Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips fro Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Chepstow, Catterick Bridge, Lingfield and Kempton on 24 January 2024.
CHEPSTOW
Race 1 No4 GUARD THE MOON
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
Although he’s a dual bumper winner, GUARD THE MOON is unpenalised for this first run over hurdles and needs respecting. His trainer scored with a nice prospect in these colours on Monday, and the six-year-old has schooled well over jumps at home. He faces a well-touted foe in Ilfu Un Mome, but at more than twice the price of the favourite is worth taking him on.
Race 3 No6 SO SAID I
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell
Training issues have restricted SO SAID I to a handful of runs in the past year but the grey is unexposed and open to plenty of improvement. She jumped well when second on her first run over fences at Wincanton after attracting plenty of on course support. She will have greatly benefitted from that experience, and over this more favourably trip can go one better.
Race 4 No6 STEEL ALLY (Nap)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
The weather deprived STEEL ALLY of a good opportunity last week but it might turn out to be a blessing in disguise, as this looks just as good an opening for the gelding. It’s best to draw a line through his lacklustre latest run and judge him on a good run at Ffos Las, where an awkward jump at the final flight cost him victory. This contest lacks strength in depth, and he should deliver.
Race 7 No13 CHAMPAGNE RHYTHM (Each Way)
Trainer: Evan Williams – Jockey: Isobel Williams
CHAMPAGNE RHYTHM can only be a speculative wager in this tricky finale, but there’s much to like about the nine-year-old if you dig deep enough. His novice form was better than that of anything else in the field, and while he’s not been the most straightforward horse to train he could stage a revival with cheek pieces added for the first time.
CATTERICK BRIDGE
Race 1 No1 JIMMY THE DIGGER
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: Toby Wynne
Since tripping up on his first run back at Aintree, JIMMY THE DIGGER has underwhelmed on his last two outings. He has a new pilot in this conditional jockeys’ veterans’ chase, and if on a going day can stage a revival.
Race 2 No2 DOC McCOY (Nap)
Trainer: Jamie Snowden – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
Snowden can add to his good record at this course with DOC McCOY. The six-year-old made a pleasing debut over hurdles when winning just as he liked at Huntingdon, only to look one paced when fourth to Bugise Seagull over this course and distance only to come back with a genuine excuse. If ridden differently here, he is worth another chance.
Race 7 No1 WENDIGO
Trainer: Jamie Snowden – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
This should lie between the penalised pair WENDIGO and Wilful, with a preference for the former who in two runs in bumpers has looked a useful addition to those ranks.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 2 No4 DICKO THE LEGEND
Trainer: Roger Ingram – Jockey: Rhiain Ingram
This sprint is nicely set up for DICKO THE LEGEND to run well. He has limited experience of Lingfield and it’s a first run here since joining his trainer, but he’s perfectly drawn to get a nice tow into the race, and can mow down his foes in the short straight.
Race 3 No3 ISLAND NATIVE (Nap)
Trainer: Mike Appleby – Jockey: Rab Havlin
ISLAND NATIVE makes a quick reappearance after landing some good bets in decisive fashion at Chelmsford last week. It showed how unlucky he was when beaten in a blanket finish on his previous outing at this course, and a 5lb penalty shouldn’t prevent the grey serving up a similarly dominant display.
Race 4 No5 MONKS MEAD (Each Way)
Trainer: Mark Usher – Jockey: Tyler Heard
MONKS MEAD did us a good turn when scoring at Chelmsford and was up against it, though not disgraced, when troubling the judge in a Class4 at the same course. The grey is batting off a similar crease in this small field, but with his stable amongst the winners could be the one to cause short favourite Galloping On problems.
Race 5 No7 CLOUD CUCKOO (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Trevor Whelan
A market check is advised on CLOUD CUCKOO. The lightly-raced gelding hasn’t set any rivers on fire but is not devoid of ability. Easy to back on all three starts last year, he’s well drawn and may be worth a small speculative bet to get into the shake-up.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 3 No2 ALHATHER
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Harry Davies
Aljezur finished third here on Monday and might not turn out again, which leaves ALHATHER as the most likely winner. The Kodiac colt was easy to back when chasing home Sir Les Patterson on his Southwell introduction and will be more streetwise for this first run on Polytrack, in which he enjoys the luxury of the rail.
Race 5 No5 MISS MONTE CARLO (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: Saffie Osborne
MISS MONTE CARLO revived the old John Pearce silks when finishing a solid second on her debut here earlier in the month. The Study Of Man filly is out of a Hernando mare, and while soft ground might assist her cause going forward on turf, she is certainly going to appreciate stepping up on the trip ladder, and can open her account.
Race 6 No8 THE BAY WARRIOR
Trainer: Mark Usher – Jockey: David Probert
This yard has served us well over the past few days and THE BAY WARRIOR has strong claims to add to its laurels. The six-year-old dug deep for a deserved first success of the year at the start of the month. It was his first visit to the course for almost two years, and his cause will not be tarnished with Probert back in the Orion’s after an absence of well over three.
