Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Monday’s racing coming your way from Wincanton , Newcastle , and Wolverhampton on 31 March 2025.
WINCANTON
Race 2 No1 MINNIEMUM (Nap)
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
MINNIEMUM was a spectacular winner of her chase debut at Exeter when making every yard and coming home unchallenged. There’s not much of the mare but if going about her business is the same way can make it back-to-back wins unde4 a 7lb penalty.
Race 4 No6 SEAHOUSES
Trainer: F Brennan – Jockey: Isabelle Ryder
Five-year-old SEAHOUSES is in great heart after posting a success at Market Rasen and finishing second at Hereford. There should be more to come from the Sea The Moon gelding who looks to have turned a corner.
NEWCASTLE
Race 4 No1 HORN CAPE (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Haslam – Jockey: Richie McLernon
Pay The Piper is interesting returned to hurdles but one that I’ve been waiting for is the JP McManus-owned HORN CAPE. The grey put in an eye taking effort when third to Bust A Move at this course and interestingly some of his best performances have happened here. He will not be inconvenienced by stepping up to two and a half miles.
Race 5 No3 EMPTY NEST
Trainer: Mark Walford – Jockey: Jamie Hamilton
EMPTY NEST won at Wetherby on Boxing Day and has followed that up with two solid earning runs. He should act on this track and is the one most likely to deliver the goods in an admittedly open heat.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 3 No6 TEA SEA (Nap)
Trainer: Tony Carroll – Jockey: William Carson
TEA SEA has been making hay with three successes from his last five outings. He was the horse to take out of his latest start at Kempton when he encountered serious traffic problems and stayed on strongly for a podium finish. Stepping back up to a mile on this entirely different course can greatly benefit him.
Race 6 No1 EASTER ICON
Trainer: Gary Brown – Jockey: George Bass
EASTER ICON beat Daaris over an extended two miles last month , and while his victim went one better returned to this track I fancy the earlier placings will be upheld. The selection was ridden by Bass on several occasions when with his previous trainer, and the apprentice is very good value for his 3lb claim.
Race 7 No3 BAY OF NAPLES (Each Way)
Trainer: Michael Herrington- Jockey: Tom Eaves
BAY OF NAPLES doesn’t jump off the page as a likely winner of this first leg of the classified stakes but it represents a drop in grade for the Exceed And Excel gelding, who can take advantage. He’s gone 21 outings since his previous triumph, but the key to success here is a considerable drop in trip.
Race 8 No5 COMEDIAN LEADER
Trainer: Suzy Best – Jockey: Luke Morris
COMEDIAN LEADER can emerge as the best of a poor bunch in division 2. She stepped up on her frame finish here to finish second in a Lingfield handicap last week, and now enters slightly calmer waters.
