Neil Morrice gives us his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s British race meetings taking place at Bangor-on-Dee, Catterick Bridge, Nottingham, Newcastle and Kempton Park on 28/09/2022.
BANGOR-ON-DEE
Race 1 No4 MIDNIGHT JEWEL
Trainer: Charlie Longsdon – Jockey: Lilly Pinchin
MIDNIGHT JEWEL has made winning a habit with five successes from his last eight starts, the latest when converting on only a second outing over fences at Fontwell at the start of the month. The six-year-old promises to be just as good a chaser as he was a hurdler, and with his stable amongst the winners should prove hard to beat.
Race 5 No7 KEEP RUNNING (Nap)
Trainer: Harry Whittington – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
KEEP RUNNING showed ability over hurdles in France before joining his trainer and is poised for a big earning run on this debut under Rules. The grey has worked and schooled well and is fancied to deliver on this first outing in over 300 days.
CATTERICK BRIDGE
Race 5 No5 OH SO CHIC (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Kevin Stott
Bethell has his Middleham team in good order for a bountiful end to the campaign, and can take out this long-distance handicap with OH SO CHIC. She seemed to run into one when beaten by City Vaults at Redcar, and is more than capable of bouncing back over this longer trip.
NOTTINGHAM
Race 4 No3 DANZAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Sean Kirrane
Fresh from his last gasp triumph in the Bronze Cup at Ayr, DANZAN has a fine chance to add to those laurels in another valuable sprint. The seven-year-old travelled beautifully through the Ayr race, and the fact he prevailed by just a shot head from Fast And Loose means that he’s in the same ballpark ratings-wise for this quick return to action.
Race 5 No3 SMILING JAYNE
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Danny Tudhope
In this middle distance Final, SMILING JAYNE can deservedly return to winning ways. The Farhh filly finished strongly only to be denied by Misty Dancer at Ayr to maintain her marvellously consistent run. Her form figures of 3314422 this year tell their own story, and it will be a surprise if she doesn’t take away another fancy cheque.
NEWCASTLE
Race 1 No4 FORLIO (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: William Pyle
On a busy day, this is the trickiest meeting for punters although the unexposed FORLIO could prove the perfect source for a smash and grab raid in the opener. His form stepped up a notch when he troubled the judge at Beverley, and while he was safely held in fourth it’s earned him a mark that could prove lenient for a race in which most of his rivals are out of form.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 2 No10 ESTRELLA ICON (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Charlie Bennett
ESTRELLA ICON is a name to conjure with in this novice even though she never looked like winning on debut at Brighton. The Sixties Icon filly nevertheless took away a cheque under a sympathetic ride, and has learned much from it. She can give recent scorer Harry’s Hero plenty to think about.
Race 4 No13 TUXEDO JUNCTION (Nap)
Trainer: James Fanshawe – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
In a wickedly competitive affair it could pay to row in with the lightly weighted and favourably drawn TUXEDO JUNCTION. The son of Iffraaj has less miles on his racing clock than most in the field, and having opened his account when back from a break in a Ffos Las maiden he can outpoint another handicap debutant in the shape of Haydock scorer Almuhit.
Race 7 No4 RING OF LIGHT (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Dane O’Neill
Candy’s runners have knocked on the door over the past few days and it would be an apt success for RING OF LIGHT if he could get his head in front where it matters. Although putting in an underwhelming run at Leicester he has a jockey that knows him back in the plate, and as a horse with only five career starts to his name, he should have more to offer.
Race 8 No12 BIRD FOR LIFE (Each Way)
Trainer: Mark Usher – Jockey: Isobel Francis
The eye is drawn to BIRD FOR LIFE to make an impact in the nightcap. This regular earner doesn’t always enjoy the rub of the green, but her preference for the Polytrack surface is there for all to see, and given luck in running she can put her number in the frame for a fourth time in succession.
