Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Cheltenham, Doncaster, Bangor-on-dee and Southwell on 9 December 2022.
CHELTENHAM
Race 1 No1 DELTA WORK
Trainer: Gordon Elliott – Jockey: Jack Kennedy
This year’s Festival cross-country victor DELTA WORK remains a horse with scope to dominate this division and after a gritty comeback success at Punchestown last month is poised to consolidate his status. At nine he’s not far past the peak of his powers, and it’s not long ago he was a horse with genuine Gold Cupmaspirations. He faces stern competition from Back On The Lash but can outpoint that foe.
Race 6 No2 ANYHARMINASKING (Nap)
Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill – Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
Rarely do the O’Neills leave their local meeting empty-handed, which is one reason to side with ANYHARMINASKING in this handicap hurdle. The five-year-old has much to recommend him as he was the smoothest of scorers on his first two handicap assignments last season, and although not adding to that tally has performed well in both starts this season. Any fitness cobwebs are now blown away, and he’s ready to take away a sizeable cheque.
Race 7 No2 INDEFATIGABLE
Trainer: Paul Webber – Jockey: Rex Dingle
Winner of the 2020 Martin Pipe Hurdle here, INDEFATIGABLE has contested graded or Listed races ever since, many of them distaffer only races, and she’s now back at the same meeting where she chased home Martello Sky 12 months ago. Her latest offering when last to Proschema at Wetherby was underwhelming, but she brings a class element to the table today, and can bounce back.
DONCASTER
Race 1 No7 STEEL WAVE (Each Way)
Trainer: Gary Hanmer – Jockey: Tabitha Worsley
STEEL WAVE travelled sweetly for much of the journey at Huntingdon last week where he only weakened two fences from the finish. For him to win everything has to drop right, but it could easily do so in this race where the majority of his foes have questions to answer.
Race 6 No2 THE GOLDEN REBEL
Trainer: Ben Case – Jockey: Jack Quinlan
THE GOLDEN REBEL to beat Fine Casting is the way this could go. The selection had been running well over fences before unseating his pilot at Aintree, but this shouldn’t be looked upon as a confidence mission as he’s got the ability to dominate his field. He’s unlucky not be be unbeaten at this track, as he landed a maiden hurdle on his first ever race here, took out a novices’ handicap chase at this meeting in 2021 and would have followed up in a similar race on January in which he fell when in command.
BANGOR-ON-DEE
Race 2 No4 DISCKO DES PLAGES
Trainer: Richard Hobson – Jockey: Brian Hughes
DISCKO DES PLAGES was in charge and looked all over the winner only to fall three out at Uttoxeter. As long as what was an awkward tumble hasn’t affected his confidence the nine-year-old should make amends.
Race 3 No3 BOLDMERE (Nap)
Trainer: Alex Hales – Jockey: Ciaran Gethings
The most interesting runner on the card is BOLDMERE, a horse that went off the radar and has spent the past two years in racing’s wilderness. Having looked a very bright prospect his form dovetailed, but on the retirement of his trainer he’s now with a handler that’s amongst the winners. On a first run for almost 600 days, he can deliver a bold show and a market check on him is strongly advised.
Race 5 No12 SOLDIER OF DESTINY
Trainer: Jamie Snowden – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
SOLDIER OF DESTINY was a spent force when falling in Karl Philippe’s race at Wetherby after a slightly disappointing effort in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree. His trainer fields him in this novice hurdle with realistic aspirations of an earning run, and even though it’s there to give him his confidence back he’s got the ability to win it.
SOUTHWELL
Race 1 No3 MINHAAJ
Trainer: Brian Ellison – Jockey, Mr S Walker
The engagement of top amateur Simon Walker for MINHAAJ raises the prospects of the consistent mare gaining a deserved success. She is perfectly drawn one off the fence for this race round a left-handed bend, and if breaking well will be hard to keep out of the shake-up.
Race 5 No7 WARD CASTLE
Trainer: Marco Botti – Jockey: Stefano Cherchi
WAARD CASTLE has far more experience than his foes in this weakly contested novice and will get few better opportunities to open his account. His all-weather form surpasses what he’s achieved on turf, while he should be suited by this track on his first visit.
