Neil Morrice shares his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Sandown Park, Leicester, Newcastle and Chelmsford City on 16 February 2023.
SANDOWN PARK
Race 2 No3 BUN DORAN
Trainer: Tom George – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
Hold up tactics have met with mixed results for BUN DORAN who could well resume his old attacking policy in this handicap chase in which long distance traveler Corrigeen Rock looms as a big threat. The selection isn’t as good as he was, but on a track where slick jumping is a necessity he can post a first success of the season.
Race 5 No4 IMMORTAL (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
IMMORTAL returns from a more than two months absence having undergone wind surgery. There was plenty to like about the way he hounded the smart Authorized Speed on debut under Rules here in December, and with his breathing problems sorted out will surely be hard to beat.
Race 6 No1 POPPA POUTINE
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
POPPA POUTINE might not be the best treated long distance chaser and could do with some respite from the assessor, but his connections might have found the right race for him to come good following a series of good efforts in defeat. He stayed on well up the hill in his race at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, and a good run here should seal a return ticket for the gelding to run at the Festival.
LEICESTER
Race 4 No4 CLOUDY WEDNESDAY
Trainer: Caroline Fryer – Jockey: Fergus Gregory
CLOUDY WEDNESDAY went up 3lb for scoring at Fakenham a fortnight ago and shouldn’t find dropping back in trip an issue granted this is a stiffer course. The seven-year-old will have plenty of time to get organised in the long home straight, and can follow-up at the main expense of Barnay.
Race 6 No4 GETTING CLOSER
Trainer: Alan Hill – Jockey: Miss Izzie Marshall
On a tough card GETTING CLOSER is the only other advice. The former winning Irish pointer has been operated on for a wind affliction since his last run, and is with a top trainer of pointers who will have him ready to put his best foot forward.
NEWCASTLE
Race 3 No4 CHASE A FORTUNE (Nap)
Trainer: Chris Grant – Jockey: Sean Quinlan
CHASE A FORTUNE is part of a big field of novices but in truth it’s a race that very few can win. The selection looked for much of the journey like winning at Catterick when third to Don Hollow. He’d gone close on a novice hurdle and a bumper prior to that, and rates a good bet to trump paper favourite Royal Mogul.
Race 4 No8 RELKADAM (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Jamie Hamilton
Although reserving his best form for Catterick, RELKADAM has dropped to a tempting mark and could easily have a say in the outcome of this two mile handicap chase. He ran better than his finishing position indicated last time, and needs taking seriously on a belated first visit to Gosforth Park.
Race 7 No2 HORN CAPE
Trainer: Ben Haslam – Jockey: Kevin Brogan
HORN CAPE has been an under achiever for a horse with his degree of ability, but on this first outing running out of a new stable could be the time to catch him. The grey has few miles on the clock, and at least showed with earning runs at Kempton and Exeter that he has something to offer. He’s back down in trip today, and granted his ownership needs a market check at the very least.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 5 No1 BIRD FOR LIFE
Trainer: Mark Usher – Jockey: Darragh Keenan
The remarkably consistent BIRD FOR LIFE can back up her success here last autumn. The Delegator mare is less experienced round here than at the other all-weather venues, but has shown with a further victory and three earning efforts since that race that she’s performing at the top of her game.
Race 7 No1 SICARIO (Nap)
Trainer: Mike Appleby – Jockey: Oisin Orr
SICARIO has got into a winning groove with back-to-back successes, the latest at this course on Sunday where he eased home after being popular in the betting market. His pilot has established a good relationship with him, and the duo look to be in a good place to complete a fine hat-trick.
