Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s British racing coming your way from Cheltenham, Uttoxeter, Wetherby, Lingfield Park and Wolverhampton on 12 November 2022.
Check out Neil's video preview for Saturday's racing below:
CHELTENHAM
Race 4 PADDY POWER GOLD CUP HANDICAP CHASE
No9 UMBRIGADO (Each Way)
Trainer: David Pipe – Jockey: Tom Scudamore
With his horses in good order, it would be no surprise to see STOLEN SILVER attract plenty of support for this first major handicap chase on the jumps season. The grey raced exclusively at this course at the turn of the year and hacked up at the April meeting on which evidence he has little to fear from Simply The Betts. Encouraging to his followers is that he goes well after an absence and scored on his seasonal return a year ago.
In what is a close one to call I just prefer the claims of UMBRIGADO. This strong traveller wasn’t right last season and showed no verve in a restricted campaign. However, he’s come back with a couple of solid runs over hurdles, and now gets first time blinkers for a return to fences. Still only eight, he could have more to give and is iron fit for his biggest test so far. EDITEUR DU GITE has a good record here, with his trainer opting to claim off him in this rather than wait for Sunday’s Schloer Chase. He ran well on his reappearance and will be fine-tuned, but he’s possibly a shade high in the weights for the outright win.
While the Irish challenge is restricted to just FRENCH DYNAMITE it would be unwise to ignore the claims of the Mouse Morris-trainer gelding who comes into the argument courtesy of a convincing success over hurdles at Thurles.
Prediction: 1st UMBRIGADO, 2nd Stolen Silver, 3rd Editeur Du Gite, 4th French Dynamite
Race 5 No7 SIDI ISMAEL (Each Way)
Trainer: David Pipe – Jockey: Tom Scudamore
The same connections are to be respected in this handicap hurdle with SIDI ISMAEL, who showed how much a wind operation has assisted him by powering home on his seasonal return at Worcester. A winner on his first three starts out of Pond House last season, he’s in his element at this time of year and should give hat-trick seeker Shearer plenty to think about.
Race 6 No14 UNANSWERED (Each Way)
Trainer: Tony Martin – Jockey: Peter Carberry
In the hands of a man who is to be feared with his tilts at the betting ring at Cheltenham, UNANSWERED leaps off the page as one to take seriously in this ultra-competitive intermediate hurdle. The Intello gelding showed little in three runs to gain a mark but then put in an impressive sequence of three wins in the Flat and a resounding triumph on his handicap hurdle debut at Punchestown. Since then, he’s gone close in successive handicaps at the Galway Festival and finished just out of the money in a readier for this at the Curragh. Everything about his preparation suggests his connections have lined him up for a big hit.
UTTOXETER
Race 6 No3 COULDBEAWEAPON (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Kielan Woods
Forcing tactics paid off for COULDBEAWEAPON, enabling him to open his account in the gamest fashion at Worcester. He’s gone up 6lb for that success but is a progressive type that should cope with it and follow-up.
Race 7 No2 BOWENSPARK (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
A market check is advised with BOWENSPARK whose trainer has done well with bumper horses in these popular colours (those of the late Trevor Hemmings). His dam was a winner in this sphere, and he could be the one to cause paper favourite Lilting Verse most trouble.
WETHERBY
Race 1 No5 IMPERIAL B G
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Finn Lambert
On what is the most punter friendly fixture of the day, IMPERIAL B G can get us off to a good start in the colours of Gold Cup hero Imperial Commander. The grey progressed to deliver in the last of his three bumper outings last season and has taken well to jumping hurdles at home.
Race 2 No4 MORIKO DE VASSY
Trainer: Tom Symonds – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
In a red-hot novices’ limited handicap chase MORIKO DE VASSY brings abundant allure to the table. Apart from running a stinker on his final start in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Kempton the French-bred could easily have gone through last season unbeaten. Everything he did over hurdles is considered a bonus by his trainer, who can’t wait to put him over fences.
Race 3 No8 IROKO
Trainer: Oliver Greenall – Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
Bred along the same lines, IROKO has to be of major interest now running in handicaps after earning in both graded hurdle wins for his connections last winter. He’s a fascinating contender for this first handicap assignment and given his ownership will surely be a market mover if he’s on the case.
Race 4 No1 SOLDIER OF DESTINY (Nap)
Trainer: Jamie Snowden – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
SOLDIER OF DESTINY is a horse with a bright future for whom top weight in a fairly competitive heat shouldn’t prove too much of a detriment. The Nap came back from a wind operation to land two of three novice handicap chases he contested and was almost certainly in need of the run when returning in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree. If indeed that has given his fitness levels a boost, he can outclass these foes.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 3 No14 KLIMOVA
Trainer: James Fanshawe – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
KLIMOVA carries some strong cards into this poker shoot against a couple of well-regarded newcomers. The Intello filly troubled the judge on her second start at Windsor, and just needs to show she handles Polytrack to again get into the money. The slight worry is that there are a lot of funny results in all-weather maidens at this time of year, when proven form counts for less than usual.
Race 4 No5 IDEE FIXEE
Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam – Jockey: William Buick
Dubawi colt IDEE FIXEE is compromised by an outside draw, but otherwise has plenty to offer after twice going close in as many career starts. The selection will need to look lively at the start, but providing he breaks on terms he should get into the argument and should win.
Race 7 BetUK Churchill Stakes (Listed)
No4 BOLSHOI BALLET (Nap)
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien – Jockey: Jamie Heffernan
BOLSHOI BALLET is a fascinating contender for the day’s feature, having a first run since finishing out of the money at the International Races in Hong Kong almost a year ago. He suffered a setback, and after a couple of racecourse gallops is using this as a steppingstone for a return to Hong Kong for a shot at the Cup at Sha Tin on December 11th. While he will benefit for his run, he could easily outclass the opposition.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 2 No10 SAINT COLETTE (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Trevor Whelan
While SAINT COLETTE hasn’t shown much in two outings for her trainer, she’s a well related filly that could have more to offer as a lively roughie in this novice for staying prospects. The daughter of Mastercraftsman is worth a speculative investment to get into the money, but the amount you put down should be tempered by the fact that this race will afford her a rating to run in handicaps.
Race 3 No8 SUNSTONE (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
As the least exposed contender for this all-aged handicap, SUNSTONE makes a lot of sense and rates the best of the night. The Pivotal filly showed progression when claiming a minor cheque on her third and latest start, which gained her a mark. She looked to enjoy that switch from turf to the all-weather and should also enjoy the step up in trip.
