Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Warwick, Kempton, Wetherby and Wolverhampton on 13 January 2024.
WARWICK
Race 3 No13 VINCENZO
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
VINCENZO finds himself in a slightly tougher race than that he was due to contest earlier in the week, but the Doctor Dino gelding has the wherewithal to prevail. He’s gone a long way forward since his pleasing first run over hurdles and can put a dent into the tall reputation of Diamond Ri.
Race 5 TRUSTATRADER Hampton Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
No2 GREY DAWNING (Nap)
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
While the Skeltons have by their high standards been noticeably quiet since Christmas, GREY DAWNING can put them back in the limelight by taking out this trial for the three miles novice chase at Cheltenham. In Broadway Boy and Apple Away he faces a couple of doughty opponents, but the seven-year-old goes to post as a winner without a penalty, having blundered away his winning chance at Cheltenham’s final fence last month. A strong traveller and a normally exceptional jumper, he can take care of business.
Race 6 No3 BEAUPORT (Each Way)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Jordan Nailor
BEAUPORT is a horse that can light up this valuable Grand National Trial and show how unlucky he was not to have scored at Sandown before Christmas. On that occasion he was given plenty of time to warm to the task, but was going better than eventual winner Truckers Lodge when pecking on landing at the second-last. He’s still in recovery mode from a bone-shaking fall at Aintree, but remains classy, and is one that has a big pot in him.
Race 7 No8 MILL GREEN (Each Way)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Robbie Dunne
MILL GREEN rates another interesting bet on a cracking card in the veterans’ handicap chase. A regular earner who was placed at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, he’s made a pleasing transition to fences. What he lacks in size he makes up for in determination, and on a track that will suit can have the measure of Good Boy Bobby, Ramses De Teillee and Thomas Darby.
Prediction: 1st MILL GREEN, 2nd Good Boy Bobby, 3rd Ramses De Teillee, 4th Thomas Darby
KEMPTON PARK
Race 2 No1 GOODWIN
Trainer: Chris Gordon – Jockey: Freddie Gordon
GOODWIN looks good value for his opening triumph over hurdles at Plumpton as the form has been boosted. He made all and jumped well en route to that deserved success, and should prove equally as effective on this flat, easy track.
Race 3 No1 CHIANTI CLASSICO
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: Harry Cobden
In a significant jockey change, Cobden takes over from David Bass on the hat-trick-seeking CHIANTI CLASSICO. Bass has skilfully partnered the selection in every one of his nine outings under Rules, winning on him six times, and that leaves Cobden with big shoes to fill. Unbeaten in both his starts over fences, Chianti Classico showed a willing attitude to prevail at Ascot and in this first run in a handicap can outclass his foes.
Race 4 CORAL SILVINIACO CONTI CHASE (Grade 2)
No1 EDWARDSTONE
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Tom Cannon
This is one of the best races run here for a while, introducing the fascinating prospect of an up in trip EDWARDSTONE upsetting specialist two-and-a-half milers Pic D’Orhy and Banbridge. Both Alan King and Paul Nicholls resisted targeting the three-mile King George with their respective charges, and while Nicholls might feel Pic D’Orhy could have contended, King is more comfortable in adopting a softly, softly approach with Edwardstone, whose Festival target is the Ryanair Chase. The ten-year-old chased Jonbon’s shadow on both outings this season, but without that racey individual in the way he can with a victory here showcase himself as the new kid on the block in the middle distance sphere.
Race 5 No4 NEMEAN LION
Trainer: Kerry Lee – Jockey: Richard Patrick
The Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle remembers one of the greats of yesteryear, while also offering up the big betting extravaganza of the day. IMPOSE TOI looks the pick of Nicky Henderson’s two contenders after chasing home stablemate Luccia in the big hurdle at Ascot three weeks ago. In the colours of JP McManus this rapid improver needs respecting, while in a very deep contest IRISH HILL is another to tread carefully with, as he looked on the way back when narrowly missing out last time. UP FOR PAROL was placed in this 12 months ago and is another that is very well treated on the pick of his form. All three of these horses will comprise part of my exotics perm but perhaps the best winning chance is NEMEAN LION. The Welsh Champion Hurdle winner looked a shade unlucky not to go close on the Greatwood Hurdle after making mistakes at the last two Cheltenham flights, and he’s been all dressed up with nowhere to go over Christmas and the New Year, being a late scratch at Ascot and then swerving the Christmas Hurdle at this course. He missed a third engagement owing to the weather but in this big field on an easy track is in the right spot to show his true quality.
Prediction: 1st NEMEAN LION, 2nd Up For Parol, 3rd Impose Toi, 4th Irish Hill
WETHERBY
Race 2 WILLIAM HILL TOWTON NOVICES’ CHASE (Grade 2)
No3 COLONEL HARRY (Nap)
Trainer: Jamie Snowden – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
COLONEL HARRY has made a smooth transition to fences with his Chepstow debut success and narrow defeat by Le Patron at Sandown. Up the class ladder in the best novice chase run at this course, he will relish the stiff fences and put himself back on course for Cheltenham, with Trelawne his main obstacle to success and the one for the exacta.
Race 5 No1 INTO OVERDRIVE
Trainer: Mark Walford – Jockey: Jamie Hamilton
INTO OVERDRIVE did far too much in front before capitulating in the straight on his return to action in the Rowland Meyrick here on Boxing Day. A dual scorer at the course over fences, he’s a very smart operator who has won five of his ten outings in chases and can bounce back.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 3 No5 HEET
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
Dabirsim colt HEET enjoyed an educational first run on the track when taking away a minor cheque at this course over Christmas. Granted normal progression he should open his account.
Race 7 No1 THE TRON (Nap)
Trainer: Derek Shaw – Jockey: Joanna Mason
THE TRON will need to have his trapping boots on at the start of this sprint, but if able to break handily can mow down his rivals in the short home straight. He narrowly missed out here last week, and his cause could receive a boost should Jacqueline perform well in the previous race.
