Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Kempton Park, Lingfield Park, Chepstow, Newcastle and Chelmsford City on 25 February 2023.
Check out Neil's video preview for Kempton Park's and Newcastle's racing on Saturday:
KEMPTON PARK
Race 1 Coral Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2)
No1 SCRIPTWRITER (Nap)
Trainer: Milton Harris – Jockey: Paddy Brennan
This late trial for the Triumph Hurdle can fall to SCRIPTWRITER, who though losing his unbeaten record over jumps to Comfort Zone at Cheltenham last month, made the winner fight tooth and nail for the spoils. The former Ballydoyle inmate brings the best form to the table and can consolidate his position as a genuine candidate for honours at the Festival.
Race 2 Coral Pencil Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
No1 BOOTHILL
Trainer: Harry Fry – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
BOOTHILL let his halo slip when beaten by Tommy’s Oscar in a Grade 2 chase at Doncaster, having previously edged out Aucunrisque in the Wayward Lad here at Christmas. This well-regarded individual is the best of these when on song, and with good vibes behind him should make no mistake.
Race 3 No8 OUR POWER (Each Way)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
OUR POWER looked unlucky not to win this race 12 months ago, after which he ran a cracker to finish fifth in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Festival. It looks like his trainer has protected his mark since his game comeback success at Ascot in order to enjoy a carbon copy approach to Cheltenham. As long as his jockey can keep him out of trouble the eight-year-old should take away a big cheque, though in a competitive affair it seems wise to have a saver on CLONDAW CASTLE, whilst also including Saint Calvados and Cap Du Nord in all exotics.
Prediction: 1st OUR POWER, 2nd Clondaw Castle, 3rd Saint Calvados, 4th Cap Du Nord
Race 4 Sky Bet Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2j
No1 HANSARD
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: Jamie Moore
Ex-Irish HANSARD has been very quiet since remaining unbeaten over jumps with a defeat of Master Chewy in the best race run at Plumpton this season. Connections will have to look at a shot at the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle or perhaps the Imperial Cup should he prevail here. Another success for the gelding seems likely, as this track lends itself to a horse with a turn of foot.
Race 5 No7 IVALDI (Each Way)
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Harry Cobden
The giant IVALDI looked to have an educational experience when staying on from the next county to make the frame in a handicap hurdle at Ascot last week. His rider did a good job in anchoring the hard-puller, but by the time they found their stride the birds had flown. Nicholls must be itching for the day the selection switches his attention to fences, but in the meantime, he’s capable of picking up a decent pot over hurdles, and today could easily be his day.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 3 BetUK Winter Derby (Group 3)
No5 LORD NORTH (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Rab Havlin
Gosden is hell-bent on recapturing a contest he’s won on several occasions, as apart from the top class LORD NORTH the Clarehaven trainer fields Forest Of Dean and Harrovian. Though Forest Of Dean returned to near his best when scoring at Newcastle last month, that one will have to be in no mood for passing if he’s to prevent LORD NORTH taking the spoils. The latter was having only a second outing on sand when chasing home Alenquer in this 12 months ago, after which he shared the Dubai Turf pot with Panthalassa at Meydan. He often runs well when returning from a break, and granted a clear run-through should outclass his rivals on his way back to the Carnival.
Race 4 No7 SECURITY CODE
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Rab Havlin
On what should prove a good day for his stable, Gosden can make it a double through the unexposed SECURITY CODE. The son of Territories returns from an enforced absence ten months after his narrow defeat at the hooves of Assessment at Yarmouth. That’s very good form in its own right, and a mark of 90 for this handicap debut does not look insurmountable.
Race 5 No2 BURGLAR
Trainer: a John a Gosden – Jockey: Rab Havlin
My best news in this interesting novice is for newcomer BURGLAR. The Cracksman colt has shown plenty of promise at home and could be too smart for more experienced market rival Garrick Street.
CHEPSTOW
Race 1 No4 BOOM BOOM
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: James Bowen
Henderson looks to have found good opportunity for a couple of his novices in the divisions of the maiden hurdle, starting with BOOM BOOM. The gelding disappointed behind Crambo in a strong race at Ascot, and following a wind op can put that first run over jumps behind him and open his account.
Race 2 No6 HANDS OFF (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: James Bowen
In this one I like HANDS OFF almost as much as the Rory Gallagher song of the same name. The German-bred gelding was placed in the Crambo race, wasn’t disgraced when also earning behind Moon Hunter at Doncaster and ran out on his latest start back on the Town Moor. He’s got an engine, and if avoiding further trouble can trump paper favourite Ioupy Collonges.
Race 3 No4 TOTTERDOWN (Each Way)
Trainer: Richard Phillips – Jockey: Finn Lambert
Confirmed front-runner TOTTERDOWN operates best on courses with a long home straight, as was the case when he prevailed at Leicester. Should he turn for home in charge, the revitalised veteran could be hard to catch.
Race 5 No10 TOP OF THE BILL (Each Way)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Jordan Nailor
Ballybeg and Galileo Silver hold strong claims and must go into exotics, but a more likely winner is the progressive TOP OF THE BILL, who did us another good turn when prevailing in first-time cheekpieces at Exeter, and is arguably unlucky not to be unbeaten this season. He can repeat his course and distance triumph gained in early December for an ownership that includes former trainer Jim Old.
NEWCASTLE
Race 5 Vertem Eider Handicap Chase
No6 SHANTY ALLEY (Each Way)
Trainer: Ben Case – Jockey: Conor O’Farrell
This traditional trial for the Grand National can see SHANTY ALLEY putting a lacklustre run at Doncaster behind him. Having been prominent throughout his previous two solid runs at Wetherby and Newbury, the selection appeared disinterested on the Town Moor and came home a distance behind the winner. If he can get into a rhythm from on the pace the nine-year-old can bounce back to earn at a working man’s price. Others to throw into the equation for exotics wagering are KITTY’S LIGHT, who looks on the way back to for, HOUSTON TEXAS and YOUNG BULL, for whom this has been a long-term aim. He’s been lightly raced in the past couple of seasons and needs to be taken seriously.
Prediction: 1st SHANTY ALLEY, 2nd Young Bull, 3rd Kitty’s Light, 4th Houston Texas
Race 7 No1 JUNGLE JACK (Nap)
Trainer: Donald McCain Jnr – Jockey: Brian Hughes
On paper it’s hard to look away from JUNGLE JACK who just doesn’t know how to run a bad race. The seven-year-old shoulders 12 stone and has paid for his consistency, but this looks a slightly easier assignment than the race in which he came second at Haydock, and unless VOIX DU REVE stages a revival he should win.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 1 No6 WOODSTOCK (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Charles Bishop
Sixties Icon colt WOODSTOCK attracted support and did everything right, only to be mugged in the closing stages on his Southwell introduction. With the benefit of that outing he should stave off the attentions of newcomer Magnusson, who in his own right is worth a market check.
Race 5 No7 BIT HARSH
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Pierre-Louis Jamin
BIT HARSH is enjoying a bountiful winter and it will take a brave man to oppose the gelding as he attempts to stretch his winning sequence to four. He’s looked a new broom since being equipped with cheek pieces, and after a snug recent win at Wolverhampton can show he has even more to offer.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 1-7)
6 x 5 x 5, 1 x 1, 3, 7 x 7, 4 x 1, 5, 9 x 7
R36
