Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing coming your way from Cheltenham, Exeter, Catterick Bride, Fakenham, Musselburgh and Southwell on 1 January 2023.
Check out Neil’s video preview for New Year’s Day’s racing coming your way from Cheltenham below:
CHELTENHAM
Race 2 No11 POPPA POUTINE (Each Way)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
The Twiston-Davies stable is starting to find its feet, and should prove worth following into the New Year. It traditionally succeeds at this fixture and POPPA POUTINE has the attributes to deliver a big earning run in this long distance stamina test. The seven-year-old has got better with each start this season, and appeared to relish a longer trip when second in a close photo at Haydock. As a horse who rarely fails to leave without a cheque he needs supporting for a similar fate. It’s his first run in a chase at his local track.
Race 3 Paddy Power Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
No1 BEAUPORT (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Jordan Nailor
If Twiston-Davies has a horse to give him headlines this winter then it is probably BEAUPORT. The seven-year-old might have blotted his copybook at Haydock when no match for Ballygriffincottage, but he was a game winner of a Listed chase on debut over fences at Carlisle, and brings very good hurdling form to the table from last season. In the colours of 1973 Grand National winner Corbiere he’s a horse to follow, and can redeem himself by staving off the strong challenge of Thunder Rock.
Race 4 No13 SHAKEM UP’ARRY (Each Way)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Luca Morgan
Another strong fancy at a cracking meeting is SHAKEM UP’ARRY. The Harry Redknapp-owned gelding is in a wickedly competitive heat that would credit itself as part of the Festival, but the ease of his comeback triumph at Exeter resonates, and it’s worth noting that Morgan has been in the plate on each of the gelding’s last two successes. War Lord, Stolen Silver and Brave Seasca need to be factored into all exotics, and especially the latter who won with ridiculous ease at Aintree on a first start since falling in the Arkle Chase here. He’s clearly very useful, though his stable has missed out on a number of opportunities with its chasers over Christmas.
Prediction: 1st SHAKEM UP’ARRY, 2nd Brave Seasca, 3rd Stolen Silver, 4th War Lord
Race 5 Careers At dornangroup.com Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2)
No4 I LIKE TO MOVE IT
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
First Street landed a serious gamble on reappearance at the big Newbury meeting and could have a fair bit more to give. He’s respected for this class jump, but may find local hope I LIKE TO MOVE IT too hot to handle. The six-year-old took out the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle over two miles in November where he looked strong at the finish. That’s a good sign for this step up in trip, and he can follow-up, with multiple scorer Marie’s Rock and Botox Has others to factor into the equation.
Prediction: 1st I LIKE TO MOVE IT, 2nd First Street, 3rd Marie’s Rock, 4th Botox Has
EXETER
Race 1 No3 SHELDON
Trainer: Seamus Mullins – Jockey: Meaghal Nolan
SHELDON has blotted his copybook by falling on both outings since smoothly delivering on chase debut in the autumn. This normally reliable jumper should be given the opportunity to make amends against paper favourite Marco Island and Garincha.
Race 5 No3 PARTY FUZZ (Nap)
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: Ciaran Gethings
PARTY FUZZ has gone up 8lb for his authoritative comeback triumph at Hereford, but as a horse with few racing miles under his bonnet could easily circumnavigate that rise. He’s performing as well as ever after two wind ops, and appeals as the best bet on a largely tricky card.
CATTERICK BRIDGE
Race 3 No2 GIT MAKER
Trainer: Jamie Snowden – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
Long distance traveller GIT MAKER usually forces the pace, a ploy that can work well around the easy Catterick circuit. He’s on the same mark as when second at Kelso last time, and meets a market rival in Bardenstown Lad who has underwhelmed since being switched to fences.
Race 4 No4 WHITEHAVEN (Nap)
Trainer: Donald McCain Jnr – Jockey: Theo Gillard
WHITEHAVEN was a multiple scorer in deep underfoot conditions on the Flat. Having joined a top jumping yard he is a very interesting recruit to hurdling, is sure to have been well tutored and can make an immediate impact in this new area of the racing spectrum.
FAKENHAM
Race 3 No3 LINCOLN LYN
Trainer: Tom Gretton – Jockey: Lee Edwards
LINCOLN LYN operates well on a sharp course, as illustrated by her Southwell success in the late spring and fourth there back over fences last time out. With a new pilot in her saddle she can land a tight-knit affair.
Race 5 No5 IRISH HILL (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Bryony Frost
IRISH HILL is a rare runner from the Nicholls operation at this course in rural Norfolk. The grey has gone 231-221 in his last six starts after arriving at Ditcheat from a top German stable. He’s regularly heavily supported in the market, and with Frost on board for the first time there could well be a flood of people backing the four-year-old as potentially the best bet on the card.
MUSSELBURGH
Race 4 No4 WARRIORS STORY (Each Way)
Trainer: Nick Alexander – Jockey: Bruce Lynn
WARRIORS STORY deserves reward for his sheer consistency and looks sure to run well in this competitive novices’ handicap hurdle. The selection seems as good over hurdles as he is fences, and after a couple of earning efforts chasing he can maintain his good run of form back over the smaller obstacles.
Race 6 No2 BENSON (Each Way)
Trainer: Sandy Thomson – Jockey: Ryan Mania
Hat-trick seeking Ilanz needs to be respected but this could be the race in which it all falls right for BENSON. From a stable amongst the winners, he’s hit the woodwork on each of his three outings since changing yards, and a repeat of his narrow defeat at Aintree will surely see him go close, even though it was let down by the winner who flopped at Haydock yesterday.
SOUTHWELL
Race 1 No3 MAYFAIR GOLD
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
MAYFAIR GOLD troubled the judge on her handicap bow at Lingfield for which she was raised by just 1lb. It was her third near-miss in as many starts, and she can go one better for a trainer who is selective with his runners here.
Race 7 No8 THE TRON (Nap)
Trainer: Derek Shaw – Jockey: Rose Dawes
THE TRON keeps promising to deliver and needs respecting with a new apprentice on his back for this fourth consecutive visit to Southwell. The grey last out in a tight finish before Christmas, and is poised to notch a first win in almost a year.
