Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Ascot, Haydock Park, Huntingdon, Lingfield Park and Wolverhampton on 25 November 2023.
ASCOT
Race 2 No5 EXCELLO
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Henderson loves sending out winners here as much as at any other track and rarely leaves the course empty handed. His candidate for this novices’ hurdle EXCELLO finished second in four of his five outings over hurdles and fences in France, and though winning over fences at Auteuil behind life under Rules with his novice tag intact. The grey is the subject of good reports from Seven Barrows and can deliver at the first time of asking.
Race 3 NIRVANA SPA 1965 CHASE (Grade 2)
No1 PIC D’ORHY
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Harry Cobden
Aintree Bowl winner Shishkin steps back in trip for this seasonal return and arrives with a first time set of cheek pieces. The nine-year-old is adept over these fences but faces a rising force in PIC D’ORHY. Though the selection succumbed to his rival in the Ascot Chase in February he went on to impressively account for Fakir D’Oudairies in the Marsh Chase at Aintree, and is a year younger than Shishkin. In a match up that highlights the weekend here, PIC D’ORHY can take the spoils.
Race 4 CORAL HURDLE (Grade 2)
No4 BLUEKING D’OROUX
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Harry Cobden
In the same colours, BLUEKING D’OROUX can take a big step up the class ladder in his stride for the Nicholls/Cobden combo, and in the colours of Johnny De La Hay. The four-year-old created a 50-1 shock when successfully coming back from a wind operation in a Class2 handicap in April, and though beaten at Aintree showed that he was still improving when winning a conditions race at Cheltenham’s Open meeting. He’s the youngest in the field by a clear two years and can have the measure of another class hopper in Theatre Royal.
Race 5 No3 MIDNIGHTREFLECTION (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Case – Jockey: Mr Charlie Case
The one I like in this mares’ handicap hurdle is MIDNIGHTREFLECTION, who after whipping round at the start and losing her jockey at Chepstow, bounced back with a solid run in defeat at Ludlow and will appreciate the conditions today. She’s a good jumper who looks to have improved, and can take the measure of Whitehotchillifili.
Race 7 No7 TRADECRAFT
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Being out of a mare by Hernando, TRADECRAFT will appreciate any further softening in underfoot conditions. I’ve received good vibes for the debutant, who in receipt of 4lb can put paid to the unbeaten record of penalised Wellington Arch.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 4 No3 GREY DAWNING
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
As one of the big hopes from the Skeltons’ Alcester stables, victory in this graduation chase would be a timely one for GREY DAWNING. The six-year-old jumped well until fading between the last two fences on his chase debut at Exeter but will be sharper for that satisfactory effort in this match up with Irish raider Gaillard Du Mesnil.
Race 5 No4 GOWEL ROAD (Each Way)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
In one of the best betting races of the day, GOWEL ROAD can show himself to be an upwardly mobile operator, and get into the shake-up. He made a smooth transition to fences when second at Perth and scoring at Ascot in as many starts last season. Training issues curtailed his progress, but he’s been in good order at home ahead of this first outing in just over a year. The Emmet Mullins-trained Slate Lane and Fergal O’Brien’s Crambo are others to include in exotic permutations.
Race 6 BETFAIR CHASE (Grade 1)
No1 BRAVEMANSGAME (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
Match fitness is not an issue for BRAVEMANSGAME a following his narrow defeat in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby. He’s had a three week gap and shown his connections that he’s ready to take up the gauntlet again ahead of his major target, which has always been the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. Jacob is familiar with his mount and the combination can have the whip hand over Protektorat. The latter has shown himself to be hard to beat when returning from a break, and is running for the first time since undergoing a wind operation in the summer. Royale Pagaille and Grand National hero Corach Rambler may struggle to match strides with the ‘big two’.
Race 7 No4 FAMOUS BRIDGE
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Sean Quinlan
Richards usually can count on confidantes of the late Trevor Hemmings to supply him with a couple of useful prospects and FAMOUS BRIDGE fits that bill. He finished last season riding on the crest of a wave with back-to-back triumphs at Wetherby and made a pleading comeback when picking up a minor cheque at Ayr. He should relish the big step up in trip today.
HUNTINGDON
Race 2 No4 TELLHERTHENAME (Nap)
Trainer: Ben apauling – Jockey: Kielan Woods
TELLHERTHENAME looked a horse with a future when pushing Jango Baie all the way on Rules debut at Ascot. The former point winner holds very strong claims in the back of that fine effort, and should make no mistake.
Race 3 No3 SASHENKA
Trainer: Dominic Ffrench Davis – Jockey: Ben Ffrench Davis
SASHENKA doesn’t always find as much off the bridle as looks the case but the seven-year-old can do just as well as a chaser. She was a higher rated hurdler than her foes, and has schooled well over fences in Lambourn
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 2 No5 SIXTIES CHIC (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: George Bass
SIXTIES CHIC was a surprise scorer as a 33-1 shot at Wolverhampton and has been made fitter for the win. She has a very good draw in this bottom grade handicap, and it’s a good opportunity to build on it.
Race 4 No5 BETWEENTHESTICKS (Each Way)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
BETWEENTHESTICKS has rewarded his owners with multiple earning runs and with Murphy an eye taking booking for the three-year-old another frame finish at least is on the cards.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 5 No8 ISLAND BANDIT (Each Way)
Trainer: Heather Main – Jockey: Luke Morris
ISLAND BANDIT posted successes at Goodwood’s and Sandown in the summer and now switches to the all-weather. He has limited experience of sand and makes a first visit to this course, but figures to be a player if in the same form as when signing off the turf season with a good second at Newmarket.
Race 8 No10 WHITELEY WAY (Each Way)
Trainer: Roger Teal – Jockey: William Pyle
WHITELEY WAY underwhelmed on her latest start but has a good draw in this nursery in which she receives weight from the majority of her opponents. She’s trained well on a similar surface at home.
