Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Sandown Park, Aintree, Chepstow and Wolverhampton on 9 December 2023.
SANDOWN PARK
Race 1 No4 WILLMOUNT
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle favourite WILLMOUNT created a favourable impression when bolting up, on his jumps debut at Newbury. A dual scorer in bumpers before that, he’s a horse with a big future and can remain unbeaten on the way to better things.
Race 3 No8 OPERATION MANNA
Trainer: Tom Lacey – Jockey: Cameron Iles
OPERATION MANNA landed some good bets when coming home unchallenged on his seasonal reappearance in November and backed that up just as smoothly at Lingfield. He looks to be a step ahead of the handicapper and can complete a hat-trick at the main expense of Chantry House.
Race 4 BETFAIR FIGHTING FIFTH HURDLE (Grade 1)
No1 CONSTITUTION HILL
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Full marks to owner Michael Buckley and trainer Henderson for allowing CONSTITUTION HILL to contest a race switched from Newcastle. It’s a week closer to the gelding’s Christmas Hurdle target than ideal, but should serve to take the fizz out of the reigning champion and stretch is unbeaten record to eight. How stablemate Shishkin will perform is anyone’s guess, but You Wear It Well looked impressive when scoring in Listed company at Wetherby, and might be the one to follow the long odds-on favourite home.
Race 5 No3 JPR ONE
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell
JPR ONE was still in cruise control when landing on a patch of loose ground and in shipping his pilot at Cheltenham. None the worse for that hiccup, he is a winner without a penalty, and his accurate jumping can be seen to his best around this track where good jumping is an essential requirement to success.
Race 6 No7 MR FREEDOM (Each Way)
Trainer: Sheena West – Jockey: Marc Goldstein
Impose Toi won with a ton in hand at Cheltenham and is entitled to go off short for this competitive handicap hurdle. He could easily laugh at the opposition but at much longer odds MR FREEDOM is worth chancing. He might have won had his rider gone for home and not waited at Plumpton, and is capable of progression on the cusp of his fifth birthday.
Race 7 BETFAIR TINGLE CREEK CHASE (Grade 1)
No1 BOOTHILL (Each Way)
Trainer: Harry Fry – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
Jonbon’s superior speed was starkly evident when he thrashed Edwardstone in the Schloer Chase at Cheltenham. It’s hard to envisage the placings being turned around even though Edwardstone was magnificent on his last visit to this track in the same race 12 months ago. The joker in the pack is BOOTHILL, who after carting big weights to victory in successive handicap at Ascot is now ready for a notable step up in class. The eight-year-old needs to improve, but should things not go to plan for the ‘big two’ he is the one who can benefit.
Race 8 No2 BEAUPORT (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Jordan Nailor
After a crunching fall at Aintree from which he was lucky to come out unscathed, BEAUPORT enjoyed a confidence-building completion of the course when returning at Ascot early last month. He had a good blow afterwards and should now strip fitter. He’s at the right end of the age ladder to aspire to better things and can show his true worth as a bet worth waiting for.
AINTREE
Race 1 No1 NORMAN FLETCHER (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
NORMAN FLETCHER ran into a solid yardstick in Wyenot at Ludlow and subsequently opened his account over hurdles with something to spare at Market Rasen. Wyenot boosted the form when following up at Kelso, and despite carrying a 6lb penalty the first-named horse may be good enough to thwart Goonhilly.
Race 4 No2 ZAMBELLA
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Daryl Jacob
ZAMBELLA enjoyed a lucrative time of things with a couple of successes while being placed in each of her other three outings over fences. She’s been going great guns at home and can advertise her liking for the Mildmay course with a comeback victory.
Race 6 BOYLESPORTS BECHER HANDICAP CHASE
No1 COKO BEACH (Each Way)
Trainer: Gordon Elliott – Jockey: D Gilligan
COKO BEACH patently failed to get the trip but ran well for a long way before being pulled up in last season’s Grand National. The bold jumping grey finished in the money when reappearing at Limerick and made no mistake at Navan under the same conditional that’s on his back today. Over this shorter trip the eight-year-old is afforded the utmost respect, and in a very competitive heat can have the measure of Undersupervision. The latter raised his game to tro7ble the judge at Cheltenham last month and should be suited the the fences, the ground and the trip. He doesn’t do anything in a hurry but could be one that stays on when many have cried enough.
CHEPSTOW
Race 2 No7 THE NEWEST ONE
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Finn Lambert
THE NEWEST ONE takes handicap form back into novice company having earned at the Paddy Power meeting at Cheltenham. He faces stern competition from the lightly-raced Big City Roller but should be up to the task in hand, receiving 7lb from that penalised rival.
Race 3 No8 BALLYCAMUS
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Finn Lambert
BALLYCAMUS missed out on a good opportunity when Leicester had to be abandoned earlier in the week. This is more competitive, but he’s schooled well over fences at home and is strongly fancied to make his presence felt.
Race 4 No7 MAJOR DUNDEE
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Rex Dingle
Last season’s Midlands National winner MAJOR DUNDEE makes abundant appeal in this trial for the Welsh National later in the month. He posted a very pleasing effort when third on his Warwick reappearance. The outing has helped put the cutting edge on him, and he can land the spoils.
Race 6 No9 KATATE DORI
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Adam Wedge
KATATE DORI showed up for a long way before getting tired on his return to action at Cheltenham. That first run over jumps has brought him on, and he can add to his trainer’s good record in novice hurdles this season.
Race 7 No12 RANGE (Nap)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Adam Wedge
RANGE made a good fist of it against the talented Gidleigh Park on his jumps debut at Exeter. There’s nothing of that calibre facing him and he can take the honours in the same colours as Katate Dori.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 1 No3 DUKE’S COMMAND (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: Billy Loughnane
Star apprentice Loughnane can make a winning link with Godolphin on DUKE’S COMMAND. The Dubawi colt met all sorts of trouble in running after a slow start at Chelmsford and ranks a winner without a penalty. Furthermore the form has been given a notable boost, making him the one to beat.
Race 6 No1 WINTER WILDES
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes – Jockey: Mikkel Mortensen
WINTER WILDES picked up some black type when placed in a Listed race at Lingfield. It’s the best form on offer and makes this consistent performer of considerable interest back in handicap company.
