Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s British racing coming your way from Market Rasen, Wincanton, Newcastle and Chelmsford City on 17/11/2022.
MARKET RASEN
Race 1 No6 LUNAR CONTACT
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Tom Cannon
Point winner Rock House is one to watch for a market move but he will need to be useful to deny LUNAR CONTACT who was also a winner when last seen in an Irish point and represents a stable starting to introduce its nicer novices.
Race 5 No1 BOWTOGREATNESS (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Kielan Woods
Even though he was ultimately outclassed in a Grade 3 novice hurdle at Aintree, BOWTOGREATNESS was simply marking time ahead of the day connections elected to send him novice chasing. He has top weight in this novices’ limited handicap chase but is a very good jumper who is ready for his return, having been denied an opportunity earlier in the month. Whatever his fate against hat-trick seeker Gloire D’Athon, he’s one to follow through the winter.
WINCANTON
Race 1 No1 CORNICELLO (Nap)
Trainer: Jamie Snowden – Jockey: William Featherstone
CORNICELLO stands out as the only runner with form to recommend him and should give Jamie Snowden another winner in a race where the riders cannot use whips. His Plumpton success and near miss at Hereford make him an automatic favourite, and the one to beat.
Race 2 No2 CAP DU MATHAN
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Harry Cobden
CAP DU MATHAN looked palpably unfit when returning at Chepstow and enjoying an educational school round in the race won by Nothin To Ask. Well regarded by his trainer, the seven-year-old has been made a lot fitter since that effort, and sufficiently so to cause problems to paper favourite Stormin Crossgales.
Race 4 No9 ROSY REDRUM
Trainer: Milton Harris – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
ROSY REDRUM went off 4-1 second favourite for the mares’ bumper at Aintree in April, having finished second in a Listed bumper at Sandown. Although unable to make an impact, she bounced back to be narrowly denied at Newton Abbot and has schooled proficiently ahead of this first start over jumps.
Race 5 No4 FURKASH
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell
FURKASH has a far from ideal completion record, but he’s a horse that seems fated to pop up unexpectedly and has too much natural ability not to do that. He is none the worse for unseating on his reappearance at Stratford, and could surprise his more obviously in form opponents.
NEWCASTLE
Race 4 No1 FAITQUE DE L’ISLE
Trainer: Michael Scudamore – Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
The penalised FAITQUE DE L’ISLE fought hard to ensure victory at Fos Las after placing on his first run back at Stratford. The former French-based gelding has looked a better horse since undergoing wind surgery, and has carried his good hurdling form through to fences. His 4lb rise in the weights might not be sufficient to stop him following up.
Race 5 No8 LUCKY LOVER BOY (Nap)
Trainer: Oliver Greenall – Jockey: Henry Brooke
Last week’s course and distance scorer LUCKY LOVER BOY now finds himself in a warmer race, but it needs to be factored in that he’s due to go up a further 7lb in the future and has a good chance to strike while the iron’s hot under a jockey that knows him well.
Race 6 No3 HIDDEN COMMANDER
Trainer: William Coltherd – Jockey: Sam Coltherd
A pea out of the same pod in this handicap chase is HIDDEN COMMANDER, who needed every yard of the two and a half miles to get on top of Heroique De Maulde in a desperate finish. He has a penalty to deal with, but showed last season that he can string more than one win together, and can again prove a tough nut to crack.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 5 No7 HELVETIAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Kevin Frost – Jockey: Cieren Fallon
HELVETIAN has scored four times since being operated on for a wind affliction a year ago, and served notice with an earning run at Nottingham that he’s back onto a mark from which he can add to his laurels. In a wide open race he looks destined to take home another cheque.
Race 7 No3 SUN FESTIVAL (Each Way)
Trainer: Joseph Parr – Jockey: Josephine Gordon
SUN FESTIVAL has gone 222 on his last three outings and gets full marks for consistency. He knows how to convert, as evidenced by his Wolverhampton win in April, and now fresh from a break is primed to return to winning ways.
Race 8 No3 PINK HAZE (Each Way)
Trainer: David Simcock – Jockey: Luke Morris
Lope De Vega filly PINK HAZE could prove a surprise packet making her handicap debut after three quiet runs. Though failing to go n from an earning debut, she has scope for progression and can get into the money at a working man’s price.
