Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing coming your way from Carlisle and Warwick on 9 March 2025.
CARLISLE
Race 2 No9 SPADESTEP
Trainer: Lucinda Russell – Jockey: Derek Fox
SPADESTEP looked very promising when landing the spoils on his only run in a point and makes considerable appeal on this first outing under Rules. He lacks the experience of Smokerinthedark, but can make the best of the 7lb he receives from his penalised opponent.
Race 5 No1 PRESIDENT SCOTTIE
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Danny McMenamin
PRESIDENT SCOTTIE hasn’t completely impressed with his attitude since being sent chasing, but there’s no doubting he has an engine when he cares to use it. His connections are happy to keep him to three miles, over which he flattened out disappointingly last time, but on just a fourth outing over fences he’s worth another chance.
Race 7 No5 SAINT CALVADOS (Nap)
Trainer: Harry Whittington – Jockey: Mr David Maxwell
Former top class chaser SAINT CALVADOS has found his way back to his original trainer for whom he scored in a point two runs back before running out last time. Whittington needs crediting for guiding the now veteran to a Grade 2 success and a near miss in the Grade 1 Ryanair Chase, and while not the same horse as in his pomp he should make short work of this opposition on hunter-chase debut.
WARWICK
Race 3 No16 ST PANCRAS (Nap)
Trainer: Toby Lawes – Jockey: Harry Cobden
ST PANCRAS faces a numerically strong field but should prove different gear to his foes in this novices’ hurdle. He opened his account in Listed company at Musselburgh and gave it a good shot when second in the Grade 2 Adonis Hurdle at Kempton. A run anywhere near as good as that should see him prevail and he’s the best bet on this card.
Race 5 No4 SOLE SOLUTION
Trainer: Venetia Williams – Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
SOLE SOLUTION boasts a good winning strike rate and looked value for more than the half a length he prevailed at Sandown last month. Though up 5lb for the success, this is only his second outing in handicap company, and he strikes me as a horse that should have more to offer in the popular colours of Sir John Timpson.
Race 6 No3 SOUND AND FURY
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Kielan Woods
SOUND AND FURY seeks a fourth success from his last six outings for a stable that has its horses popping their corks ahead of Cheltenham. The eight-year-old can show with another triumph that the step up to almost four miles holds no perils for him.
