Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Fridays racing coming from Newcastle , Windsor , Market Rasen and Wolverhampton on 16 January 2026.
NEWCASTLE
Race 1 No6 KIRKDALE (Each Way)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Alec Voikhansky
KIRKDALE knocked on the door to trouble the judge on his final three outings last season. The gelded son of Zelzal can get off the mark for a stable that gave us a good winner on Monday, and is respected.
Race 3 No3 BELA SONATA
Trainer: Oliver Cole – Jockey: Billy Loughnane
BELA SONATA was kept on hold after missing out on an opportunity to return last week and looks to be in a tougher race, but she’s been working well and with two successes from only three starts last season has scope for abundant progression under go-to rider Loughnane.
Race 4 No9 NEW YORK MINUTE (Each Way)
Trainer: Joey Ramsden – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
NEW YORK MINUTE brings an upwardly mobile profile to the table as he attempts to cope with a class jump in this Class2 feature. His record on sand reads 1112 and he might have finished closer but for having to be switched when second to Berkshire Sundance at Kempton. That was only a second start out of Ramsden’s yard, and he races for the former South African-based trainer’s premier patrons Valmont.
Race 6 No3 POCKLINGTON
Trainer: Geoff Oldroyd – Jockey: PJ McDonald
Blue Point entire POCKLINGTON landed some good bets at Southwell when advised in this column and is in the mood to carry on that good work. He came out best in a blanket finish to that Class2 despite hanging, and with relatively few miles on his racing clock can consolidate.
Race 8 No2 STORM STAR (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
STORM STAR can make history repeat itself by notching a second triumph in this contest 12 months on from the first. The Night Of Thunder horse has an impressive record of 131113 on his visits to Gosforth Park and appears very much at home on this Tapeta surface. A triple winner at Class2 level, he is ready for this first outing of the year with the champ on his irons.
WINDSOR
Race 3 FITZDARES YOUR PERSONAL BOOKMAKER LIGHTNING NOVICES’ CHASE (Grade 2)
No3 HANSARD
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: Caoilin Quinn
Any one of the five runners could win this trial for the Arkle Challenge Trophy, but the best equipped to do the job is HANSARD. While his chasing campaign has been up and down, he finished off his race well against Mambonumberfive in the Wayward Lad at Kempton and looks to be getting better with experience, while this track might play to his strengths. The main threat is NO QUESTIONS ASKED, who was worried out of it at Newbury and found less than expected off the bridle against Steel Ally at Ascot.
Race 4 No4 ALFIE’S PRINCESS (Nap)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Dylan Johnston
For an inexperienced mare, ALFIE’S PRINCESS jumped with poise and precision when scoring at Wincanton on Boxing Day in a race where only two finished. She’s up against her own sex again in a better race, but has the agility and balance to do well over these fences in a race won by a future Coral Trophy Chase winner in 2025.
Race 5 No1 NEMEAN LION
Trainer: Kerry Lee – Jockey: Conor O’Farrell
NEMEAN LION had to fight for the spoils when taking out this conditions hurdle 12 months ago on the way to a hat-trick of successes. On his only outing this season the nine-year-old shaped well as a 40-1 roughie to be beaten Les than two lengths by the winner when third to Golden Ace in the ‘Fighting Fifth’ Hurdle at Newcastle. Admittedly that was an incident packed affair, but it should have served to fine tune the selection, who is a neat individual and ideally suited to this course.
MARKET RASEN
Race 4 No6 DOYEN DU BAR (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Callum Bewley
DOYEN DU BAR cost us when beaten at Wetherby last month in a race I expected him to win. Backed from odds against to odds on, he couldn’t get to grips with Traprain Law over the final couple of fences but this is his chance to set the record straight. He has a very good overall record over fences, and can show a liking for this course on a first visit.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 2 No7 IMOLA (Nap)
Trainer: Joey Ramsden – Jockey: Lewis Edmunds
IMOLA took us back to the good old days when landing a proper sustained gamble with ease at Southwell last week. Hasten to add, we were on. The Ramsden magic can again manifest itself through this mare as she goes in for a quick follow-up at the same bottom tier of the handicap.
Race 6 No1 DAMZON
Trainer: Tony Carroll – Jockey: Marco Ghiani
DAMZON posted a career first success on a fifth start out of Carroll’s stable and did it in style at Chelmsford. The mare had earlier gone close at this course and is in the mood to keep up the good work. She should readily outstay her rivals.
Race 7 No1 HIGHFIELD COMRADE
Trainer: John Quinn – Jockey: Jason Hart
HIGHFIELD COMRADE has a similar profile in this second leg of the mile and a half handicap. He made a winning start to 2026 in style at Southwell and can build on the success, which was on just a second outing on sand.
