Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Monday’s racing coming your way from Plumpton, Southwell and Wolverhampton on 4 March 2024.
PLUMPTON
Race 1 No3 COIN BASKET
Trainer: Anthony Charlton – Jockey: Harry Reed
From a stable with a very good record with its novices at this track, COIN BASKET needs respecting. Her debut success under Rules in a Fakenham bumper happened almost two years ago, but if ready following that enforced absence she can get into the shake-up.
Race 4 No1 MR FREEDOM (Nap)
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: Marc Goldstein
MR FREEDOM has assembled a sequence of earning efforts since landing a hat-trick on the Flat, and deserves a change of luck. He will revel in the testing underfoot conditions, and can repel the challenge of unexposed Market Rasen scorer Holly.
Race 5 No4 BORN AT MIDNIGHT
Trainer: Bill Turner – Jockey: Harry Kimber
BORN AT MIDNIGHT ran well when taking away a minor cheque on his seasonal return at this course before underwhelming at Wincanton. This normally consistent performer can put the reverse behind him under a jockey who knows how to get the best out of him.
SOUTHWELL
Race 2 No2 PATROCLUS
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
Breathing issues have confined PATROCLUS to only a handful of outings over fences, and he now returns from a near two year absence. The eight-year-old remains a horse that can do well for connections around the smaller tracks, and he’s fit enough to add this prize to his laurels.
Race 3 No3 STRATAGEM (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Mr David Maxwell
Although training issues have kept him on the sidelines, STRATAGEM will be hard to beat if retaining his old ability. That saw him in winning light over today’s course and distance, and with positive vibes from Ditcheat behind him he can repel the challenge of Caryto Des Brosses.
Race 4 No5 LONG DRAW
Trainer: Olly Murphy – Jockey: Sean Bowen
LONG DRAW wasn’t beaten far when third to Centara on his first run over hurdles at Taunton. The former Irish pointer has strong claims to open his account with the benefit of that outing under his belt.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 4 No1 TWENTY BOB (Each Way)
Trainer: William Knight – Jockey: Callus Shepherd
TWENTY BOB has a good draw three off the fence on this first handicap assignment. The Ten Sovereigns gelding failed to justify a plunge on his first outing of 2024 but troubled the judge on his latest visit to Dunstall Park, making him one to take seriously.
Race 6 No9 MY TURN NOW
Trainer: Mike Attwater – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
MY TURN NOW is another that can benefit from a favourable gate slot in this 1000 metres sprint. The daughter of Belardo made no mistake with Ryan in the plate for the first time over course and distance to show that the addition of a visor has had a positive effect.
Race 7 No6 TWIRLER (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
Cable Bay filly TWIRLER did us a good turn when opening her account at Newcastle. As the least exposed in this race around a lap of the track, she can make it a winning handicap debut.
