Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Doncaster, Newbury, Kelso, Newcastle, and Southwell on 29 February 2025.
DONCASTER
Race 1 No1 BATSMAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Sara Bradstock – Jockey: David Bass
I’m starting an interesting Saturday with a wild card bet in the form of BATSMAN, who is closely related to Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Coneygree. The six-year-old has shown ability but that’s been tempered on his two starts this season by a breathing problem. If an operation to put the issue right has worked, the six-year-old can earn at a big double figure price, and for insurance purposes he’s having his tongue tied down and sporting a hood to help him settle.
Race 4 No6 WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT delighted his trainer when scoring on his return to Grange Farm from another stable at this course in January. Once considered a possible Gold Cup horse of the future, the eight-year-old hasn’t ever looked like achieving that, but this Grimthorpe Chase is a race connections are keen to put onto the sideboard. He’s been in great form at home and should have a big say in the outcome of a good race for betting. SURREY QUEST, ERNE RIVER and HYMAC are others to involve in all exotics.
Prediction: 1st WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT, 2nd Erne River, 3rd Surrey Quest, 4th Hymac
NEWBURY
Race 4 No7 CELTIC ART (EachWay)
Trainer: Jeremy Scott – Jockey: Lorcan Williams
Top weight Jurancon sets the standard for the others to aim at but in a compressed handicap bottom weight CELTIC ART really tempts me. He exuded a good attitude when running his Warwick rivals ragged on a first outing of 2025, and if in similar mood can cope with this step into a Class3, which he fully deserves.
Race 5 No8 VINCENZO (Each Way)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Dylan Johnstone
VINCENZO did us a good turn both when scoring on a first run over fences at Windsor, and again when delivering at Sandown Park, on each occasion jumping brilliantly. He’s fulfilling his trainer’s belief that the best of him would be seen as a chaser, and on a track where sound jumping is a vital ingredient to success he can get into the shake-up. This Greatwood Gold Cup is the best betting heat of the day, with BILLYTHEREALBIGRED one to have a saver on. He is an equally proficient jumper and looked unlucky to be caught up the hill when trying to chase down a hat-trick at Cheltenham. Top weight KANDOO KID is fancied to advertise his Grand National prospects with an earning run, while at much longer odds PRINCE QUALI can also make the podium.
Prediction: 1st VINCENZO, 2nd Billytherealbigred, 3rd Kandoo Kid, 4th Prince Quali
Race 7 No3 HILL IN BRAZIL (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
Bumpers at Grade 1 courses are always competitive but HILL IN BRAZIL has been in such good form at home that she could be a bet worth waiting for. She can build on her promising first run at Wincanton to turn the tables on the one that beat her, There Runs Mary.
KELSO
Race 3 No2 NAB WOOD ( Each Way)
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Sean Quinlan
NAB WOOD got no further than the first at Haydock when carrying my selection, but I’m keen to give him another chance. He’d looked like a horse coming to the boil when second on his previous start at Ayr, and with relatively few miles on his racing clock is capable of progression in an admittedly warm affair.
Race 4 No9 VANDERPOEL
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Ben Jones
Pauling is striking at an impressive 50% with his recent runners and looks to hold the key to this Grade 2 novices’ hurdle with multiple scorer VANDERPOEL. The selection has been picking off minor races in impressive fashion, and can take this class rise in his stride at the main expense of the unbeaten Castle Carrock.
Race 5 No12 FLORIDA DREAMS ( Each Way)
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Danny McMenamin
FLORIDA DREAMS disappointed after looming up in threatening fashion on his latest start at Musselburgh. But though finishing out of the money, he finished less than six lengths adrift of the winner, making it a better effort than it looked. Earlier runs in better races at Cheltenham and Aintree entitle (if repeated) the seven-year-old to take a slice of the pie in this competitive Morebattle Hurdle.
Race 7 No2 LEADER IN THE PARK (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Ben Jones
LEADER IN THE PARK continues to go from strength to strength and was visually most impressive when scoring at Warwick. He’s one of the aces in a powerful pack of novice chasers from the bang in form Pauling academy, and can make this a hat-trick clinching run to book his ticket for a race at the Festival.
NEWCASTLE
Race 5 No8 MARTIN’S BRIG ( Each Way)
Trainer: David Thompson – Jockey: Rhys Elliott
Thompson has a couple of chances on this card that are worth supporting in a speculative manner, starting with MARTIN’S BRIG. Whilst not getting younger the gelding has earned in three of his five starts through the winter, on occasions not enjoying much luck in running. If he gets the breaks tonight he can make this a first success in eight months.
Race 7 No4 CUSACK (Each Way)
Trainer: David Thompson – Jockey: Jonny Peate
In the same colours CUSACK is one to be on side with on a 14th consecutive AW start at Gosforth Park where he virtually trains himself. Successful over the course and distance in January, he finished second over a mile and a quarter last week but can benefit from a return to his optimum distance.
SOUTHWELL
Race 4 No3 DANCING TIGER (Each Way)
Trainer: Roger Teal – Jockey: Lewis Edmunds
Teal enjoyed top level success with Dancing Gemini in 2024 and in the same colours DANCING TIGER is well worth a market check. It would be incredible if lightning were to strike twice for the owners, but on a note of caution the selection wears cheek pieces for this first career start meaning stakes will be kept low, although breaking from the rail can’t be a bad thing.
Race 7 No2 PEMBROKESHIRE
Trainer: Mike Appleby – Jockey: Alistair Rawlinson
This could be the opportunity PEMBROKESHIRE has earned for in order to post an overdue first all-weather triumph. He’s having a second outing for Appleby and should be primed to earn after an educational first run of the year, and first for his trainer at this course.
Race 8 No1 BACKSPIN (Nap)
Trainer: Richard Hughes – Jockey: Finley Marsh
Several in this three-year-old only handicap have recently troubled the judge, making it a tough one to call, but granted how well he shaped on a first run of the year at Lingfield, BACKSPIN could be the answer. The selection brings solid course form from last season to the table, having finished second on his final start of 2024 in a race that has worked out. He’s therefore worthy of his place at the top of the weights.
