Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Bath, Newcastle, Stratford, Chelmsford City, and Southwell on 30 October 2025.
BATH
Race 2 No3 HEROICS (Nap)
Trainer: Alan King – Jockey: Rob Hornby
Ulysses colt HEROICS gained valuable experience of this terrain when taking away a minor cheque on his debut on slightly easy ground. The going will be more testing today, but he’s bred to enjoy it, and judging from the way he finished off his race he should be going forward when some of the others have had enough.
Race 6 No4 MISTER SANDMAN
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: Tom Queally
On his first run for a new stable MISTER SANDMAN could be the answer. He was beaten into fourth but in a blanket finish on latest start at Lingfield and appeals as a horse that is better than his form figures dictate. A market check on him is recommended.
NEWCASTLE
Race 6 No5 CRACKING DESTINY (Nap)
Trainer: Ewan Whillans – Jockey: Craig Nicholls
While this isn’t a card to get too excited about, veteran CRACKING DESTINY can serve it up to his younger rivals in this two and a half mile handicap chase. He wasn’t at his best when well beaten at Carlisle last time but has been sparingly campaigned, leaving the door ajar for him to bounce back, which he’s capable of doing and at a decent price.
STRATFORD
Race 3 No9 WANDERING EGO (Each Way)
Trainer: Olly Murphy – Jockey: Sean Bowen
Just why WANDERING EGO went out like a light in the straight after being supported at Perth is a bit of a mystery, but it could pay to forgive the five-year-old that lapse. It was his first run over hurdles, while he had impressed in taking out a Worcester bumper on his previous start. Now back on a left handed track he can show his true ability.
Race 4 No12 PRECIOUS METAL
Trainer: Henrietta Knight – Jockey: Brendan Powell
Knight has been putting some solid work into her horses, including an away gallop at Newbury, and PRECIOUS METAL is one that can benefit. His success in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham stands out, while he’s taken to jumping well at home.
Race 5 No4 RANGE (Nap)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Dylan Johnston
It’s likely that we didn’t see the best of RANGE last season and that in this competitive affair on reappearance there will be better to come.the eight-year-old goes well in the soft and at this sharp course his prospects might improve if he’s taken straight to the lead.
Race 6 No2 MOTAZZEN
Trainer: Henrietta Knight – Jockey: Brendan Powell
MOTAZZEN was a very good earner for his owners with a hat-trick of successes last season before being forced onto the sidelines by injury. He ran well for a long way on his return to hurdling at Fontwell last month and while 1lb higher that exercise will have brought him forward.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 3 No6 APPLESANDPEARS (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Hector Crouch
Havana Gold filly APPLESANDPEARS put in an encouraging first effort when second at Leicester to make her of consider interest switched to Polytrack and moved up to 1400 metres. She’s worked well on a similar artificial surface at home, and will be sharper.
Race 8 No7 MYTHICAL BIRD (Each Way)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Cieren Fallon
MYTHICAL BIRD could end a frustrating run of frame finishes without success in the lucky last. The grey troubled the judge on her latest outing here and in receipt of weight from her six opponents can make this an overdue first career win.
SOUTHWELL
Race 4 No11 WOODSTOCK (Nap)
Trainer: Ruth Carr – Jockey: Warren Fentiman
One of the better bets of the day is WOODSTOCK, who appeals as a value play against DAPPER GUEST in this interesting Class3 round a lap of the track. The versatile Nap is a triple scorer on the all-weather who last season took a liking to Newbury where he delivered twice. His latest showing when second at Catterick shows he’s in good order, and from a very good draw he can make this an overdue first success of 2025.
Race 6 No1 WOODSTOCK CITY
Trainer: Ian Williams – Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
Not to be outdone, WOODSTOCK CITY (no relation) can show his appreciation for a return to his optimum distance in this mile and a half Class5. He’s an inconsistent performer, but his shrewd trainer seems to have found a good opening for the top weight, which he can take.
Race 8 No11 JIMMY HENRY (Each Way)
Trainer: Michael Herrington – Jockey: Tom Eaves
From the foot of the weights JIMMY HENRY is capable of raising his game. His record of placing just once in 15 starts is misleading, and he ran better than his finishing position suggests at Kempton three weeks ago.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 3-9)
