Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Sandown Park, Aintree, Chepstow and Wolverhampton on 3 December 2022.
SANDOWN PARK
Race 1 No1 AUTHORIZED SPEED (Nap)
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: Jamie Moore
AUTHORIZED SPEED looked an exciting prospect when dotting up on his debut over jumps in heavy ground at Lingfield. The five-year-old will encounter similar underfoot conditions and can establish himself as an early contender for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. He was the first British-trained horse home in the Champion Bumper there in March, and could go a long way this season.
Race 5 No3 LOVE ENVOI
Trainer: Harry Fry – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
LOVE ENVOI took out a Grade 2 hurdle here en route to her Cheltenham Festival success and takes outstanding claims into this handicap as the winner of all but one of her starts under Rules. Her sole defeat happened at the Fairyhouse Festival in April, and she’s strongly fancied to get back to winning ways on this first outing since.
Race 6 BETFAIR TINGLE CREEK CHASE (Grade 1)
No2 EDWARDSTONE
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Tom Cannon
After successive weekends of big-name withdrawals, this marquee two-miler has attracted a stellar cast, with nothing in the field likely to detour at the eleventh hour. SHISHKIN blotted his copybook in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at March but otherwise boasts an impeccable record. He will head the market for sure but needs to be near his best if he’s to repel GREANETEEN and EDWARDSTONE. The former looked as good as ever when taking out the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, but EDWARDSTONE could prove an even bigger threat. Last season’s Arkle Chase hero has been forced to skip a couple of opportunities but has plenty to recommend him back at the course where he stylishly landed a Grade 1 novice chase a year ago. His ability to race and jump close to the pace can stand him in good stead over the tricky Raliway fences, while he gets two miles on a stiff track better than most of the protagonists for this season’s two-mile championship.
Prediction: 1st EDWARDSTONE, 2nd Greaneteen, 3rd Shishkin
Race 7 No4 ALMAZHAR GARDE (Each Way)
Trainer: Charlie Longsdon – Jockey: Lilly Pinchin
ALMAZHAR GARDE was responding well to new hold-up tactics when edging into contention in the Southern National at Fontwell, only to take an uncharacteristic fall at halfway. None the worse for the spill, he can make his mark at a working man’s price in this long distance handicap chase.
AINTREE
Race 4 BoyleSports Many Clouds Chase (Grade 2)
No6 SOUNDS RUSSIAN
Trainer: Ruth Jefferson – Jockey: Callum Bewley
All eyes will be on Ahoy Senor as he bids to redeem his reputation, one tarnished by an underwhelming comeback run at Wetherby. The exciting front runner is likely to be taken on for the lead by Dashel Drasher, and the race could be set up for SOUNDS RUSSIAN to stake a claim that he might be a Gold Cup horse in chrysalis. The seven-year-old is a strong traveller and fluent jumper who doesn’t waste much time in the air. He greatly impressed when coming home unchallenged on his reappearance at Kelso and is ready for this stiffest test of his chase career so far.
Race 5 BoyleSports Becher Handicap Chase
(Premier Handicap)
No4 HILL SIXTEEN (Each Way)
Trainer: Sandy Thomson – Jockey: Ryan Mania
Snow Leopardess goes well fresh off a break but has to carry 23lb more than for her victory in this 12 months ago. The grey will be fitter than for her comeback run but faces better handicapped opponents, of whom Fantastikas, Fortescue and HILL SIXTEEN stand out. Fantastikas is likely to be shaper than for his own below par first run back and represents connections that have to be taken seriously with their runners over the National fences. Fortescue troubled the judge in a hot novice hurdle at Bangor that has served the purpose of blowing away the cobwebs. But HILL SIXTEEN is also nearer his peak following a good run to chase home SPUNDS Russian at Kelso, and although a lot higher in the weights than when beaten a nose by Snow Leopardess in 2021, comes here in better form than the mare, and looks the pick of the field.
Prediction: 1st HILL SIXTEEN, 2nd Fortescue, 3rd Fantastikas, 4th Snow Leopardess
Race 6 No7 RIDERS ON THE STORM (Each Way)
Trainer: Richard Hobson – Jockey: Brian Hughes
After spending a season in the wilderness, RIDERS ON THE STORM came back to capitalise on a greatly reduced mark when landing the Old Roan Chase on his reappearance here and has to be of serious interest off just 2lb higher. Elvis Mail, Knight In Dubai and the veteran Clan Legend will also go into my exotics perm in a wickedly competitive heat, but if Riders On The Storm comes here in the same form as last time, he’s going to be a leading player and take home a sizeable cheque.
CHEPSTOW
Race 1 No10 TOP OF THE BILL
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Jordan Nailor
TOP OF THE BILL has not managed to live up to his home reputation so far, but after putting in an eye taking performance on his seasonal return will be more fine-tuned for this step up to three miles, and if avoiding mistakes should be seriously involved.
Race 2 No5 GALUDON
Trainer: Harry Whittington – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
GALUDON represents a trainer whose runners since the temporary shutdown of his stables have fared well. The selection shaped well behind Chianti Classico at this course in late October, with the winner boosting the form in emphatic fashion at Market Rasen on Thursday.
Race 3 No5 FRAGINANE
Trainer: Harry Whittington – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
While not fully tuned for his first outing in 20 months, FRAGINANE is too good a horse to lightly dismiss as he goes straight into a handicap for his debut over fences. This might not be the strongest of races, and should one or two of the market principals fail to show up, he can capitalise.
Race 7 No9 HE KNOWS BETTER (Nap)
Trainer: Harry Whittington – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
HE KNOWS BETTER can help make it a good day for his trainer, having done really well since earning on his introduction here last month. The chestnut went well in his winding-up gallop for this, and even though many of the top stables are represented he won’t be far away.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 5 No2 KING OF THE SOUTH
Trainer: William Knight – Jockey: David Egan
KING OF THE SOUTH deservedly got back in the groove with a win at Newcastle last time. He’s kept company with some smart handicappers on the all-weather and has a good chance of going back-to-back.
Race 6 No7 SUNSTONE (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
SUNSTONE didn’t enjoy the rub of the green on her handicap bow here last month. That effort is worth overlooking as she returns to novice company, and the daughter of Pivotal can now show her tries colours and get off the mark
