Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Tuesday’s racing coming your way from Lingfield Park, Newcastle and Southwell on 5 March 2024.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 2 No2 JUNIPER (Nap)
Trainer: Anthony Honeyball – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
JUNIPER jumped beautifully when scoring at Wincanton last week and is out for more under a 7lb penalty. The mare has taken those exertions in her stride and can show she has the versatility to handle this more undulating track, and to follow up.
Race 4 No1 LAZY SUNDAY
Trainer: R Mitford-Slade – Jockey: Mickael Nolan
Two horses that fell when holding winning chances on their latest starts can dominate this handicap chase. Hunter Legend departed at Wetherby’s penultimate fence whilst LAZY SUNDAY was in total command when falling three from home at this course. The ten-year-old has a good record here and can bounce back to post an overdue success.
Race 5 No8 MAJOR FORTUNE
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
MAJOR FORTUNE hasn’t looked back since scoring at Market Rasen on Boxing Day, assembling a four-race winning sequence that includes back-to-back successes at this course. It was only by a neck that he prevailed last time, but he looked to have more in hand than that margin suggests, whilst his trainer is mustard with his handicap hurdlers. Under a 7lb penalty, the six-year-old can complete a nap hand of victories.
NEWCASTLE
Race 2 No2 ESPRIT DU POTIER
Trainer: Lucinda Russell – Jockey: Derek Fox
ESPRIT DU POTIER is proven on the testing conditions he will experience today but needs to bounce back from an underwhelming run at Doncaster last time. In fairness to the gelding that happened in Grade2 company, he’s strongly fancied to prevail now in calmer waters.
Race 4 No2 GEORDIES DREAM (Nap)
Trainer: P Robson – Jockey: Brian Hughes
GEORDIES DREAM is a bet I’m looking forward to and can open his account over hurdles. The grey chased home Skycutter in a better race than this at Carlisle, form which was boosted when the winner troubled the judge in the very competitive Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on Saturday.
Race 5 No10 GLORY HEIGHTS (EachWay)
Trainer: Chris Grant – Jockey: Danny McMenamin
GLORY HEIGHTS rates the way to go under the same ownership as Geordies Dream. Bottom weight in this two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle, he deserves a change of luck after a narrow defeat over course and distance and a solid earning run when tackling a longer trip last time.
SOUTHWELL
Race 2 No8 SECRET SQUIRREL (Nap)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
SECRET SQUIRREL skipped an opportunity over hurdles in a Grade 2 at Kempton and now tries his luck in novice company and on all-weather debut. He has very good form over jumps, including a solid run behind Jeriko Du Reponet at Newbury. Ryan is an eye-taking booking for this flashy-looking individual who looks overpriced.
Race 6 No8 TIGER BEETLE (Each Way)
Trainer: Mark Rimell – Jockey: Rob Hornby
TIGER BEETLE didn’t go unbacked when out of the money in a muddling race at Wolverhampton last time when probably finding the extended nine furlong an insufficient test. The Camelot gelding competes over further in this admittedly warmer contest and granted a decent pace to aim at can arrive late to claim a cheque.
Race 8 No6 MIDNIGHT SHIMMER (EachWay)
Trainer: Neil Mulholland – Jockey: Hayley Turner
MIDNIGHT SHIMMER posted a career-best when third at Wolverhampton on a second run back from an enforced absence. It was just a fifth start for the grey, who with Turner in the plate for the first time could trouble the best of his foes, while also looking overpriced.
