Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Sandown Park, Leicester, Haydock Park, Ripon and Wolverhampton on 29 April 2023.
SANDOWN PARK
Race 1 No8 CELTIC ART (Each Way)
Trainer: Jeremy Scott – Jockey: Rex Dingle
The beginning of an excellent card on the final day of the National Hunt season can see CELTIC ART putting in a big earning run. While unable to live up to the promise of his early career on the Flat, the chestnut has taken well to jumping as a dual purpose horse for his current trainer, dominating back-to-back contests at Wincanton. He likes to get his toe into the ground, and is a strong recommendation for win and place wagering.
Race 2 Bet365 Celebration Chase (Grade 1)
No2 EDITEUR DU GITE
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: Niall Houlihan
It can pay to try to dominate at this course where the emphasis is on accurate jumping. Four of the five runners return after running at the Cheltenham Festival but it’s the novice and Aintree scorer Jonbon who will head the market. A winner of all but one of his races over fences, Jonbon looks sure to run well on his first start against senior two milers, but the one that could operate best in the conditions is EDITEUR DU GITE. Though ultimately beaten a distance with Captain Guinness and Greaneteen in front of him in the Queen Mother Champion Stakes, he goes into battle off a relatively light campaign, and can upset the applecart.
Race 3 bet 365 Gold Cup a Handicap Chase
No6 KITTY’S LIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Christian Williams – Jockey: Jack Tudor
So cosily did KITTY’S LIGHT triumph in the Scottish National a week ago that there really was never any doubt he would make a quick reappearance in the race often referred to as the Whitbread. Unlucky not be awarded this prestigious contest two years ago, and a fine third to Hewick in the 2022 running, the seven-year-old jumped better than he’s ever done at Ayr, making his only mistake when already in control at the final fence. He’s absolutely bouncing, and granted his liking for this course is the one to beat.
Exotic wagering is however a must in the big betting extravaganza of the day and in that respect the likes of REVELS HILL, TEA CLIPPER and top weight FRODON should also go into the mix. Of that group Tea Clipper is of particular interest, as he ran a cracker when just out of the money in Cheltenham’s Ultima Handicap Chase which was his first start in four months.
Prediction: 1st KITTY’S LIGHT, 2nd Tea Clipper, 3rd Revels Hill, 4th Frodon
Race 7 No7 CREBILLY (Each Way)
Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill – Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
CREBILLY is a novice taking on more experienced foes in this valuable handicap hurdle, but though beaten into sixth in the EBF Final remains a horse with a bright future and is the best young prospect at his trainer’s Jackdaw’s Castle premises. In the colours of JP McManus he can claim the scalp of Imperial Cup winner Iceo, while a forward run from outsider Erne River wouldn’t be a total surprise.
LEICESTER
Race 3 No3 AERION POWER (Each Way)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Ryan Moore
The featured King Richard III Cup gives AERION POWER an opportunity to demonstrate he’s retained a lot of the ability shown before he endured and enforced absence from the track. His two outings last year ended not as well as they started, but he was not beaten far in a Class2 at Lingfield that was better than today’s contest, and on the back of some encouraging work in Newmarket he can perform better than his price suggests he will.
Race 4 No2 SOCIETY LION (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Dunlop – Jockey: Ryan Moore
More knows SOCIETY LION from the days the gelding was resident on a different stable, and is a welcome addition to the back of this recent Thirsk scorer who will handle the testing conditions, and can follow-up.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 4 No7 STORMY SEA (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute – Jockey: Richard Kingscote
Selective betting should pay off at this very tricky meeting, with STORMY SEA napped in this novice over a mile. The Territories filly was very easy to back on debut at Kempton last November but stayed on promisingly into the money. She has worked well ahead of this first run on turf and is one of a number of chances for her trainer across the country.
Race 7 No6 TOMAHAWK KING (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Rose Dawes
Dawes is good value for her claim and has ridden TOMAHAWK KING in work at home. The selection is edging closer to a first success of the campaign, and should take away a decent cheque.
RIPON
Race 6 No3 DARKNESS (Nap)
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Danny Tudhope
DARKNESS possesses very good form from his days trained in France, and following a near miss on seasonal return at Redcar looks in pole position to go one better. This former Listed scorer and Group placed five-year-old is well drawn close the rail to post a first success since the late summer of 2020, though a saver is recommended on Give It Some Teddy, who was afforded a sympathetic ride on his own return to action at the same track and should now be ready.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 5 No5 PRINCESS NIEVE (Nap)
Trainer: Patrick Morris – Jockey: Morgan Cole
PRINCESS NIEVE looks a bet on her first run since February, and on debut for her trainer. She hasn’t raced here for a year and a half, but was in good form when last seen back in February with back-to-back near misses at Newcastle and Kempton.
