Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s British racing coming your way from Ayr, Bangor-On-Dee and Kempton Park on 9 November 2022
AYR
Race 3 No3 GREEN VAULT (Nap)
Trainer: Lucinda Russell – Jockey: Derek Fox
Fit from a decisive won on his debut over fences at Hexham, GREEN VAULT should prove hard to stop from his 5lb higher mark and can outpoint veteran Clan Legend, who lacks a recent run.
Race 5 No2 BENITO
Trainer: Lizzie Quinlan – Jockey: Ross Chapman
The ultra-consistent BENITO makes plenty of appeal on debut for his trainer, but out of the same yard. He gave it a good shot when chasing home Bouncing Bobby on his return from a three-month absence, while his five previous outings this year saw him go 14312.
BANGOR-ON-DEE
Race 2 No5 FOUND ON
Trainer: Martin Keighley- Jockey: Sean Bowen
Even though several of her opponents arrive carrying some recent form, prolific winning mare FOUND ON is very hard to oppose and can extend her sequence to six straight victories. All but one of those triumphs have happened on a left-handed track like this, and she was so dominant at Cheltenham a fortnight ago there’s no wonder she’s running again quickly, and out for more.
Race 3 No11 RUN TO MILAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Victor Dartnall – Jockey: Alan Johns
Apart from finishing down the field in the Ultima Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, RUN TO MILAN didn’t do too much wrong last season, showing a liking for Exeter where he landed a limited handicap and a veterans’ chase. In fact, he took home a cheque in every start bar the last time, and if near fully tuned for this seasonal return, can have his say.
Race 5 No1 HUNTERS CALL
Trainer: Olly Murphy – Jockey: Lewis Stones
Although getting longer in the tooth, HUNTERS CALL has retained a good level of form, and after being beaten by a whisker over this distance on seasonal return at Uttoxeter, is in a good place to confirm his liking for this venue and go back-to-back by repeating his 2021 triumph in the same contest.
Race 6 No4 HURLERONTHEDITCH
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: David Bass
HURLERONTHEDITCH acquitted himself well when he finished second on his debut over jumps here last autumn. He returns from more than a year’s absence but has given out good signals in his homework ahead of this return to the fray. Several in the race have genuine claims, but the former winning bumper and point horse in Ireland can trump them.
Race 7 No5 SAINT PALAIS (Nap)
Trainer: Richard Bandey – Jockey: David Bass
Unbeaten Maximilian could be bogged down by his 6lb penalty for scoring at Carlisle, and SAINT PALAIS is narrowly preferred. The selection won four of his five starts last season on left-handed courses like today’s and was up against Ahor Senor on the only occasion he met with defeat. He came out of a top French jumping yard and is a horse to keep on the right side throughout the season.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 1 No2 OH SO CHARMING (Nap)
Trainer: Grant Tuer – Jockey: Sam James
OH SO CHARMING missed out on a big opportunity the other day when he was a late scratch at Redcar, scene of his hugely impressive win last month. If he didn’t have a mother and father of a draw to contend with, I would call him a good thing, but will stick with him nonetheless.
Race 5 No12 RING OF LIGHT
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: David Probert
RING OF LIGHT benefitted from an astute ride to score for the second time in succession at Wolverhampton where he made much of the running. The grey has gone up 3lb for that, and though another to face a tougher task granted his wide draw he can prove up to the task.
Race 6 No8 KITBAG (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Franny Norton
KITBAG isn’t the most obvious pick for this nursery, but he’s been severely compromised from poor drawn on recent visits to Pontefract and Wolverhampton. It’s a case of the same old story from his outer berth tonight, but as he’ll start at a working man’s price it’s worth risking a small investment on his to tack in behind the leaders and arrive late for a cheque.
