Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s British racing coming your way from Haydock Park, Redcar, Fakenham, Uttoxeter and Newcastle on 14/10/2022.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 3 No10 MARSHAL DAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Heather Main – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
MARSHAL DAN has skipped a few recent engagements owing to ground-related issues but if given the green light has a good earning chance in this competitive sprint handicap. His second at Newcastle two runs back was as good an effort as most of these have recently posted, and it’s best to draw a line through his underwhelming run at Newbury where he went too hard from a bad draw.
Race 7 No2 WHITEHAVEN (Each Way)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Benoit De La Sayette
The ground wasn’t soft enough for WHITEHAVEN when he posted a mid-division finish at York last week. It was only a third outing of the year for the gelding, who interestingly found his last winning form at this time in each of the last two seasons.
REDCAR
Race 2 No10 YORKSHIRE
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: PJ McDonald
YORKSHIRE is amongst a bunch of horses that showed promise on debut, but the Harry Angel colt is bred to revel in easy conditions which look certain to prevail here. His second to Charon at Haydock reads well and has gone forward for the run in his work at home he can now dispatch Concert Boy and Quintus Arrius.
Race 4 No3 LERWICK (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
From the same stable, LERWICK looks to hold the cards following his near misses at Ripon and Pontefract. He was a popular order in the market for that latest run when narrowly beaten by Dora Milage, and even though opponents like Cavern Club and Oh So Charming will make life difficult for him, he should open his account.
Race 6 No12 FLYING PURSUIT (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Brandon Wilkie
FLYING PURSUIT has run well in each of his last three starts through the early autumn and looks every inch a horse set for an overdue return to the winner’s circle. Only just out of the money behind Monhammer at Ayr last time, he travelled well until it came to the crunch, and under a capable apprentice that has ridden him before can go away with a decent cheque.
FAKENHAM
Race 3 No3 MATATA (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
MATATA cost £75,000 after winning his only point in Ireland to join top connections. He’s worked and schooled promisingly for this first outing under Rules, and his trainer appears to have found a weak race for him to start in.
Race 4 No5 SPARKLING DAWN
Trainer: Laura Morgan – Jockey: Adam Wedge
SPARKLING DAWN was narrowly denied on her seasonal return at Southwell where she reacted favourably to first-time cheek pieces. The grey returns from a four-month break, but can progress from that promising first run for her trainer to open her account.
UTTOXETER
Race 1 No1 ALNITAK (Each Way)
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: David Bass
In the colours of popular chasers from the Sixties Spanish Steps and Rotal Relief, ALNITAK can build on a pleasing comeback run at Newton Abbot in which he finished third to Sea The Clouds. After making the running, he stayed on again when headed and should now have more to offer against short-priced favourite Ballyglass.
Race 7 No2 MELLIFICENT (Nap)
Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill – Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
This stable unveils some of its better novices early, and MELLIFICENT can prove the ready-made answer to this bumper. She troubled the judge on her only start in a Fairyhouse bumper and has looked the part in her work leading into this first run under Rules for new connections.
NEWCASTLE
Race 1 No3 TARTAN CHIEF (Each Way)
Trainer: Paul Cole – Jockey: Kevin Stott
Model of consistency TARTAN CHIEF hasn’t managed to build on his back-to-back successes at the end of last season, though his last five starts have yielded figures of 23223. It’s only a matter of time before he enjoys the rub of the green, and northern ace Kevin Stott is a most interesting booking for him.
Race 7 No1 FISCAL POLICY (Nap)
Trainer: Daniel Kubler – Jockey: Dylan Hogan
As a lightly raced improver, FISCAL POLICY holds strong claims to shrug aside a penalty for his smooth Kempton success at the start of the month. The chestnut looked a different horse on that handicap debut, and against mainly out-of-form rivals here, has a great chance to follow up.
Race 8 No7 BURTONWOOD (Each Way)
Trainer: Julie Camacho – Jockey: Kevin Stott
BURTONWOOD has grazed the crossbar on his last two outings at the conclusion of a select 2022 campaign. He posted the most recent of those on a first visit to this course, and with that track knowledge under his belt can deservedly return to winning ways.
