Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Sedgefield, Market Rasen, Taunton and Chelmsford City on 16 November 2023.
SEDGEFIELD
Race 2 No4 I’M TOO TIRED
Trainer: Jenny Candlish – Jockey: Lily Pinchin
I’M TOO TIRED showed promise without winning on the Flat and seems to have taken well to jumping from his new stable. Placed in both starts here and at Musselburgh, the gelding should open his account at the main expense of Lahire.
Race 5 No7 TOSCAN GENIUS (Nap)
Trainer: Brian Ellison – Jockey: Brian Hughes
Depp Impact gelding TOSCAN GENIUS won on the all-weather at Newcastle in September and made a pleasing beginning to his jumps career when second as a 25-1 roughie here earlier in the month. He handled the easy conditions and should have learned plenty from the experience, making him the one to beat.
MARKET RASEN
Race 1 No10 NORMAN FLETCHER (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
NORMAN FLETCHER was let down by his jumping on hurdles debut at Huntingdon but bounced back with a more polished display when chasing home Wyenot at Ludlow. The dual bumper winner can play the experience card to good effect against paper favourite Fierce Warrior.
Race 2 No11 STUTI (Each Way)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: David Bass
Home bred mare STUTI was on a learning curve in bumpers when she scored at Southwell and troubled the judge on her two other starts. She’s been well tutored for this switch to hurdling and can get into the shake-up although Time In The Sun also carries confidence to post and is worth saving on.
Race 6 No1 MIKHAILOVICH
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: David Bass
MIKHAILOVICH endured a fruitless time last winter but began to make up for it when winning very easily on his reappearance at Huntingdon in the autumn. He’s taken those exertions in his stride, and can successfully give away weight all round from his revised mark.
TAUNTON
Race 2 No1 MATTERHORN (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Harry Cobden
Equine eye candy MATTERHORN cruised home in a novice hurdle here in March only to run into Western Zephyr at Huntingdon. He’s subsequently had a second wind operation and if going as well as he works at Ditcheat will be very hard to beat.
Race 3 No1 BREAKING COVER (Each Way)
Trainer: Anthony Honeyball – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
Former Irish pointer BREAKING COVER has very little experience but appeals as the type that might have improved. In the popular colours of Harry Redknapp he can back up a promising first run over jumps at Plumpton in the spring. His trainer’s horses don’t usually lack for want of fitness following an absence.
Race 5 No10 SUN JOY
Trainer: Ben apauling – Jockey: Kielan Woods
SUN JOY is rerouted here following the abandonment of Ayr on Wednesday. He had good form on the Flat and over hurdles in France, has been well tutored for this Rules debut and can cause problems for paper favourite Geezer Rockstar.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 2 No9 ROCHELLE (Nap)
Trainer: Peter Chapple-Hyam – Jockey: James Doyle
ROCHELLE shaped well when troubling the judge on her Newmarket debut. She attracted plenty of support and has learned plenty from that initial experience. A win in this restricted maiden race for fillies can prove that any losses on her were merely lent.
Race 6 No4 OUTREACH
Trainer: Mark Usher – Jockey: David Probert
OUTREACH looked like a horse getting ready to win when narrowly denied at Wolverhampton last month. It was a career best from the grey, who has the same jockey doing the steering.
