Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Newbury, Ludlow, Ayr, Lingfield and Kempton on 20 December 2023.
NEWBURY
Race 5 No2 GIDLEIGH PARK (Nap)
Trainer: Harry Fry – Jockey: Jonathan Burke
GIDLEIGH PARK hacked up his only start in a Chepstow bumper and wasted no time in bolstering his tall home reputation when scoring on Rules debut at Exeter. This expensive purchase was fully in control over the last couple of flights and the form received a timely boost when runner-up Range won at Chepstow. East India Express is also unbeaten and looms as a formidable foe in a race the pair should dominate.
Race 6 No2 MR GREY SKY
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: Ciaran Gethings
MR GREY SKY flirted with chasing at this time last year and has had his eye firmly on that side of the equation this season, landing back-to-back successes at Huntingdon and Chepstow. Sound jumping has served the grey well and he’s capable of handling this class rise to complete what would be a fine hat-trick.
LUDLOW
Race 1 No8 THE FAMOUS FIVE
Trainer: Venetia Williams – Jockey: Miss Lucy Turner
THE FAMOUS FIVE attracted market support on a second run this season before finishing third at this course to Imperial Saint. Going on well at the finish, he should greatly enjoy stretching out to this near three-mile journey and can further endorse the promise he showed both here and with his previous trainer in France.
Race 2 No5 JIMMY THE DIGGER
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: Alice Stevens
Locally trained JIMMY THE DIGGER was enjoying himself close to the lead when tripping up at Aintree. He then put in an underwhelming display at Warwick for which there is no obvious excuse. However, if a line can be drawn through that he remains of interest. His bumper success happened at this track and Daly will have him back on song for what would be a popular triumph.
Race 3 No5 DAMEOFTHECOTSWOLDS (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
In the colours of her trainer, DAMEOFTHECOTSWOLDS smoothly dispatched Love Tree in a similar contest at Huntingdon. She’s taken the exertions in her stride and can show she’s gone forward by defying a penalty and upholding the form.
Race 5 No13 STUTI (Each Way)
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: David Bass
STUTI partially defied a market drift when third on her reappearance at Market Rasen, since when she’s been denied a couple of opportunities by the inclement weather. The home-bred figures to provide a value win and place chance for a trainer who is always dangerous with his jumps runners at this time of the season.
AYR
Race 6 No3 ARDERA CROSS (Nap)
Trainer: William Young Jnr – Jockey: Derek Fox
Veteran ARDERA CROSS is a standing dish at this course, and while not as consistent is capable of raising his game. He needs to do that in order to dispatch opponents all but one of whom have also been out of form of late.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 4 No4 MOONFIRE (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby – Jockey: David Egan
Tiaraqueen and MOONFIRE could dominate an interesting fillies’ novice, with the latter narrowly preferred in the silks of Godolphin. The daughter of Blue Point proved costly to those that supported her down to 6-5 on debut at Wolverhampton, but she’s learned plenty from the experience and will enjoy the step up to seven furlongs.
Race 5 No8 SIXTIES CHIC (Each Way)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: George Bass
SIXTIES CHIC came back from an enforced layoff to pop up at 33-1 at Wolverhampton and has put in solid displays on each of her subsequent outings, finishing second and then scoring at this course. Back to a sprint distance today, she will enjoy carrying 3lb less via an apprentice who knows her well.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 5 No5 URBAN SPRAWL (Each Way)
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
The consistent URBAN SPRAWL deserves a change of luck, and it could arrive in this race around a lap of the track. Yet to win on the all-weather, he’s lost out narrowly in successive races this month and ran well to claim a cheque on his only previous visit here. He was a three times winner as a juvenile last year and from a good draw can soon claim a handily position from which to strike for home in the straight.
Race 6 No1 COACHELLO (Nap)
Trainer: Gordon Elliott – Jockey: Sam Ewing
Giving away weight to his foes should not faze Irish raider COACHELLO, who can complete a hat-trick. The much-travelled five-year-old won in Dubai last winter, and though his subsequent form back home was not nearly as good, he’s had plenty to spare in recent triumphs at Lingfield and Newcastle and goes to war with his tail up.
