Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Doncaster, Leicester and Kempton on 10 January 2024.
DONCASTER
Race 2 No1 PERSONAL AMBITION (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Kielan Woods
From a yard with a fine record with its novices on the Town Moor, PERSONAL AMBITION stands out. The five-year-old has met with mixed fortunes since being placed in his only point in Ireland. He smoothly converted on debut for Pauling at Warwick but was then beaten 25 lengths in Deafening Silence’s race at Haydock. That run is however more creditable than it looks given it was at Grade 2 level, and the Nap now moves back into much calmer waters.
Race 3 No1 CLASSIC KING
Trainer: Emma Lavelle – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
Perhaps the nicest horse on view at this meeting is CLASSIC KING. The problem is, he dominates this second division of the novices’ hurdle to such a degree that he will start at prohibitive odds, and I shall place him in a double with Personal Ambition. His form is rock solid, comprising a success on his debut over jumps at Wincanton and an excellent effort to chase home the classy Queens Gamble at Kempton, form that’s been endorsed by his conqueror.
Race 4 No1 DEMACHINE
Trainer: Kerry Lee – Jockey: Liam Harrison
First time back is the time to catch DEMACHINE at his best, as illustrated by his success at Uttoxeter last May. The strong traveller also won on his first two starts of the 2020/21 campaign and he’s in great form for this first run since the Aintree Grand National meeting in the early spring.
LEICESTER
Race 1 No8 SUPASUNRISE
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Finn Lambert
SUPASUNRISE has more going for him in the opener than most of his rivals. His conditional rider has prevailed twice on him and been in the hot seat for each of his last six outings. This is the gelding’s first visit to the Oadby course in a chase, where the long home straight should play to his strengths.
Race 4 No1 TOMMIE GUN (Nap)
Trainer: Sam Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
Wal Buck’s makes the long haul from Scotland and is bound to command respect but as the only winner in the field, TOMMIE GUN is preferred. He’s done nothing wrong in two outings for his trainer, finishing second in a Newbury bumper and then scoring on a first run over hurdles at Southwell. That wasn’t a great race, but this looks worse.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 3 No8 MARCHETTI
Trainer: Jimmy Fox – Jockey: Georgie Dobie
There appeared to be no fluke about MARCHETTI’s convincing triumph over this course and distance three weeks ago. The Camelot mare has a plum draw for this 1400 metres contest run round a right-handed bend, and can add to her laurels.
Race 5 No3 CALCULATE (Each Way)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Rob Hornby
Those with previous form don’t look to add up to much in what might be a weak novice, so a chance is taken on CALCULATE who is a fashionably bred son of. Cracksman, and can earn in the colours of The King.
Race 6 No2 JUAN SOLO (Nap)
Trainer: Sylvester Kirk – Jockey: Tom Marquand
JUAN SOLO can prove a timely winner for his trainer in this tight-knit three-year-old-only handicap. The gelded son of recently deceased Dandy Man has improved for a switch to sand, earning in his last two starts, but he’s worked well on Polytrack in Lambourn, and should be even happier now racing on that surface with Marquand in his irons for the first time.
