURDLE
No1 FRENCH SHIP (Each Way)
Trainer: Philip Hobbs – Jockey: Callum Pritchard
Continued success this season has seen FRENCH SHIP take a hike in the weights but the six-year-old nevertheless re enters the stage as a big player in the best betting race on the card. But for falling on his Chepstow return the selection would be unbeaten this season, and he was especially impressive in dispatching Guard Duty at Newbury at the end of November. His victim gave the form a mild boost when third at Windsor on New Year’s Day. LANESBOROUGH has been popular in the ante post market for this race and enters calculations following a winning return at Doncaster. A PAI DE NOM represents a trainer/jockey combo that have harvested the major handicap hurdles over the last few seasons, and as the winner of three of his four starts this term he also needs to be taken seriously. At longer odds the Harry Derham-trained JUST ENNEMI needs considering as he joined his handler with a big reputation From France and came back with a genuine excuse when turned over on Rules debut at Haydock.
Prediction: 1st FRENCH SHIP, 2nd Lanesborough, 3rd Just Ennemi, 4th A Pai De Nom
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 5 No5 FLIGHTOFTHEPHOENIX
Trainer: Charlie Hills – Jockey: Ben Sanderson
FLIGHTOFTHEPHOENIX troubled the judge at Wolverhampton in a race that should have brought her forward and now returns to her optimum distance of a mile and a quarter. She’s a nine race maiden, but has signalled on several occasions that she has the ability to win races, hopefully starting today.
Race 6 No7 GOGO YUBARI (Nap)
Trainer: Tony Carroll – Jockey: Harry Vigors
Vigors is good value for his 7lb claim and knows the mare GOGO YUBARI who has solid claims to make this a fourth success from her last five attempts. Back on her favourite terrain, the only stumbling block is her wide draw, meaning her pilot will need to be alert when the gate opens.
NEWCASTLE
Race 4 No7 PINK SOCKS
Trainer: Ian Williams – Jockey: Billy Loughnane
PINK SOCKS had limited experience on sand when joining Williams from Ireland, but in both outings for her current trainer has performed well. After those earning efforts at Wolverhampton and Southwell the Vadamos mare should be perfectly tuned to make this just a second career success after 38 races.
Race No5 TED LE SAUX (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Jason Watson
In running the long odds on Banyan to less than a length on his Lingfield introduction, TED LE SAUX served notice that he will soon be making up for lost time. The pair came a long way clear of the remainder, and if repeating the form the Cracksman gelding can down previous winner Inspired, from whom he receives 7lb.
Race 7 No3 SOUND AND VISION
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: Billy Loughnane
Starman filly SOUND AND VISION made much of the running and quickened well from on the pace when opening her account at Southwell. She appears fairly treated on this first handicap venture in which SEE THAT SPARK might do better in a first time visor, and is worth saving on.
KENILWORTH
Race 1 No2 SWEET GREEN
Trainer: Justin Snaith – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Snaith could easily dominate the opener on a stellar card, with SWEET GREEN preferred to CHAMPAGNE CASTLE. The selection is a daughter of Gimmethegreenlight, who though beaten first time up at odds on, can turn the tables on her conqueror that day, CATWALK KING.
Race 4 CARTIER SCEPTRE STAKES (Grade 2)
No13 PRINCESS OF GAUL (Nap)
Trainer: Dean Kannemeyer – Jockey: Craig Zackey
Although looking to have something to find on the book, PRINCESS OF GAUL has made great strides since her last outing in early December. The daughter of champion sire Vercingetorix put in some very pleasing work last week to suggest 2026 could be a big year for her and she won’t mind a return to 1200 metres, over which she was successful at Greyville last winter. She carries plenty of stable confidence to post.
Race 6 CARTIER PADDOCK STAKES (Grade 1)
No10 RED PALACE
Trainer: Dean Kannemeyer- Jockey: Craig Zackey
Kannemeyer fields three of the ten strong field for the first Grade 1 on the card, and while KEUKENHOF could outrun her long odds, RED PALACE gets the vote. She stopped as if shot after travelling beautifully here last month but subsequent tests revealed nothing to be amiss. Put a line through that and she is probably the only one in the race capable of downing last year’s outstanding winner DOUBLE GRAND SLAM.
Race 8 L’ORMARINS KING’S PLATE (Grade 1)
No7 EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN
Trainer: Justin Snaith – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Horse Of The Year EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN has UK champion jockey Murphy in his irons in what could develop into a battle with his adversary THE REAL PRINCE, who edged him out in a thrilling Durban July Handicap last year. This mile is shorter than ideal for the selection in one of the strongest fields assembled for the historic race in recent years, but the big field should ensure he has a good pace to aim at. The Real Prince looked in very good order blowing out for this at Milnerton on Thursday and has a realistic chance of avenging his defeat by Mike De Kock’s DAVE THE KING in the Green Point over this course and distance last month. De Kock’s other candidate JAN VAN GOYEN was a clear cut winner of the Cape Guineas to jettison his way to favouritism for today’s race, which promises to be worth going a long way to see.
Prediction: 1st EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN, 2nd The Real Prince, 3rd Jan Van Goyen, 4th Dave The King
