Neil Morrice provides tips for Wednesday’s meetings at Doncaster, Kelso & Newbury where we’re set for the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle on 29/12/2021.
DONCASTER – 29/12/2021
Race 1: SEABOROUGH (Each Way)
Trainer: Derek Shaw – Jockey: Aaron Anderson
SEABOROUGH has proved something of a ‘nearly’ horse with a sequence of frame finishes. He hasn’t won for two years, but in the hands of a capable conditional can swoop to conquer off what looks an assured strong pace.
Race 2: SURREY QUEST (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nathan Brennan
Four-year-old SURREY QUEST showed how much a wind operation had assisted him when returning to score a shade cosily at Leicester. He finds himself in a race chock-full of winners, but has made good progress since that victory and can trump his older rivals.
Race 7: MIDNIGHTREFERENDUM (Each Way)
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
From a stable with a good record at this track, MIDNIGHTREFERENDUM can bounce back from an uncharacteristic fall at Aintree. She hasn’t won since her debut over fences at Fontwell but has a consistent record of troubling the judge, which she can again achieve at tasty odds.
NEWBURY – 29/12/2021
Race 2: HORN CAPE
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Aidan Coleman
There was plenty of market confidence in HORN CAPE for his first run back at Exeter, only for the gelding to take a keen grip and have to be pulled up following a bad mistake when he took off too soon and slithered on landing at an early flight in the race. He should have a better chance of settling in this big field and can show that those losses were merely lent.
Race 4: DICKIE DIVER
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Aidan Coleman
DICKIE DIVER is a horse to follow on both sides of the jumping spectrum this winter. He starts back in a handicap hurdle and needs respecting, as he doesn’t take much getting fit and has been working with alacrity at home. However, a saver is also recommended on BEAUPORT, who is highly regarded by his connections and should be all the better for his solid comeback effort when second to Jesuitique at Sandown.
Race 5: RUN TO MILAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Victor Dartnall – Jockey: Alan Johns
RUN TO MILAN did things in his own time when fourth in the Welsh National Trial at Chepstow. Rather than that being a readying run for the big race itself, connections have elected to run him in this Mandarin Chase, in which he’s carded to start at double-figure odds. A lightly-raced individual, he can raise his game off a higher fitness level to get into the money.
Race 6 – Challow Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1): LOSSIEMOUTH (Nap)
Trainer: Tom Lacey – Jockey: Stan Sheppard
Irish hat-trick seeker Gringo D’Aubrelle and progressive Stage Star are greatly respected in the day’s feature, but both may have to give best to LOSSIEMOUTH. The six-year-old made the transition from handicaps to Graded hurdles in imperious fashion when coming home unchallenged at Sandown and is going to revel in the testing conditions. Few horses have impressed me more this season and having done us a big favour that day, he needs to be followed.
KELSO – 29/12/2021
Race 1: FAMOUS BRIDGE
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Brian Hughes
While it’s usually difficult for novices to defy penalties, FAMOUS BRIDGE is confidently expected to follow up his battling Ayr success under the title race leader. He’s a progressive individual and can get the better of regular earner Return Free.
Race 6: SOFT RISK (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Brian Hughes
SOFT RISK can make it a good day for connections by completing a hat-trick and remaining unbeaten. He’s skipped a couple of recent opportunities to wait for better ground and is one to have on your side as the season progresses.
SOUTHWELL – 29/12/2021
Race 8: PATONTHEBACK
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Danny Tudhope
Wolverhampton scorer PATONTHEBACK can be a bet worth waiting for in the nightcap. He raised his game under today’s pilot to get the job done with something up his sleeve and can show there’s more improvement in him.
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