Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Friday’s racing coming your way from Exeter, Fontwell Park, Hexham, and Newcastle on 7 November 2025.
EXETER
Race 2 No2 SUNSET MARQUESA
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell
On her return from a breathing operation SUNSET MARQUESA can take out this mares’ handicap hurdle. While fences beckon for the six-year-old, the stats point to her going well from a fair mark as she has shown she can operate on return from a break, while there are comparatively few miles on her racing clock. She will enjoy the easy underfoot conditions, and should find the galloping track to her liking on a first visit.
Race 3 No4 WESTERN KNIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell
Only four contest this novices’ chase but it looks a race to savour. The top three trainers in the West Country fire arrows at the board along with Dan Skelton, but the one to be on is WESTERN KNIGHT. The selection proved himself a smart staying novice over hurdles and was possibly unlucky not to have won on more than two occasions. He wasn’t disgraced in top company when last seen at Aintree, but is every inch a chaser, as he can demonstrate with a victory today.
Race 4 BETMGM HALDON GOLD CUP HANDICAP CHASE (Grade 2)
No2 JPR ONE
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell
JPR ONE is out to repeat his 2024 triumph in this cracking chase, and though up against different opponents can show them a clean pair of heels. He’s 4lb higher, but ran well in defeat on several other occasions last season, including when third in the Tingle Creek. By way of lack of suitable races he only raced five times which means he has few miles on the clock, and holds further room for progression. His biggest danger is MARTATOR, who was a first time out scorer last season and hails from a stable doing well with its soft ground chasers.
Race 7 No9 ISLAND RUN (Each Way)
Trainer: Philip Hobbs – Jockey: Callum Pritchard
ISLAND RUN a has a happy knack of getting into the money and any support for him in this long distance handicap hurdle can be seen as significant, as his trainer is very much amongst the winners, and he appears fairly treated with a top conditional taking an additional 5lb off his back.
FONTWELL PARK
Race 2 No7 DARING PLAN (Nap)
Trainer: Sue Gardner – Jockey: C P O’Shea
DARING PLAN a doesn’t have the most inspiring form figures but they are misleading with regard to his true ability. The seven-year-old has run well on both outings since undergoing breathing surgery, with a podium finish at this course and a fall four out at Newton Abbot where he’d been supported, and appeared to be travelling best.
Race 7 No7 TIGERS MOON
Trainer: T Ellis – Jockey: Jack Andrews
A couple in this novices’ limited handicap hurdle won last time out incLuring TIGERS MOON who was backed into odds on at Uttoxeter, where he coasted to the front and won with the proverbial ton in hand. If seeing is believing the five-year-old should make no mistake in this attempt to follow up.
HEXHAM
Race 2 No3 NINA COLLINA
Trainer: Jedd O’Keeffe – Jockey: Sean Quinlan
NINA COLLINA appeals as a filly that’s earned in each of her five outings under Rules, whilst having her tail up following a winning reappearance at Hereford last month. She can successfully graduate into handicap company in this admittedly tight knit affair.
Race 4 No8 SAINT MALINAS
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Danny McMenamin
The Richards stable is in good form, and following a treble earlier in the week SAINT MALINAS can add to its laurels in this maiden hurdle. The Malinas gelding was a winner and placed in his other two outings for the now retired Pauline Robson, and the move to Greystoke can’t have done him any harm.
Race 6 No1 MIGHTY MOTH (Each Way)
Trainer: Eloise Quayle – Jockey: Bruce Lynn
On a first start for her trainer, MIGHTY MOTH can defy her long odds and get into the shake up. After switching to fences last season she was a winner and placed in all her other completed starts. She has scope for further progression, and though returned to hurdles can still be effective.
Race 7 No1 LOUNGE LIZARD (Nap)
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: David Bass
The best race on the card can go to another top weight in the shape of LOUNGE LIZARD. The Nap has finished third on his last two reappearances but Daly’s horses are looking fitter this season, and he can ease back into the fray by making this a fifth success over fences.
NEWCASTLE
Race 4 No5 KARTINI
Trainer: Oliver Cole – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
Cole looks to have found a good opening for KARTINI, who in three races so far has proved very easy to back. That hasn’t however prevented the Dark Angel filly from troubling the judge on each occasion, and on this switch from Polytrack to Tapeta she can take advantage of what looks a good opportunity on her first run in a handicap.
Race 9 No1 EVOCATIVE SPARK (Nap)
Trainer: John Riches – Jockey: Sean Kirrane
EVOCATIVE SPARK wasn’t beaten far when made favourite on his latest visit to Gosforth Park. He subsequently scored in decisive fashion at Catterick, and is a very much in form horse who is operating at his optimum trip.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 3-9)
