Neil Morrice provides tips for Wednesday’s British race meetings at Ffos Las, Wolverhampton and Kempton Park on 05/01/2022.
FFOS LAS – 05/01/2022
Race 4 No4 EASY AS THAT
Trainer: Venetia Williams – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
Williams is lethal with her handicap chasers on the testing ground at this stage of the winter, and can take out this interesting contest with EASY AS THAT. The dual bumper scorer was last seen trouncing his rivals on handicap hurdle debut at Chepstow 11 months ago. As that was only his fifth career start, there should be a raft of improvement in him now he’s switched to fences, while the signals from the training gallops are positive.
Race 5 No1 GETAWEAPON
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: David Bass
On the back of a second wind operation, GETAWEAPON ran well to chase home Kissesforkatie in a handicap hurdle at Exeter last week. As long as this doesn’t come too soon for the mare, she can regain the winning thread despite conceding lumps of weight to her opponents.
Race 6 No3 ALKOPOP (Nap)
Trainer: Toby Lawes – Jockey: James Bowen
This stable is firing them in, which increases confidence that ALKOPOP can return to the winner’s circle. The grey was in the process of running a blinder when falling on his chase debut at Wetherby in early December, form which has been doubly-boosted by the eventual winner Sidi Ismael. He can prove a bet worth waiting for.
WOLVERHAMPTON – 05/01/2022
Race 2 No12 WESTERN MUSIC (Nap)
Trainer: David Barron – Jockey: Connor Beasley
It might be worth chancing WESTERN MUSIC with the rider being her ability to overcome a precarious draw on the outer in a race over one lap of this track. The Epaulette filly enjoyed mixed fortunes on her past visits to Dunstall Park, but put in a career best when third in a blanket finish at Southwell before Christmas. My confidence will increase should there be money for her.
Race 5 No8 GRIGGY (Each Way)
Trainer: Sean Curran – Jockey: Tyler Heard
The speedily-bred GRIGGY is another that could have had better luck with the draw. However, after putting in a string of earning runs in a select campaign last year, he could be ready to pop. He should certainly be sharper for his comeback effort at Kempton, when proving very easy to back.
Race 7 No1 TALKING ABOUT YOU (Each Way)
Trainer: Sean Curran – Jockey: Callum Hutchinson
From the same shrewd stable, TALKING ABOUT YOU proved a revelation in juvenile hurdles in the 2020/21 jumps season and ran in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. She’s been underwhelming in a hurdle and novice chase more recently, but her trainer appears to have found a weak heat in which to give her first all-weather outing in two years.
Race 8 No1 ARIA ROSE (Each Way)
Trainer: Mike Murphy – Jockey: Marco Ghiani
The strong-travelling ARIA ROSE notched a fine hat-trick on sand at this time last year. And although beaten a long way, should come forward for a readying outing at Southwell and get into the shake-up.
KEMPTON PARK – 05/01/2022
Race 5 No7 RANIA
Trainer: Sylvester Kirk – Jockey: Luke Morris
Consistency is the forte of RANIA, who from a plum draw one off the fence needs to be afforded close inspection. Her figures of 451332 make her a granite proposition taking on mainly out of form rivals and she holds a strong winning chance.
Race 6 No1 FIESTA DE VEGA (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Rob Hornby
FIESTA DE VEGA returns from well over a year on the sidelines but has to be of serious interest based on his good record beforehand. Beaten in a photo on debut at Haydock, he opened his account in stylish fashion on Polytrack and has plenty of scope for continued progression.
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