Neil Morrice shares his best bets and tips for Monday’s racing coming your way from Lingfield Park and Chelmsford City on 19 December 2022.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 2 No5 LAST QUARTER
Trainer: David Pipe – Jockey: Tom Scudamore
Three miles takes some getting round here even on better ground, and LAST QUARTER showed he had stamina in abundance when scoring on seasonal return and on first start after a wind op here last month. If the positive effects of the surgery still resound, the five-year-old can dispatch the so far disappointing Jazz King.
Race 3 No3 FURKASH
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell
FURKASH has had issues with his jumping, but if getting that part right he can earn in this three-mile handicap chase in which most of his opponents have been out of form. The seven-year-old has needed a couple of runs to come to hand, and can get into the argument along with The Toojumpa and Mr Washington.
Race 4 No12 SPONTHUS (Nap)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Finn Lambert
This promises to be an open betting heat and the one that shouts value is SPONTHUS. He ran a stormer when an unconsidered 25-1 outsider when beaten only by Firestream in a maiden hurdle at Chepstow. That did him the power of good from a fitness angle, and he can put in another earning run for a stable that should prove worth following over the Christmas period.
Race 6 No2 METIER
Trainer: Harry Fry – Jockey: Sean Bowen
While Camprond takes the eye returning to hurdles from fences the one to beat in the best race on the card is METIER. The former high-class novice is fit to fire after an authoritative success on the Flat at Doncaster, and his touch of class should stand him in good stead against progressive novice Teddy Blue.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 3 No10 SCRAMBLE
Trainer: Conrad Allen – Jockey: Sean Levey
Havana Gold filly SCRAMBLE has the wherewithal to take out this maiden, having shown pronounced improvement when narrowly denied on her latest of two starts at Kempton. She’s better drawn than market rival Bonkersinabundance and is a value play to down that more experienced filly.
Race 5 No1 ARAIFJAN (Nap)
Trainer: Michael Herrington – Jockey: Tom Eaves
By Kyllachy out of a Green Desert mare, ARAIFJAN is bred to be quick and he’s in a good place to blitz this field having won and finished second twice on his last three starts (each over this six furlongs). He failed by just a nose to defy a 5lb penalty last time, while the form of his success over Blackjack at the start of the month has worked out.
Race 7 a No3 CAPRICORN PRINCE
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: Rhys Clutterbuck
Clutterbuck is an eye-taking booking for CAPRICORN PRINCE as the apprentice has been on board for the gelding’s last three successes. Some good bets on the selection went west at Lingfield last time, but on this first visit to Chelmsford for a year and a half he can bounce back.
