Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Monday’s racing coming your way from Kempton Park and Ludlow on 25 November 2024.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 2 No8 SALT ROCK (Each Way)
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
On what could be a big day for the Bailey stable, SALT ROCK can trouble the judge. Easy to back on his return to the fray at Chepstow, he contended for honours before weakening on the run-in but wasn’t beaten far by the well-regarded winner Royal Infantry. Granted normal progression from that promising effort, he can cause problems for recent scorer Miami Magic.
Race 4 No3 SHANTOU EXPRESS (Nap)
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
At his best, SHANTOU EXPRESS would prove hard to beat in a weakly contested stayers’ handicap hurdle. Craven Bay is the in-form horse but my selection signalled with his improved showing at Warwick earlier in the month that he’s on the cusp of an overdue return to winning ways.
Race 6 No1 THE EDGAR WALLACE
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
This is an interesting betting heat in which there could be competition for the early lead. Bourbali likes to get on with things but THE EFGAR WALLACE has shown he’s most effective when fresh. A winner at Wetherby around this time last season, he went in again at Leicester while running close in his next two starts. He looks to be improving, but needs to improve his record at this track which reads 2P40.
Race 7 No4 NON STOP
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Caoilin Quinn
If Kabral Du Mathan takes his chance (declared for Exeter on Sunday) he will command a good chunk of the betting handle on the contest. The hat-trick seeker could however be vulnerable to NON STOP, who is fit from a clear-cut success at Plumpton. He enjoyed that return to hurdling, and has shown himself to be more effective over those obstacles.
LUDLOW
Race 4 No4 EL VIGARO (Nap)
Trainer: Matt Sheppard – Jockey: Stan Sheppard
Matt Sheppard landed this race in 2023 and can keep it in his grasp with EL VIGARO who has progressed from race to race in three outings this season. The Nap finds himself fully in the zone against a bunch of out-of-form opponents, and can supplement his recent Uttoxeter triumph.
Race 5 No1 MR GREY SKY
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
While Bailey is strongly represented at Kempton his runner here MR GREY SKY also needs respecting. Importantly, in a light campaign last year he delivered on his first two races back from his summer break, and has a similar profile to The Edgar Wallace in that respect. The statistic augers well for him dominating affairs today.
