Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Monday’s racing coming your way from Ffos Las, Hexham, Pontefract, Kempton Park and Windsor on 22 April 2024.
FFOS LAS
Race 4 No7 KING OF THE LAKE
Trainer: Jeremy Scott – Jockey: Lorcan Williams
With figures of 223222, it’s easy to think KING OF THE LAKE may not be the most willing of characters but this is his chance to put the record straight. He faces strong opposition from front-runner Just Over Land, but that one could give him a nice tow and Infancy Jeremy Scott’s horse to end his hoodoo.
Race 5 No11 SPECIAL ACCEPTANCE (Each Way)
Trainer: Paul Webber – Jockey: Kielan Woods
SPECIAL ACCEPTANCE may be getting longer in the tooth, but the eleven-year-old receives weight from all of his ten opponents in this feature. he has a happy knack for earning, and with conditions in his favour can again trouble the judge.
HEXHAM
Race 1 No3 JOKER DE MAI (Nap)
Trainer: Harry Derham – Jockey: Mr D Maxwell
JOKER DE MAI should make the long trek from Lambourn worth his while as he reverts to novice company. The super consistent performer should take care of business on the way to better things.
Race 7 No5 JERRYSBACK
Trainer: Ben Haslam – Jockey: Mr Anthony O’Neill
Veteran JERRYSBACK might not be the force of old, but he appears to have been found a good opportunity to turn the clock back in this hunters’ chase in which he outpoints the four years younger Stratagem.
PONTEFRACT
Race 5 No4 MOUNT KING
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan
MOUNT KING proved a useful acquisition out of Joseph O’Brien’s stable when scoring on two of his last four starts for Easterby last season. He has a preference for easy ground and should find underfoot conditions to his liking for this first run of the season.
Race 8 No1 SOUND REASON
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Danny Tudhope
A change of scenery could do the trick for SOUND REASON on his debut for O’Meara. The Chester specialist seemed to lose his way during the 2023 campaign but if reinvigorated could make his presence felt, meaning a market check is advised.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 1 No2 CLASSIC KING (Nap)
Trainer: Emma Lavelle – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
CLASSIC KING counts as a winner without a penalty following his last flight fall at Newbury when he appeared to be cantering over his foes. Having met some useful types in a string of near-misses before that, he can make short work of these foes and is the best bet on the card.
Race 2 No9 CHRONOS (Each Way)
Trainer: Paul Webber – Jockey: Brendan Powell
CHRONOS has started at odds ranging from 28-1 to 200-1 in his nine career starts and was beaten a distance when last of five to Ruler Legend at Huntingdon. It needs a stretch of the imagination to see him coming out of the wilderness but he is not without ability. This very well-bred individual is risky but could outrun his price.
Race 3 No5 PRIDE OF NEPAL (Each Way)
Trainer: Jeremy Scott – Jockey: Rex Dingle
It could be worth taking a chance with PRIDE OF NEPAL for whom this is a rare outing over jumps. The dual purpose performer has not been without his issues, but at six is young enough to make up for lost time. He’s the dark horse in this race and looks over-priced.
Race 6 No6 HIGHSTAKESPLAYER
Trainer: Tom Lacey – Jockey: Stan Sheppard
HIGHSTAKESPLAYER devoured these fences when completing a hat-trick in February but found his next start at Newbury in which he was pulled up coming too soon. Freshened up for this return to his favourite hunting ground, he can bounce back to make his record over fences four from five.
