Neil Morrice shares his best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing coming your way from Chepstow and Southwell on 8 January 2023.
CHEPSTOW
Race 1 No5 ED KEEPER (Nap)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
This stable has a few interesting runners on the card, but none more so than ED KEEPER. There was plenty of money for the five-year-old ahead of his debut at Ffos Las, and his third placing to Broomfield Present can be improved upon as he will be a lot more streetwise.
Race 4 No1 FIRST LORD DE CUET
Trainer: David Pipe – Jockey: Tom Scudamore
Monkey Genius impressed won here last season and impressed when scoring on his latest start at Newcastle. He will probably edge FIRST LORD DE CUET for favouritism but not necessarily in the race itself. The latter made a good fist of it against Complete Unknown when a 28-1 roughie at Ffos Las. It was the third time in as many outings over fences that he’d occupied the runners-up berth, and success for the grey here would be thoroughly deserved.
Race 5 No1 CREBILLY
Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill – Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
There are a number of interesting novices in the field but the one with the best credentials is CREBILLY. The JP McManus-owned gelding hacked up on his jumps debut at Newcastle and with progression in the offing should make a good fist of defying his penalty.
Race 7 No4 JAZZ KING (Each Way)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Finn Lambert
JAZZ KING gained the perennial bridesmaid badge with placed efforts in each of his seven starts in bumpers and novice and novice handicap hurdles. He now returns from a 300-day absence with blinkers added, and this might be the time to catch him.
SOUTHWELL
Race 2 No3 MILLTOWN STAR (Each Way)
Trainer: Jamie Osborne – Jockey: Saffie Osborne
MILLTOWN STAR appeals as an attractive roughie in this race round a circuit of the course. While not the easiest to catch right, he’s well handicapped on the best of his form with Mick Channon, and was not right when underwhelming as a well-backed favourite when last seen on Tapeta in the autumn. A subsequent 100-day break cannot have done him any harm, and he is one to watch in the market.
Race 4 No3 EARLOFTHECOTSWOLDS
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Tom Queally
EARLOFTHECOTSWOLDS has no fears with this extended two-mile trip and it will not be a surprise to see the veteran made plenty of use of. He proved a revelation for his connections when completing a hat-trick in the late winter and early spring, and though last to finish in the Gold Cup ran well in defeat at Goodwood before being again outclassed in a German Group 3. He’s been in very good form at home under the watchful eye of his trainer’s son Willie, and is going to be happy that he’s back on an all-weather surface.
Race 5 No3 BERKSHIRE PHANTOM (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
BERKSHIRE PHANTOM was asked some serious questions in his juvenile season but to his credit troubled the judge on each of four starts. He finds himself in calmer waters for this first outing on the all-weather, and should prove a worthy winner.
