Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Ludlow, Taunton, Wetherby, and Chelmsford City on 29 February 2024.
LUDLOW
Race 1 No3 LADY ALEX (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: Alice Stevens
LADY ALEX is none the worse for a tumble on her reappearance at Wetherby and can bounce back for a local yard that rarely leaves here without a winner.
Race 4 No6 SPECIAL ACCEPTANCE (Each Way)
Trainer: Paul Webber – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
The historic Forbra Gold Cup can see SPECIAL ACCEPTANCE taking home a decent cheque after three earning runs in as many starts this season as his trainer now adds blinkers and the headgear can assist the veteran, who’s been forced to miss out on several prospective targets owing to abandonments
Race 5 No5 JOUR D’EVASION (Nap)
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
JOUR D’EVASION is probably Daly’s best chance of a winner granted his very good run in a Huntingdon novice last month. It took his earning tally to 5 from 5, but this represents his best-winning chance so far.
TAUNTON
Race 3 No2 LIVIN ON LUCO (Nap)
Trainer: Philip Hobbs – Jockey: Mickael Nolan
LIVIN ON LUCO was a stylish winner at Chepstow which makes him the one to beat in a race few of the eight acceptors can win. With first-time cheek pieces, he can defy a penalty at the expense of Jackpot D’Athou.
Race 4 No2 KINGOFTHEWEST
Trainer: David Pipe – Jockey: Jack Tudor
KINGOFTHEWEST benefitted from a peach of a ride when scoring at Chepstow and then finished best of all when second to Clonakilty at Lingfield. He’s proving a good servant to his owners and again has track, trip and ground to suit.
Race 5 No1 KEABLE (Each Way)
Trainer: Philip Hobbs – Jockey: Mickael Nolan
KEABLE is well worth a market check on his return from a year’s absence and only second run in a handicap. He’s the type that will have improved for a summer on his back and can earn on this belated return to the fray.
Race 6 No3 JUNIPER
Trainer: Anthony Honeyball – Jockey: Harry Cobden
JUNIPER has a habit of either being pulled up in her races or winning and comes with risks attached. However, she’s been given a good break since flopping on her first outing of the campaign and now gets title seeker Cobden on her saddle for the first time.
WETHERBY
Race 1 No5 MAGICAL KING (Nap)
Trainer: Stuart Edmunds – Jockey: Fergus Gillard
This represents a class drop for the strong travelling MAGICAL KING who has been running well to a point in handicaps. The chestnut is equipped with first-time cheekpieces, and in these calmer waters should make no mistake.
Race 6 No8 SAILED AWAY (Each Way)
Trainer: Stuart Edmunds – Jockey: Fergus Gillard
Edmunds is on a hot streak and SAILED AWAY looks like another potential scorer for him in this handicap hurdle. The selection keeps knocking on the door and deserves to get his head in front.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 3 No3 COCKTAIL DRESS
Trainer: George Boughey – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
COCKTAIL DRESS was easy to back and hit a flat spot before finishing off her race well here last week. The daughter of Too Darn Hot should have learned plenty from that experience and can outpoint the beautifully bred Godolphin newcomer Magical Hope.
Race 6 No3 Q TWENTY BOY (Nap)
Trainer: Mark Usher – Jockey: Jack Enright
Q TWENTY BOY knows his way around here and figures to add to his laurels if breaking on terms. The chestnut can finish his race strongly to deny top-weight Admirable Lad.
