Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Sandown Park, Wincanton, Newcastle, Lingfield Park and Kempton Park on 7 January 2023.
Check out Neil’s video prevew for Saturday’s Sandown Park racing below.
SANDOWN PARK
Race 1 No1 BO ZENITH
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: Jamie Moore
BO ZENITH has been on the lips of a large proportion of the jumps cognoscenti without having jumped a single hurdle in public since his acquisition from France. A winner in deep ground on his only start for David Cottin, he has shown plenty at home and comes here as the archetypal ‘talking’ horse. The Moores have been tight-lipped about his ability, but now is his chance to show it.
Race 2 No2 LOVE ENVOI (Nap)
Trainer: Harry Fry – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
LOVE ENVOI hardly put a foot wrong when successfully returning at this course before Christmas and is a mare to stick with until beaten. Not only does she possess a good cruising speed, but she finds plenty when engaging in a battle, as was the case for her success over Playful Saint. Adding to her allure is the fact that the latter boosted to form by hacking up at Leicester last week.
Race 4 No5 GREY DIAMOND
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
I’m really looking forward to watching GREY DIAMOND operate over these fences, granted how controlled he looked in finishing third on reappearance in a Cheltenham contest that has worked out wonderfully well. The nine-year-old has few miles on his racing clock and seems a more chilled performer than he was last season. He’s also on a good mark to add to his only previous win in a chase, which happened at this course.
Race 5 Unibet Tolworth Hurdle (Grade 1)
No2 AUTHORIZED SPEED
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: Jamie Moore
Keeping the lid on AUTHORIZED SPEED is not the easiest task for a jockey, but Moore has excelled on the keen going six-year-old in each of his outings over hurdles. After trotting up at Lingfield the gelding quickly shook off the attentions of Immortal to win more or less as he liked over today’s course and distance. And although the ground is already soft, any deterioration caused by further overnight rain will in no way inconvenience this exciting prospect, who needs it hock deep to show his best.
Race 6 No12 SIR IVAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Harry Fry – Jockey: Lorcan Murtagh
Slick jumping has always assisted SIR IVAN in picking up prize money in the majority of his races over the last couple of years. He deserves more than his sole chase win at Newbury, and after a pleasing couple of runs back at Aintree and Fontwell is in a good place to better his third placing in each of the last two runnings of this veterans’ Final. In a good race for exotic wagering, Ballyandy, Ramses De Teillee and the well handicapped Prime Venture are also worth including, but I strongly fancy Sir Ivan to take home another cheque at a decent price.
WINCANTON
Race 1 No2 TOP TARGET
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: David Bass
The Bailey/Bass combination are worth following at this meeting and should click straight into gear with the promising TOP TARGET in the opening novices’ hurdle. The selection delivered with the minimum of fuss on his hurdling introduction at Wetherby, and could have enough progression in him to surprise paper favourite Knowsley Road.
Race 6 No3 CHIANTA CLASSICO (Nap)
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: David Bass
An even more promising prospect is CHIANTI CLASSICO as he takes a two-race unbeaten record over jumps into a first handicap hurdle assignment. The six-year-old was backed from odds against to odds on before cruising home at Market Rasen and should relish tackling a slightly longer trip on this equally easy track.
NEWCASTLE
Race 3 No1 CASTLE RUSHEN
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Brian Hughes
The Richards stable had a welcome winner at Musselburgh earlier in the week, and CASTLE RUSHEN can now bring bigger pickings to its table by taking out this handicap chase under top weight. The eight-year-old ran well on his chase debut at Wetherby until falling and can prove too sprightly for Irish challenger O’Toole.
Race 4 No1 TOP OF THE BILL
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Jordon Nailor
TOP OF THE BILL comes here as the favoured option in a choice of engagements. The recent Chepstow scorer is starting to consolidate on his early promise, and after enjoying himself in some schooling over posts and rails on Thursday is in good order as he attempts to concede lumps of weight to his rivals.
Race 6 No1 HENRY’S FRIEND (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Luca Morgan
It’s hard to look past HENRY’S FRIEND, who finished second at Grade 2 level last time, and is going to be very hard to stop contesting these much calmer waters.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 2 No8 HAZEL BEAR (Nap)
Trainer: Jamie Osborne – Jockey: Saffie Osborne
The Osbornes have made a flying start to 2023, and HAZEL BEAR looks set to add to their laurels by opening her account in this novice stakes. The daughter of Zoustar was a 66-1 no-hoper on her introduction here before Christmas but surpassed expectations to take home a minor cheque. She will be a lot wiser for that and is well drawn to attack.
Race 4 No1 CRESTA DE VEGA
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
Although yet to trouble the judge, CRESTA DE VEGA attracted support in each of his starts since being rested, and in what is a class drop can live up to his early potential. The Lope De Vega gelding will not be far short of fully fit in what looks a weak heat on paper.
Race 6 No6 SISTERANDBROTHER (Each Way)
Trainer: Milton Harris – Jockey: Rob Hornby
SISTERANDBROTHER went close in three of his five starts for his trainer last year, and though having plenty of speed on the dam’s side of his chart appears to be a thorough stayer. Hornby is an eye taking booking for the Sixties Icon gelding, who should prove competitive.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 2 No8 SEND IN THE CLOWNS (Each Way)
Trainer: Tony Carroll – Jockey: Jonathan Fisher
The Carroll stable has been picking off a few winners and SEND IN THE CLOWNS can join in as an attractive roughie in this Classified race. He’s running for the first time in more than 200 days but is more forward than for his underwhelming seasonal return last year.
Race 3 No1 ASDAA (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Jack Mitchell
ASDAA has been a horse on a mission, and after providing his rookie trainer with his first winner here on Wednesday, is strongly fancied to complete a hat-trick as the best bet on the card. He has a good draw and can swoop to conquer at the business end of the contest.
Race 4 No3 CHORLTON LANE
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes – Jockey: Jamie Spencer
Although drawn on the outer, CHORLTON LANE has to be given abundant respect based on the evidence of his wide margin debut triumph at Newcastle in the autumn. Unless one of the newcomers is out of the ordinary the Mehmas gelding should defy his penalty and remain unbeaten.
