Neil Morrice shares his best bets and tips for Monday’s racing coming your way from Kempton Park, Ludlow and Musselburgh on 21 November 2022.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 4 No4 COME ON GRUFF (Each Way)
Trainer: Tom George -Jockey: Jonathan Burke
COME ON GRUFF benefitted from some selective placing to score on two of his four outings over hurdles last season. The six-year-old looked badly in need of the run when well beaten in Sidi Ismael’s race at Worcester last month, but can leave that effort behind and get into the shake-up.
Race 5 No2 STRIKING A POSE (Each Way)
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell
Horses that won first time back from a break take the eye in the competitive handicap chase, in which STRIKING A POSE is preferred to The Edgar Wallace. The selection jumped well to score on his chase debut at this time last year, and though unable to build on it ran into some smart opponents such as Our Power and Dusart. He has worked and schooled well in preparation for this return to the fray.
Race 7 No6 AMERICAN GERRY (Nap)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Nathan Brennan
This could end up being fought out by those at the foot of the weights, with AMERICAN GERRY just preferred to Grivetana. The selection was unfortunate to hit the woodwork in three consecutive outings before a bloodless success at Catterick boosted his confidence levels. He ended the campaign with a clear cut triumph over this course and distance and is ready for this first outing in seven months.
LUDLOW
Race 1 No3 EARTH CRY
Trainer: Milton Harris – Jockey: Mitchell Bastyan
Brentford Hope is a smart recruit to hurdling from the Flat whose presence should take a big chunk out of the betting handle on the race, but it could be better to trust the bumper form of EARTH CRY, who defends an unbeaten record following successes at Ludlow and Market Rasen last season.the four-year-old will have been well tutored for this switch to hurdles and might have most to fear from Western Zephyr, who has a similar profile.
Race 3 No2 LANGLEY HUNDRED (Nap)
Trainer: Philip Hobbs – Jockey: Miss Elizabeth Gale
Connections of LANGLEY HUNDRED are naturally keen to strike while the iron’s hot with the gelding, who runs unpenalised for his success at Exeter last week and should have gained a confidence boost from that. His trainer’s team is starting to run into form, which augers well for another bold showing from the five-year-old.
Race 4 No1 SIR TIVO
Trainer: Gary Hanmer – Jockey: Sean Bowen
Front running SIR TIVO could be taken on for the lead by Only Money, but if winning that particular battle should be hard to peg back now in calmer waters than when fourth to Gunsight Ridge at Aintree, while he will also be more forward for that exercise.
MUSSELBURGH
Race 1 No7 MASSINI MAN (Nap)
Trainer: Sandy Thomson – Jockey: Ryan Mania
The go-to horse in this handicap chase is MASSINI MAN, who after a sequence of frustrating near misses hit the bullseye on his return to action over this course and distance to record a first success in four years. That admittedly paper-thin victory should have done wonders for the selection’s confidence.
Race 3 No4 GARDE DES CHAMPS
Trainer: Keith Dalgleish – Jockey: Brian Hughes
GARDE DES CHAMPS returns from a second wind operation after showing promise in novice and maiden hurdles before his ailment came back to haunt him. He looks the type that could have untapped reserves, which he will need if he’s to bring down top weight and recent winner Half Shot.
