Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s British racing coming your way from Ludlow, Carlisle, Worcester and Southwell and Wolverhampton on 20/10/2022.
LUDLOW
Race 3 No3 I SPY A DIVA
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: David Bass
I SPY A DIVA returns from a 200-day absence but has shown she can go well fresh before, while her form is superior to that of her rivals. She has been operated on for a wind affliction since her latest outing and should take care of business.
Race 4 No3 MINELLA PLUS (Nap)
Trainer: Donald McCain Jnr – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
Up 5lb for his eye-taking chase debut win at Hexham, MINELLA PLUS enjoys an equally eye-taking jockey booking in this novices’ limited handicap chase. A multiple winner over hurdles, he’s always promised to be seen in even better light over fences and is hard to oppose.
Race 6 No5 FENNEY BROOK
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: Richard Patrick
FENNEY BROOK returned from a ten-week break to score in convincing fashion at Hexham. While that entailed an overnight journey, he’s racing out of his own backyard this afternoon, and from 8lb higher can prove a bet worth waiting for in the nightcap.
CARLISLE
Race 2 No9 MAXIMILIAN (Nap)
Trainer: Donald McCain Jnr – Jockey: Brian Hughes
MAXIMILIAN knows his way around here, having delivered on both bumper outings for his powerful connections here. The former Irish point winner has been well tutored in the jumping department for this first run over hurdles.
Race 7 No2 BENITO
Trainer: Elizabeth Quinlan – Jockey: Brian Hughes
BENITO put in good earning efforts in each of three visits to Cartmel in the summer and might have made his move too soon when beaten by Liffeydale Dreamer last time. Racing over a slightly shorter trip here, the five-year-old holds strong claims with the champion jockey in his irons.
SOUTHWELL
Race 3 No2 HIROMICHI
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Charles Bishop
Bishop is among three different jockeys to have prevailed aboard HIROMICHI this season. His mount has taken an expected hike in the weights but is now demonstrating the ability he showed as a two-year-old. Interestingly, the one that could pose the most problems to him is Nat Love, a previous inmate of the Channon stable.
Race 4 No4 SOVEREIGN SLIPPER (Nap)
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Dane O’Neill
While it took a long time for the penny to drop, SOVEREIGN SLIPPER really came of age when positing a fine hat-trick on sand last winter. He looks a much better operator on an artificial surface and is ready for this belated return to the fray.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 1 No9 RING OF LIGHT
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
RING OF LIGHT bolted up at Kempton when strong in the market and now takes a step back on the Class ladder. The lightly-raced grey has his tail up courtesy of that first career success, and from a good draw has strong prospects of following up.
Race 3 No6 TOMAHAWK KING (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Franny Norton
Nothing went right for TOMAHAWK KING on his first run on the all-weather here two weeks ago. Having taken away a cheque on his debut at Salisbury, the Camacho colt then ran as if he’d not had a previous run but should have learned sufficient to confirm the promise he’s shown at home, and open his account.
Race 7 No9 KITBAG (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Franny Norton
KITBAG hasn’t enjoyed the rub of the green since opening his account at Lingfield. Apart from running a howler at Newcastle, he’s come up against a Group horse in Sakheer at Haydock, gone too hard from a bad draw and paid the price at Southwell, and most recently put in good work up the final hill to take home a minor cheque at Pontefract. While he has a hazardous draw to overcome, he also has the right man on board to circumnavigate the problem.
