Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming from Ascot, Haydock Park , Taunton , Lingfield Park and Southwell on 17 January 2026.
ASCOT
Race 1 No1 BRAVE GUEST (Each Way)
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: Marc Goldstein
Bargain basement horse BRAVE GUEST showed nothing on the Flat but has picked up the pace since being sent hurdling with two good earning efforts. It’s the best form on offer and he looks over priced with his experience edge over most in the field.
Race 2 No3 WELCOM TO CARTRIES
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Harry Cobden
Scratched from his intended race at Kempton last Saturday, WELCOM TO CARTRIES makes plenty of appeal on just a fifth starting ver fences, and fresh from a gritty triumph at Sandown where he saw out the three miles with real conviction. This is another warm contest but he gets the vote over an inexperienced foe in THE JUKEBOX KID.
Race 3 BETMGM WARFIELD MARES’ HURDLE (Grade 2)
No5 SUNSET MARQUESA
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell
SUNSET MARQUESA travelled and jumped beautifully until weakening up the final hill in a Listed hurdle at Sandown and enjoys a nice swing in the weights with the winner NURSE SUSAN. Key to her chance is the return to two miles from two and a half, and she’s regarded as one of the best bets on this card.
Race 4 No6 VINCENZO (Nap)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Dylan Johnston
After finding one to beat him in three consecutive valuable handicap chases, VINCENZO can deservedly get his head in front. He’s a good jumper who finds under pressure, and did nothing wrong when denied in both the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham. With his stable in very good order in terms of winners to runners he looks the one to beat.
Race 6 BET MGM CLARENCE HOUSE CHASE (Grade 1)
No4 THISTLE ASK
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
On the evidence of the book IL ETAIT TEMPS is bombproof in this fascinating clash of the top two milers. The Hollywoodbets-owned grey completed a nap hand of victories when coming home unchallenged from JONBON in the Tingle Creek at Sandown and even the addition of Harry Cobden on the back of the latter is unlikely to bring about a reversal of those placings. GIDLEIGH PARK ran well when chasing home Jango Baie in a Grade 2 at Ascot but the unknown quantity is surely THISTLE ASK, who puts an impressive five race unbeaten run on the line after hammering Saint Segal in the Desert Orchid at Kempton. His front running display was a joy to watch, and he rocks up here as the new kid on the block, and a horse that’s very difficult to assess.
Race 7 No9 WHISKEY YANKEE
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Dylan Johnston
WHISKEY YANKEE ran into one when beaten by Starzand on his Ffos Las introduction in March. He’s done well physically since that pleasing effort, and in a hot finale can get into the shake up.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 2 No7 SMART DECISION (Nap)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Mr William Easterby
SMART DECISION is turning into a good money spinner for his connections and can make this a sixth success from eight outings over hurdles. His Leicester and Market Rasen successes stamp him a fast improving performer who should be followed until beaten.
Race 3 SKY BET SUPREME TRIAL ROSSINGTON MAIN NOVICES’ HURDLE (Grade 2)
No4 JAPETUS
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Brian Hughes
If there’s one that can ruffle the feathers of odds-on OLD PARK STAR in this cracking race it could be JAPETUS who has really lived up to all expectations with his back-to-back Market Rasen successes. This is a big step up in class for the four-year-old but will tell us how good he is.
TAUNTON
Race 3 No3 SMILE BACK
Trainer: Richard Phillips – Jockey: Finn Lambert
SMILE BACK has found one to beat her in back-to-back visits to Leicester to stamp herself as a winner waiting to happen. The Workforce mare needs respecting under a conditional jockey who is good value for his claim, and importantly knows his mount.
Race 5 No5 CELTIC ART (Nap)
Trainer: Jeremy Scott – Jockey: Chad Bament
CELTIC ART has looked right back to his best in recent visits to this course, winning before Christmas and finding only Brave Knight his superior earlier this month. Getting weight the field and a handy 10lb (including his rider’s claim) from Walk On High, he can down that odds-on foe.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 4 No2 SKY SAFARI (Nap)
Trainer: James Fanshawe – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
In the colours of Mary Slack, SKY SAFARI can make this Class2 her fourth win in succession which is in effect a slight class drop for the daughter of Zoustar. She did well to score on her first visit here in a Listed race considering she raced freely, and has enjoyed a nice break since that November delivery.
Race 6 No7 HAZIYM (Each Way)
Trainer: Tony Carroll – Jockey: Marco Ghiani
HAZIYM has in his tenure with Carroll never started at less than 11-1 and gone of as big as 40-1 on a couple of occasions. That betting trend tells you something about the former French-trained gelding, who for the first time showed a glimmer of ability when third at Kempton before Christmas. This is an interesting horse who needs a market check today.
SOUTHWELL
Race 2 No6 MASKATTO
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: PJ McDonald
MASKATTO had to be ridden out to get the job done in a mile maiden at Lingfield and now has his attention turned to handicaps. While not the best drawn, he has more scope for improvement than anything else in the field, and can follow-up.
Race 3 No1 PINK SOCKS
Trainer: Ian Williams – Jockey: Ryan Kavanagh
PINK SOCKS has cosily landed the spoils in successive races and now steps up to 1600 metres for the hat-trick attempt. She’s taken a hike in the weights, but in current form is going to take plenty of stopping.
Race 5 No2 VENETIAN PRINCE (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: PJ McDonald
Everything points to a success for VENETIAN PRINCE who is the most interesting horse in action on the AW today. A close relative of See The Fire, the son of St Mark’s Basilica posted his first success on turf at Newbury but has worked well on an all-weather surface at home.
