Neil Morrice provides his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing at Haydock Park, Ascot, Huntingdon, Lingfield Park and Wolverhampton.
HAYDOCK PARK – 20/11/2021
Race 1 No2 BARRICHELLO
Trainer: Donald McCain Jnr – Jockey: Brian Hughes
A perennial bridesmaid that posted five second from as many starts over hurdles last season, BARRICHELLO looked to have turned the corner when powering home over two and a half miles on his seasonal return at Bangor. The gelding stretched effortlessly away in the short home straight and, back to two miles, is strongly fancied to take out this Listed contest on the way to better things.
Race 5 No12 BASS ROCK (Each Way)
Trainer: Sandy Thomson – Jockey: Ryan Mania
This wickedly competitive Grade 3 stayers’ handicap hurdle can see BASS ROCK taking home a major cheque. Since going hurdling around this time last year he’s posted figures of 22321-1 and has very few miles on the clock. He can complete a fine hat-trick, and remain unbeaten in handicaps.
Race 6 BETFAIR CHASE (Grade1)
No2 BRISTOL DE MAI
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
The bold-jumping grey BRISTOL DE MAI has made this race his own with two straight successes in 2017 and 2018 followed by a further triumph last year. For a ten-year-old he seems to have been on the block for a very long time, but after just three outings in the whole of last season has relatively few miles on the clock. He has a penchant for this track and a habit of being at his best when fresh, and has been in great form at home. Henry de Bromhead’s A PLUS TARD bids to break the Irish hoodoo of that country never having won it. Like the selection, he raced only three times last season but concluded with an excellent second to Minella Indo in the Gold Cup.
NEXT DESTINATION is a new kid on the block in the top three mile chases, returning after chasing home Galvin in the RSA Chase at the Festival. He had taken out back-to-back Grade 2 novice chases before that, and looks a worthy foe to the proven horses from the all-powerful Paul Nicholls academy.
WAITING PATIENTLY beat all but Frodon in last year’s King George VI Chase and will again have Kempton on Boxing Day as his big mid season target. However, he could just benefit from this, and one to consider at a much bigger price is CLONDAW CASTLE, capable of leaving his Wetherby run in the Charlie Hall a long way behind.
Race 7 No7 STRICTLYADANCER
Trainer: Christian Williams – Jockey: Jack Tudor
With a brace of Cheltenham successes on his CV, STRICTLYADANCER a can complete a quick fire hat-trick in this long distance handicap chase. He could be named the winner of the latest last Saturday a long way from home, and having taken those exertions in his stride can strike before he is asked to compete from his revised mark.
ASCOT – 20/11/2021
Race 4 Chantelle Pharma 1965 Chase (Grade 2)
No5 LOSTINTRANSLATION
Trainer: Colin Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell
This is probably the best chance LOSTINTRANSLATION will have to reassert himself on the big stage. The one time Gold Cup favourite and past winner of the 2019 Betfair Chase has experienced a raft of training issues subsequently and lost his way completely last season. But a pleasing workout at Newbury on Tuesday reinforces the view of his connections that he is more than ready to regain his earlier career form and put himself to the forefront of the Ryanair Chase market. Course specialist Dashel Drasher can follow him home.
Race 5 Coral Hurdle (Grade 2)
No3 BUZZ
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Cut in the ground is an asset to BUZZ, whose connections will have everything crossed for rain. The grey backed up his fine second season over hurdles by landing the Cesarewitch in convincing style. It takes a smart stayer to win the second leg of the Autumn Double, and Buzz can add to his trainer’s good record in this before it’s decided whether he returns over a longer trip for the Long Walk Hurdle next month.
Race 7 No9 OUR JESTER (Nap)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
OUR JESTER hails from a stable that can produce the odd smart performer from the bumper division. He was still an unfinished article when beaten into second on his two starts at Newbury and Ludlow, but has done well through the summer and is ready for this return to the fray.
HUNTINGDON – 20/11/2021
Race 1 No7 GRAYSTONE (Nap)
Trainer: Lucy Wadham – Jockey: Conor Brace
GRAYSTONE was made plenty of use of when finishing second on his debut at Warwick but kept on well to beat all but In This World. He had scored on his previous outing on the all-weather, and looks a worthy favourite to take out this maiden hurdle.
LINGFIELD PARK – 20/11/2021
Race 1 No6 THE LAST DANCE
Trainer: Richard Hughes – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Moore was booked for THE LAST DANCE several days ago. The Camelot filly has hit the woodwork on her last two starts and has a good chance of going one better.
Race 2 No10 PERIPETEIA
Trainer: George Boughey – Jockey: Ryan Moore
PERIPETEIA adds lustre to Moore’s book of rides, and the daughter of Sir Percy can endorse the promise of her first two career starts when in the money at Kempton and Newcastle by taking the spoils.
Race 5 No4 SEIXAS (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Mark Todd – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Not to be outdone, Sir Mark Todd has snapped up Moore for hat-trick seeker SEIXAS who after trotting up in back-to-back novices at Wolverhampton can make this a winning handicap debut.
WOLVERHAMPTON – 20/11/2021
Race 4 No1 SYMBOL OF LIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: James Doyle
A penalty for his clear cut course and distance triumph last month should not prevent SYMBOL OF LIGHT from carrying on the good work and landing the Nap vote.
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