Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your wayf rom Ayr, Fakenham, Chelmsford City and Wolverhampton on 2 January 2025.
AYR
Race 1 No8 SAINT MALINAS (Each Way)
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Brian Hughes
It’s not far short of a year ago that we last saw SAINT MALINAS who was taken out of his intended first run of the season having proved easy to back. A market check is therefore recommended on the former pointer winner on this first start out of Greystoke Stables.
Race 3 No4 POWEROFJET
Trainer: Martin Todhunter – Jockey: Callum Bewley
POWEROFJET has taken to fences like a duck to water, having been pitched straight into handicaps. He landed some good bets at Newcastle when easily seeing off an in form opponent. It was just a second run over fences for the selection, who should have plenty more to give.
Race 6 No7 YOUNG JACK (Nap)
Trainer: Chris Grant – Jockey: Ryan Mania
YOUNG JACK made a pleasing entry to the chasing stage when finding only one to beat him at Kelso. Starting the outsider of the field, he jumped with alacrity and was gaining on the winner at the finish. There should be more to come from the seven-year-old who is one to follow, and the best bet on this card.
FAKENHAM
Race 4 No4 OVERABOTTLEOFRED
Trainer: Tom Gretton – Jockey: Robbie Dunne
From a stable that gave us a winning Nap on Wednesday, OVERABOTTLEOFRED just needs to prove her fitness to take plenty of stopping in this mares’ handicap chase. The seven-year-old was progressive in her four outings last season, doing best when forcing the pace to score at Huntingdon. She should enjoy operating around this tight track.
Race 6 No2 ILLOGICAL LOGIC (Nap)
Trainer: Christian Williams – Jockey: Jack Tudor
ILLOGICAL LOGIC competes from the same mark off which he was narrowly denied at Windsor last time for a stable amongst the winners with its handicap chasers. That effort has been boosted, and he looks the answer to a weakly contested affair.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 1 No1 CHARLIE MASON
Trainer: Tony Carroll – Jockey: Myla Coppins
CHARLIE MASON came from a long way off the pace and looked unlucky not to go close after meeting traffic at this course last month for which he was left on the same mark. While he doesn’t quite qualify as the proverbial winner without a penalty, but I will back him to show that he is.
Race 3 No6 MAD DASH
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Callum Hutchinson
Showcasing filly MAD DASH has the rail for this first run in 160 days. She showed plenty of natural speed and was too free for her own good but still got close to a well regarded opponent at Windsor. She’s worked nicely on an AW surface at home.
Race 5 No3 URBAN LAW (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Jason Watson
URBAN LAW has three duck eggs next to her name but the Cityscape filly can shown she’s a different proposition now contesting a handicap. She did her best work at the finish when last seen, and will benefit if there’s a strong pace for her to aim at.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 1 No8 DARK SUN (Each Way)
Trainer: James Bennett – Jockey: Laura Coughlan
Bargain basement purchase DARK SUN has troubled the judge on more than one occasion under her apprentice pilot and deserves a change of luck which could materialise in this low-grade sprint, from which she will break from one off the fence.
Race 8 No3 HAWAIIAN KING (Nap)
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Jack Nicholls
If there’s a plot in this low-grade handicap it is surely HAWAIIAN KING, who put in a career best when third here on a second run after a wind op. The gelded son of Japanese sprint ace Lord Kanaloa is unexposed and open to plenty of improvement, and you can’t say that about anything else in the field.
