Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Tuesday’s racing coming your way from Chepstow, Newcastle and Southwell on 30 January 2024.
CHEPSTOW
Race 1 No8 CROSSBEAU (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Vaughan – Jockey: Conor Ring
Interesting at a likely double-figure price in this conditional jockeys’ novices’ handicap hurdle is CROSSBEAU. Since going hurdling for Vaughan he’s started at prices ranging from 80-1 to 250-1 but after a much-improved earning run at Uttoxeter before Christmas he’s a player, and with few miles on his racing clock can find progression to earn in an open heat.
Race 4 No1 CUTHBERT DIBBLE
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
CUTHBERT DIBBLE brings strong novice form to the table for his handicap hurdle debut and belated return to action. His successes at Leicester and Ffos Las were interspersed with an excellent run in the EBF Final at Sandown, in which he finished just out of the money behind Crambo, beaten ten lengths by a horse that’s now a Grade 1 winner. He’s been in good form at home, and is ready for this first start since April.
Race 5 No1 AUTHORISED SPEED (Nap)
Trainer: Gary Moore – Jockey: David Noonan
This big galloping track tends to suit front runners, giving cause to think AUTHORISED SPEED might prove hard to peg back. The top weight would have prevailed but for a penultimate fence fall at Ascot but then blotted his copybook at Plumpton when failing to handle the track. The former three-time novice hurdle winner remains well regarded and can open his chasing account.
NEWCASTLE
Race 1 No10 NALA THE LIONESS
Trainer: Karl Burke – Jockey: Henry Brooke
NALA THE LIONESS was denied in a photo in an identical race here three weeks ago when attracting plenty of market support. The daughter of late lamented sire Roaring Lion should open her account if making normal progress on this second career start.
Race 4 No1 FLORIDA DREAMS (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Danny McMenamin
This represents a class drop for FLORIDA DREAMS, who after opening his account over jumps at Ayr wasn’t completely disgraced in a Grade 1 at Aintree, won by Jango Baie. The Doyen gelding carries a penalty against a couple of dangerous foes in Moon Over Mexico and Tigga Time, but will be suited by the step up to two and a half miles under former champion conditional McMenamin.
Race 5 No1 MAROWN
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Sean Quinlan
If ever a horse deserves a change of luck it’s MAROWN, whose recent figures of 22 tell their own story. The top weight landed a bumper here on his Rules debut and returns for the first time since. Denied in a photo by Up Holly Aa King at Ayr last time, he’s taken to avenge it at the expense of Mint Condition, who is well worth a market check.
SOUTHWELL
Race 1 No5 SOAMES FORSYTE
Trainer: Michael Herrington – Jockey: Tom Eaves
SOAMES FORSYTE and Yorkstone shared the spoils here last month and the former added to his laurels in gritty fashion at Wolverhampton. The Siyouni gelding has looked a different horse since undergoing a breathing operation and can complete a hat-trick at the main expense of his adversary.
Race 5 No7 BERRYGATE
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: Callum Rodriguez
Gregorian filly BERRYGATE is lightly raced and unexposed, and very interesting now her attention is turned to handicaps. An earner on all three career starts, she can enjoy a slice of the action as long as she can overcome her outside draw on this race round a left-handed bend.
Race 8 No6 ELTERWATER (Each Way)
Trainer: Daniel Kubler – Jockey: Dylan Hogan
Camelot filly ELTERWATER interests me in this competitive finale, and especially if there’s money for her on a first outing since May. That was only her second start on sand over a longer trip than she’d encountered, while she moves further up the trip ladder here which she’s bred to enjoy.
