Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Monday’s racing coming your way from Plumpton, Taunton, Stratford and Wolverhampton on 13 March 2023.
PLUMPTON
Race 3 No6 KENNY GEORGE (Nap)
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: Tom Buckley
KENNY GEORGE would be the most deserving of winners of this handicap hurdle after taking away minor cheques in each of his five outings this season. This is his first visit to Plumpton for three years, but he’s a nimble operator whose front-running tactics can prove effective.
Race 4 No2 MIDNIGHTREFLECTION
Trainer: Ben Case – Jockey: Mr Charlie Case
MIDNIGHTREFLECTION gamely opened her account for the season at Doncaster after being given a chance by the assessor and could still be on the right side of her mark. She ran well in defeat on her previous start here, and while in such good form can add to her laurels.
Race 5 No5 DELGANY MONARCH
Trainer: Richard Rowe – Jockey: Tabitha Worsley
One of the better bets of the day is DELGANY MONARCH, whose form since being switched to fences indicates he can find his niche in this sphere. He was beaten into third in a close finish at Lingfield, took away a minor cheque on chase debut at Leicester and can make it third time lucky by thwarting River Tyne and Eurkash.
TAUNTON
Race 2 No12 GALACTIC POWER (Each Way)
Trainer: Harriet Dickin – Trainer: Charlie Price
GALACTIC POWER comes with risks attached and can only be a speculative advice for this long-distance handicap hurdle. The veteran showed he has retained some of his old ability when second here before Christmas. Though he’s flopped in two subsequent outings it might be that a return to this course sparks a revival.
Race 3 a No10 MARDOOF (Nap)
Trainer: Mitchell Hunt – Jockey: Sean Houlihan
MARDOOF would be a deserving winner of this maiden hurdle after troubling the judge in each of his last three outings. He put in a career-best when making Klitschko fight for the spoils at Plumpton, and meets nothing of that calibre here.
Race 7 No3 INGENNIO
Trainer: Richard Hobson – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
It’s easy to run your pen through the names of many in this 14-runner field, but not that of INGENNIO. The five-year-old upped his game to finish second at Huntingdon when doing his best work at the finish. It should prove no bad thing that he stretches out on the trip ladder today.
STRATFORD
Race 4 a No2 IN THIS WORLD (Nap)
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
Winner of a Warwick juvenile hurdle on his only start, IN THIS WORLD returns from an enforced absence for a first run in handicap company.His trainer is a master with this type of individual, who could easily prove different class to his foes and is the subject of bullish reports.
Race 6 No9 CORNAMONA
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
CORNAMONA won on her only start in a point and can provide her trainer with a good omen for his Festival challenge by taking out the concluding bumper at the main expense of South Ono Zone.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 2 No4 LEXINGTON HERO
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: George Bass
LEXINGTON HERO gave Channon his first winner when scoring over an extended mile in a seller here last month and was then not disgraced when runner-up to Dayzee in a novice. He steps up the distance ladder this evening, and can repel the strong threat of paper favourite Timewave.
Race 3 No4 KITBAG (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Charles Bishop
KITBAG failed to menace at Newcastle but is now back to the base of the handicap league table. The Territories gelding needs to pull out extra but should certainly but happier stepping up to six furlongs.
Race 4 No5 HOORNBLOWER (Nap)
Trainer: Denis Coakley – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
HOORNBLOWER ruined his chance by hanging to the right when returning to action at Lingfield and was allowed to come home in his own time. The Ulysses gelding had shown promise on his only other start, is well regarded and has an eye-taking jockey booked with Murphy in the hot seat.
