Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Taunton, Warwick ,Newcastle and Chelmsford City on 11 December 2025.
TAUNTON
Race 4 No3 SMUGGLERS HAVEN (Nap)
Trainer: Sara Bradstock – Jockey: Miss Lily Bradstock
SMUGGLERS HAVEN gamely opened her account over fences with a battling success at Cheltenham. That followed a sequence of second placed efforts but means she has risen in the weights. This sound jumper faces a tough opponent in Bertie Wooster, but should prove up to giving him 10lb (including Bradstock’s 7lb claim).
Race 5 No8 CELTIC ART (Each Way)
Trainer: Jeremy Scott – Jockey: Lorcan Williams
With Scott’s horses going through a purple patch, CELTIC ART can raise his game to get into the shake up in this two and a half mile handicap hurdle. This trip is unknown territory for the chestnut, who was made too much use of at Newbury last time and faded. If ridden with more restraint he can earn.
WARWICK
Race 4 No1 DIVA LUNA (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Ben Jones
The best race of the day can see DIVA LUNA maintaining her progression as a novice chaser. The Nap was good enough over hurdles to score at Grade 2 level, and that talent immediately transmitted itself to fences when she downed Joyeuse at Bangor. The form has taken a knock, but Pauling has a real Cheltenham mare on his hands and she can parry the challenge of Ludlow scorer Wyenot.
Race 6 No1 LAZY SUNDAY (Each Way)
Trainer: R Mitford-Slade – Jockey: Miss Thomasina Eys
It’s hard to question the sheer consistency of LAZY SUNDAY who hasn’t found increasing years blunting her ability. She gave it her all when only passed in the closing stages on her first run back at Ffos Las, and will have benefitted from that. The testing conditions should also play to her strengths.
Race 7 No5 ETERNITY ROSE
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien – Jockey: Fern O’Brien
The concluding bumper should see ETERNITY ROSE on the podium. The Time Test gelding hails from a very good National Hunt line and shaped with promise when third on her only start under Rules at Doncaster. But for running green she might have gone close, and the vibes are that she will be ready for this first run in eight months.
NEWCASTLE
Race 5 No1 JO COKO (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Brian Hughes
Point winner JO COKO showed ability over hurdles and takes the eye in this novices’ handicap chase in a first start from Greystoke Stables. A lightly raced individual, he’s taken well to jumping fences at home, and can with a comeback success show that a change of scenery has suited him.
Race 6 No7 TRUCKERS CROSSING
Trainer: Gordon Elliott – Jockey: Carl Millar
TRUCKERS CROSSING is going to start favourite for this handicap chase if reappearing after his exertions at Hexham on Wednesday. His trainer has had him multi entered in the north this week, and he appears to be taking his racing well.
Race 7 No11 THORNEYLANDS
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Danny McMenamin
Richards has a good record with his untried bumper horses which encourages me that THORNEYLANDS can make a mark on his debut under Rules. The Getaway gelding is closely related to Break My Soul, who has performed with credit over hurdles and fences in Ireland.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 3 No1 NAQADA KING
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: Billy Loughnane
Loughnane’s achievement in riding over 200 winners in a year stamps him as future champion jockey material. Godolphin serve him well when it’s contracted number one jockey is in action overseas, and here he can notch another success on American Pharoah colt NAQADA KING, who ran well in defeat on debut at Kempton and should benefit from cutting back to 1400 metres.
Race 6 No1 CHAMPAGNE POWDER (Nap)
Trainer: Oliver Cole – Jockey: Kieran Shoemark
CHAMPAGNE POWDER is far from straightforward but it’s hard to oppose him as the most experienced player in this novice over 1600 metres. Though bombing out on a trip to France and weakening on his latest start at Southwell, he brings the best form to the table, and won’t get many easier opportunities.
Race 7 No1 SERENGETI
Trainer: Dylan Cunha – Jockey: PJ McDonald
On a first run for Cunha, SERENGETI had one of this evening’s rivals Crown Board two places behind him at Wolverhampton. The Ballydoyle cast off stayed on strongly to make a decent foe (Sarab Star) have to fight for the spoils on that occasion, and he’s strongly fancied to go one better.
