Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Leicester, Exeter, Ayr and Kempton Park on 1 February 2023.
LEICESTER
Race 3 No4 CUTHBERT DIBBLE (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston- Davies
CUTHBERT DIBBLE should have the wherewithal to take out this novices’ hurdle in which stamina will be at a premium. The Kayf Tara gelding makes a welcome step up the distance ladder after troubling the judge on consecutive visits to this Oadby course, and while Gardener didn’t manage to endorse his most recent offering at Hereford yesterday the selection has been going well at home.
Race 4 No2 STRIKING A POSE (Each Way)
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
STRIKING A POSE is lightly raced this season and a horse with only seven career starts over fences could up his game. Though well beaten in two visits to Kempton, he was not disgraced and now takes a step down in class with a new jockey in the irons. He’s always struck me as the type that likes to dominate, and he could lead this field pillar to post.
Race 5 No3 FAYE CE QUE VOUDRAS
Trainer: Kerry Lee – Trainer: Richard Patrick
This trainer has a good record at the course, one that can be boosted through a success for FAYE CE QUE VOUDRAS. The Getaway mare has good form in a select campaign over hurdles, and was reasonably impressive in opening her account on handicap debut at Hereford where cut in the ground held no perils for her.
EXETER
Race 1 No2 LIME DROP (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: Ben Godfrey
Prolific winning mare LIME DROP is the first of a number of tempting bets at this meeting in the conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle. Though higher in the weights for her five victories over hurdles last season, she ran an absolute cracker to chase home Midnight Ginger in a competitive heat at Newbury on New Year’s Eve and if turning out in the same sort of form should get into the shake-up.
Race 2 No1 FIRST LORD DE CUET (Nap)
Trainer: David Pipe – Jockey: Fergus Gillard
FIRST LORD DE CUET should be able to dominate this small field novice chase. The grey has found one to beat him in four consecutive outings over fences, but some decent types have thwarted him, including Monbeg Genius at Chepstow last time.
Race 4 No10 KINGSMILL GIN (Each Way)
Trainer: Jackie du Plessis – Jockey: James Best
KINGSMILL GIN frequently attracts market support and is one to back early doors for this two-and-a-half mile handicap chase. The mare is getting bundles of weight from her foes and should be happier operating over a slightly shorter distance after failing to get home at Taunton.
Race 5 No9 THE KING OF RYHOPE
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
This is best left to THE KING OF RYHOPE to endorse with a first win under Rules the promise shown in his first run over jumps at Carlisle back in the autumn. On heavy ground, the selection kept on well to make a race of it with Grove Road, and he’s delighted the Skeltons with his subsequent progress at home.
Race 7 No2 TOP OF THE BILL (Each Way)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Jordan Nailor
TOP OF THE BILL picked up well for a stylish success on his reappearance at Chepstow, but seemed to be caught out by a muddling pace in his next start at Newcastle. He turned into the home straight in rear, was outpaced when the tempo quickened from the front but then stayed on to claim a minor cheque. Key to his chance today is a strong pace to aim at, but he should get it in this bigger field.
AYR
Race 5 No1 UNCLE ALASTAIR
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Brian Hughes
Veteran UNCLE ALASTAIR enjoys a gap between his races these days, so this first run since the end of November should provide perfect timing. The eleven-year-old won five times in bumpers and novice hurdles before undergoing a series of breathing operations. Though yet to win over fences, he’s finished second four times from only six attempts, including when chasing home Morning Spirit on his latest outing at Carlisle.
Race 7 No CHALK THAT DOWN (Nap)
Trainer: Donald McCain Jnr – Jockey: Brian Hughes
Mount Nelson mare CHALK THAT DOWN will hopefully be a bet worth waiting for in the nightcap. She made a pleasing start to her career when second in a Newcastle bumper on Boxing Day and will be hard to beat if stepping up on that.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 4 No11 WONDER LEGEND
Trainer: James Ferguson – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
From a wide draw, Golden Speech looks one to oppose. The favourite is in a race that’s his to lose and the one that can cause him problems is WONDER LEGEND. The son of Sea The Stars was only just out of the money on his debut here and had a lot more behind him than in front. Granted normal progress and from a far more favourable place in the gate he can open his account.
Race 5 No9 NOISY NIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Roger Charlton – Jockey: David Probert
Although his appearances have been conspicuous in their scarcity over the past 16 months, NOISY NIGHT can bring an impressive all-weather record of three course wins and two placed efforts at Newcastle from as many starts to the table, making him a horse that could have more to offer. He seems to have put his problems behind him judging from the way he kept on for a cheque after being heavily supported at Gosforth Park last time and now has a top pilot in his saddle for the first time.
Race 8 No4 TINCHOO (Each Way)
Trainer: Heather Main – Jockey: Joshua Bryan
My eye is drawn to TINCHOO whose dam Tinshu was a proper black type performer, who carried these colours under the tutelage of Derek Haydn Jones. The Adaay mare belatedly opened her account over course and distance at the start of last month, and with that confidence boost can now follow up off her revised mark.
