Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips from Tuesday’s British racing coming your way from Bangor-on-Dee, Chepstow, Catterick Bridge and Newcastle on 25/10/2022.
BANGOR-ON-DEE
Race 1 No2 MOT A MOT
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
Ex-French-based MOT A MOT can defend an unbeaten record for his upwardly mobile trainer on this first outing over fences. The grey scored in a bumper and over hurdles before his switch to Thomas, and when scoring in a handicap hurdle at Newbury in April was having a first run following wind surgery. He’s in great form for this switch of racing codes.
Race 4 No1 KEEP RUNNING (Nap)
Trainer: Harry Whittington – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
KEEP RUNNING landed some good bets when scoring on his debut for Whittington at this course and over the same distance last month. Ridden prominently, he stretched clear of Stroll On By on the run in to endorse the promise he’d shown when trained in France. The four-year-old can defy a penalty as he takes on mainly older rivals.
Race 5 No5 PRINCE DES FICHAUX
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
PRINCE DES FICHAUX earned in all three of his starts last season before undergoing a breathing operation. The benefit of that surgery can play its part in him opening his account under Rules in this second handicap outing, and first of the season.
Race 6 No3 LIME DROP
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: Richard Patrick
LIME DROP proved an owners’ dream with five successes from eight starts in the 2021/22 campaign but this is the chestnut’s first visit to Bangor. She operates well with plenty of cut in the ground, and although needing her first run last season she’s closer to being fully primed this time.
CHEPSTOW
Race 1 No2 CHIANTO CLASSICO
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: David Bass
Point and bumper winner CHIANTI CLASSICO experienced a blip, when down the field in the Aintree Bumper in April but has worked and schooled well ahead of this first run over hurdles. His only success under Rules came with cut in the ground, while his trainer has run some of his best novices at Chepstow over the years.
Race 6 No3 CAP DU MATHAN (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Harry Cobden
CAP DU MATHAN had his season cut short after just a couple of outings at the start of the year, and remains a very good prospect that operates effectively when returning from a long absence. He loves to get his toe into the ground, and can put his best foot forward to score on the way to better things.
CATTERICK BRIDGE
Race 1 No5 SERA DAWN (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Franny Norton
SERA DAWN looked like winning on her debut at Yarmouth last week, only to weaken inside the final furlong and fade into fourth behind the more experienced Aunt Violet. Pulled back to five furlongs here, and with a top northern jockey on board, she has a good chance to open her account.
Race 2 No5 PRAYER MATT
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan
PRAYER MATT spent a bit of the season in the wilderness but has signalled with three earning efforts in a row that she’s on the cusp of a return to winning ways. Her issue is that she’s a 16-race maiden, but there’s little doubt she has the ability to stop the rot, and soon.
Race 6 No5 BAY BREEZE
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Duran Fentiman
From the same stable, BAY BREEZE has solid claims to gain a third success of the year, and first away from Ripon. While in the grip,of the assessor after a win at that garden course in early June, he’s now better equipped to deliver in this higher grade, and his shrewd handler looks to have uncovered a good opportunity for him.
NEWCASTLE
Race 5 No3 ZUFFALO (Nap)
Trainer: Michael Dods – Jockey: Connor Beasley
ZUFFALO was coming back off a five months break when claiming a minor cheque behind Squealer at Beverley. That might have done him the power of good, and as one of the least experienced runners in this nursery he makes plenty of appeal.
Race 6 No6 THRAVE
Trainer: Mike Appleby – Jockey: Alistair Rawlinson
THRAVE has proved a regular earner for his trainer over the last three seasons, and though an infrequent winner, has good claims to buck that trend in a race where a saving investment on Bazalgette could also yield a return.
