Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Ffos Las, Warwick, Hexham and Wolverhampton on 22 November 2023.
FFOS LAS
Race 1 No5 LUMP SUM (Nap)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
From a yard that is going well with its novices, LUMP SUM can take the spoils 8n this maiden hurdle. He was an authoritative scorer on his debut under Rules at Bangor and followed that up with a good run in defeat in another bumper at Hereford. He’s a good jumper and the same trainer/jockey combo we’re on the mark with a similar type in at Exeter.
Race 2 No2 CHAMPAGNE RHYTHM (Each Way)
Trainer: Evan Williams – Jockey: Adam Wedge
Although he hasn’t shown much in a while CHAMPAGNE RHYTHM strikes me as a well handicapped horse. After a readying run over hurdles he should be ready to take advantage of his mark and that could mean hopping between chases and handicap hurdles through the weeks ahead.
Race 6 No3 LINCOLN LYN (Each Way)
Trainer: Tom Gretton – Jockey: Beau Morgan
LINCOLN LYN showed herself to be a most consistent servant to connections last season when posting figures of 14133. With her proven ability to operate effectively following a lay off she can play a part on this first outing in 275 days, and cause problems to paper favourite Boston Joe.
WARWICK
Race 2 No5 LORD OF CHESHIRE
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Finn Lambert
Returning from a near 600-day absence, LORD OF CHESHIRE is worthy of close inspection in this conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle. In an all hurdling career he took out back-to-back handicaps at Ludlow and Wincanton only to endure training issues. Eighteen months on he is back working well and will not lack for much in the fitness department, with a good rider doing the steering.
Race 4 No3 PUSH THE BUTTON
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Finn Lambert
The same trainer/jockey combo can take the spoils with PUSH THE BUTTON in an admittedly warm heat. The selection won with something up his sleeve on jumping debut at Worcester and is now in slightly calmer waters than when third under a penalty in a Class2 at Cheltenham, won by Encanto Bruno.
Race 6 No6 JIMMY THE DIGGER (Nap)
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: Alice Stevens
One that I’m looking forward to is JIMMY THE DIGGER. Renowned for operation most effectively when fresh, he seemed to be in a strong position near the front when tripping on landing at Aintree and unseating his rider. There was a long to go, but the way the race unfolded suggests he would have proved hard to catch. The one note of caution is that his stable has been a tad quiet, but that can change.
HEXHAM
Race 3 No4 INOX ALLEN (Nap)
Trainer: Lucinda Russell – Jockey: P Wedge
On a tough card for punting INOX ALLEN is the only advice and should take care of business. He’s the first of a batch of potentially smart novices his trainer has entered up this week and can provide a good omen for the others by endorsing the promise of his success in his only point when trained out of a top yard in Ireland.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 3 No4 MOON FLIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott – Jockey: Luke Morris
MOON FLIGHT has finished second in four of his seven starts but may be worth another chance granted his vast experience compared to Embroidered Cloth who flopped after being backed on his debut, and has something to prove.
Race 6 No2 YORKSHIRE
Trainer: Ed Bethell – Jockey: PJ McDonald
YORKSHIRE stayed on in eye-taking fashion to finish just out of the money at Newcastle on a first outing since being gelded. He’s a good future prospect for his upwardly mobile trainer, and having benefitted from that run can now prevent McLean House from completing a hat-trick.
