Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Haydock Park, Ludlow, Lingfield Park and Kempton Park on 04 December 2024.
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 2 No4 PRESIDENT SCOTTIE
Trainer: Nicky Richards- Jockey: Sean Quinlan
Having been twice scratched owing to unsuitable ground, PRESIDENT SCOTTIE can prove a bet worth waiting for in this novices’ limited handicap chase. While there are some capable horses in opposition to the six-year-old, it doesn’t look as hot as either of the opportunities he’s side-stepped and can provide the perfect platform from which he can build in his new career over fences.
Race 4 No5 ROYAL INFANTRY (Nap)
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton
ROYAL INFANTRY didn’t have much to beat on his first outing over hurdles at Chepstow but won with the proverbial ton in hand. He’s very well regarded by the Skeltons, and in an admittedly much hotter race can win again as the best bet on the card.
Race 5 No3 GOOD BOY BOBBY
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
Smarty Wild takes the eye on his return from a protracted absence, but the hard fitness of GOOD BOY BOBBY can swing the balance of the equation in his favour. The selection has experienced mixed fortunes on his previous visits to this course but its demands can play to his strength on what is his third run of the season.
Race 6 No9 JET MARSHALL
Trainer: Philip Hobbs – Jockey: Mr Ben Sutton
A market check is advised on JET MARSHALL, who was a convincing winner of a similar race when last seen 21 months ago. His only occasional visits to the course mirror a horse that has to be trained with a kid glove, but if ticking the fitness box he’s more than capable of having a say. A market check is strongly advised, however.
LUDLOW
Race 1 No2 BITS N PIECES
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Finn Lambert
Some good conditional jockeys are evident for this long-distance handicap in which BITS N PIECES will receive strong handling from Finn Lambert. The lightly-raced selection is going to enjoy stepping up in trip, following a near miss over an inadequate two miles last time.
Race 2 No1 LAND AFAR (Nap)
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
There’s no question that LAND AFAR is the best bet of the day, and he should make no mistake. The Kalanisi gelding made a race of it with a much-vaunted foe in Kingston Pride at Uttoxeter on only his second start over hurdles and faces nothing of that quality, which makes him the winner of this bar a fall.
Race 5 No3 MASTERS LEGACY
Trainer: Philip Hobbs – Jockey: Mickael Nolan
One that looks over-priced is MASTERS LEGACY, who was easy to back when beaten a distance on his first outing for in 20 months at Exeter. He can be forgiven needing that outing, and if benefitting from it is definitely worth a bet, as his other three races over fences at the same course yielded a win, a second and a third.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 5 No4 TYPICAL WOMAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Ian Williams – Jockey: Tommie Jakes
The featured Winter Oaks Trial can see TYPICAL WOMAN putting her best foot forward. The Nathaniel mare paid the price for a 17 lengths triumph in a Class 5 at Newbury, but a subsequent success followed by three podium finishes prove that she will not be out of her depth now stepped up to a Class 2, for which she is the joker in the pack.
Race 9 No1 OVERNIGHTOATS (Nap)
Trainer: James Owen – Jockey: Jason Watson
OVERNIGHT OATS has been around the block trainer-wise, but after a few disappointing efforts came good with a vengeance for her current handler at Wolverhampton where she landed some good bets when following up last month. She’s back in Class 6 competing from her highest ever mark but is strongly fancied to complete what can prove to be a fine hat-trick
KEMPTON PARK
Race 2 No2 CRESTOFDISTINCTION (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Charles Bishop
CRESTOFDISTNCTION was the subject of a big on-course gamble and only denied by inexperience on the final day of the Flat season at Doncaster. The Kodiac colt stayed on again after looking held, will be sharper for that run and is well drawn on this race around a right-handed bend.
Race 5 No6 KING’S NORTON
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: Harry Davies
KING’S NORTON can prove the best of the newcomers in the second division of the novice run over a lap of the track. The gelded son of Dubawi is out of Group 1 winner Billesdon Brook and entitled to have plenty to offer in a race where several of the top stables are represented.
Race 6 No10 MARCHETTI
Trainer: Jimmy Fox – Jockey: Nicola Currie
Camelot mare MARCHETTI has earned in six of her eight outings since scoring at Chepstow back in May. She knows how to win at this track, and in similar circumstances to her last effort when narrowly denied over course and distance in the autumn can go one better.
