Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming to you from Thurles, Taunton, Lingfield Park and Kelso on 24 November 2022.
THURLES
Race 7 No7 IL ETAIT TEMPS (Q.R.) Maiden Hurdle
Trainer: Willie Mullins – Jockey: Patrick Mullins
HOLLYWOODBETS breaks new ground today with its first runner in Ireland, with the Willie Mullins-trained IL ETAIT TEMPS set to dominate betting exchanges on the two-mile maiden hurdle under trainer’s son Patrick.
The grey brings outstanding form credentials to the table, and hopes are high that he can successfully return from a more than 200-day absence in a field of 15.
The four-year-old, who is equipped with a hood for the first time, made an auspicious start for the stable when chasing home Vauban and Fil Dor in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown back in February.
He’s subsequently chased the shadow of the same stablemate by finishing fifth in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and fourth in the equivalent race at the Punchestown Festival at the end of April.
Formerly trained in France, IL ETAIT TEMPS (which translated from French means ‘it was about time’), enjoys an experience edge on the majority of his foes of whom PACHMENA could run into the money.
The Sir Percy mare has acquitted herself well for Gavin Cromwell with two solid runs in maiden hurdles at this course since switching to jumps, and although an infrequent winner had solid form on the Flat with half-a-dozen earning runs earlier in the year.
TAUNTON
Race 1 No1 TIMEFORATUNE (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Harry Cobden
TIMEFORATUNE opened his account over hurdles by a wid3 margin at Exeter and should have learned bundles from that experience. He is now three from five since joining the champion trainer and should defy a penalty on the way to better things.
Race 2 No4 CAN YOU CALL
Trainer: Evan Williams – Jockey: Adam Wedge
The returning to hurdles CAN YOU CALL has a lengthy absence to deal with but looks to have been found a good opportunity to take advantage of his novice status. He was last seen scoring over fences at Catterick in February, while his other efforts over hurdles saw him bring home a cheque on each occasion. He can stave off th3 challenge of the penalised American Sniper.
Race 4 No6 INVESTMENT MANAGER (Each Way)
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell
INVESTMENT MANAGER ran into a well handicapped foe when chasing home How’s The Cricket on his debut over fences at Ffos Las. It was his first outing in nine months, and he can be expected to progress from a fitness perspective. He can cause problems to Huelgoat, unbeaten over fences and attempting to complete a nap hand of victories.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 1 No3 SHOT BOII
Trainer: David Pipe – Jockey: Fergus Gillard
SHOT BOII is 4lb higher than when gusting it out to score on his seasonal reappearance over this course and distance earlier in the month. The five-year-old looks to have done well for his summer break and can follow-up off his revised mark.
Race 2 No9 CELMA DES BOIS (Each Way)
Trainer: Richard Rowe – Jockey: Niall Houlihan
CELMA DES BOIS can’t have conditions deep enough but won on good to soft on his first run last season. His appearances were few and far between, but he’s had corrective wind surgery since being pulled up at Chepstow in March. If that has the desired effect, he could earn at a big price.
Race 4 No6 GIVEGA
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: Jamie Moore
Dirham Emirati won over a mile and a half on the Flat before troubling the judge on his first outing for the Moores at Kempton in January. He fell on his only other start at Plumpton, and stablemate GIVEGA could have his measure. The selection was a convincing scorer on his only run in a point in Ireland and has shown abundant promise in his schooling and work at home.
Race 5 No2 SHELDON
Trainer: Seamus Mullins – Jockey: Daniel Sansom
SHELDON made no mistake on his chase debut last month and looked to be travelling well within himself when falling at Hereford. This well-regarded individual has it within him to bounce back and is a horse to follow. Mucho Mas is the one that could cause him problems and is worth a saver.
Race 7 No2 WALK IN THE WILD (Nap)
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: Jamie Moore
Following a decisive victory at this venue, WALK IN THE WILD now steps back in trip. While that could hamper him, the ground will be plenty testing which will play to his strengths. He showed notable improvement that day and has scope for further progression.
KELSO
Race 2 No5 BESTIARIUS (Each Way)
Trainer: Gillian Boanas – Jockey: Tom Midgley
Front runner BESTIARIUS is a long-standing maiden but showed when chasing home Pavlik here earlier in the month that he may now be ready to open his account at the 29th attempt. Rockmann rates a danger as long as he doesn’t bounce following his return from almost two years off when a gallant second At Carlisle.
Race 5 No1 BRAYHILL (Nap)
Trainer: James Ewart – Jockey: Brian Hughes
BRAYHILL a has not been without issues and was having just a first outing in just under a year when scoring on his debut over fences here on Bonfire Night. It seems that a second wind operation is working, and he can defy a welter burden at the main expense of Ayr scorer Tfou.
The Noel Meade-trained NUCKY JOHNSON and Gordon Elliott’s IDEAL DE CIERGUES could also earn but are probably pitching for minor money.
