Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Uttoxeter, Kempton Park, Newcastle and Wolverhapton on 16 March 2024.
UTTOXETER
Race 1 No3 RANGE (Nap]
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
All five acceptors could win this interesting opener, but should he grab a hold of the early pace RANGE might be hard to peg back. His second to Gidleigh Park at Chepstow is very good form, while after scoring at the same course he wasn’t entirely disgraced in a Grade 2 at Doncaster. The heavy ground will hold no perils for him, and he can stem the hat-trick attempt of Below The Radar.
Race 2 No9 ONE EYE ON VEGAS
Trainer: Stuart Edmunds – Jockey: Ciaran Gethings
ONE EYE ON VEGAS is operating on an upward curve and has his sights raised in an attempt to make it three wins from his last three starts. The addition of cheek pieces has assisted that progression, and having looked especially dominant at Hereford last month he can show he’s got even more to offer.
Race 4 BET365 MIDLANDS GRAND NATIONAL HANDICAP CHASE
No2 BEAUPORT (Each Way)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Jordan Nailor
It’s a smaller field than usual for this track’s biggest race of the season, which may be good news for connections of BEAUPORT. A winner over hurdles on this day two years ago, he’s met with mixed fortunes since switching to fences, and an issue came back to haunt him on his latest start at Warwick. There are several with better recent form to bring to the table in this gruelling affair, but if near his best my selection can repel the challenges of MY SILVER LINING, MR INCREDIBLE and IRON BRIDGE.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 2 No7 WELSH CHARGER (Nap)
Trainer: Alistair Ralph – Jockey: David Noonan
The relatively unexposed WELSH CHARGER can prove one of the best bets of the day in what is a mini version of the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle run here earlier in the season. The selection has very few miles on the clock and hasn’t put a foot wrong as he’s quietly climbed the ratings out of the gaze of the assessor. A winner of four of his seven races over hurdles, he is afforded abundant respect on this first venture into Class2 company.
Race 4 No1 WYENOT
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: Alice Stevens
If WYENOT puts behind her an underwhelming display at! Lingfield looks a good bet to take care of business. She went out like the proverbial light on that occasion but had earlier bolted up in novices at Ludlow and Kelso. Her stable was under a cloud at the time, but she’s back in good health and can serve it up to the unexposed Imperious Star, whose form from one outing was boosted by Golden Ace at Cheltenham on Thursday.
Race 5 No2 JAVA POINT
Trainer: Henry Oliver – Jockey: Harry Cobden
JAVA POINT can prove the latest outside ride that propels Cobden towards his first jockeys’ title. The nine-year-old opened his account for Oliver at Sandown and can consolidate, as the track, trip and ground should prove ideal for him.
NEWCASTLE
Race 1 No3 YOUNG JACK (Nap)
Trainer: Chris Grant – Jockey: Danny McMenamin
YOUNG JACK made it two from three this year when adding a heavy ground maiden hurdle to his Irish point win at this course last month. He enjoyed the testing conditions to land some good bets, and will not mind cutting back on the distance ladder.
Race 2 No1 CHASE A FORTUNE
Trainer: Chris Grant – Jockey: Tom Midgley
CHASE A FORTUNE jumped like an old hand when moved straight into a handicap on his debut over fences at Catterick. After attracting plenty of support he bossed the closing stages of the contest and a 5lb rise might not be enough to prevent him following-up, and making it a red letter day for his stable.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 1 No7 CHOURMO (Each Way)
Trainer: Mark Gillard – Jockey: Liam Keniry
CHOURMO is one for whom confidence would grow if he’s backed, making a market check on the gelding important. In four outings for his trainer, he’s started at 150-1, 80-1, 33-1 and 25-1 with Keniry in the saddle on each occasion. However, he’s shown glimmers of ability and it wouldn’t be the biggest turn up if he were to deliver in this weak affair.
Race 6 No12 THAPA VC (Each Way)
Trainer: Mark Rimell – Jockey: Rob Hornby
THAPA VC ended 2023 with back-to-back successes, and while unable to add to that tally this year he showed with a recent near miss that he’s on the cusp of a return to winning form. Furthermore, he’s been handed a plum draw for this 1400-metre contest round a lap of the track.
Race 7 No1 ISLAND NATIVE (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Appleby – Jockey: Alistair Rawlinson
The safest play in the nightcap is ISLAND NATIVE, which Appleby has campaigned to good effect over the past four months. The selection has been kept busy with nine outings affording him two successes and four places. He went close on his first of two visits to Dunstall Park and looks to have been found a good opening.
