Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Catterick Bridge, Ludlow, Perth, Lingfield Park on 26 April 2023.
CATTERICK BRIDGE
Race 3 No1 SERA DAWN (Nap)
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: George Bass
SERA DAWN ran well for a cheque on her only previous visit to this course and has thrived this year with Bass in the saddle. She was narrowly denied at Nottingham but made no mistake when returning to the Colwick Park course when showing her liking for plenty of cut in the ground. Identical conditions should prevail here, and from her outside stall it would come as no surprise to see her commit early.
Race 5 No7 GRACELANDS GIRL
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan
Iffraaj filly GRACELANDS GIRL has troubled the judge in all nine of her starts including a couple of visits to this track. She can show she’s got what it takes to put her head in front as she switches back to turf from the all-weather, though she will need to look lively in order to repel the challenge of Special Mayson.
LUDLOW
Race 1 No4 CALL ME TARA
Trainer: Fergal O’Brien – Jockey: Jack Hogan
CALL ME TARA has attracted market support on each of her three outings since going hurdling. She converted at Worcester and Warwick last summer and is fresh and fancied for this first outing since September. In ana open affair Guy and VE Day can give her most the think about.
Race 3 No4 BALLYCAMUS
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
BALLYCAMUS just gets the vote over Hardy Fella in this long distance handicap hurdle. The selection looked out of sorts in the early part of the winter but has bounced back to be beaten a head by SASHENKA at Newbury before going one better at the same venue in authoritative style at the end of last month. He relished a step up to this trip and is in a good position to consolidate.
Race 7 No1 SECRET INVESTOR (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Miss Natalie Parker
SECRET INVESTOR has won on four of his last seven outings and with victories at Bangor and Kelso and is a useful addition to the Hunter-chase ranks. He might have earned the but for falling at Cheltenham last time, but is in far calmer waters than that championship race and can get back on track.
PERTH
Race 4 No6 REGAL BLUE (Nap)
Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill – Jockey: Nick Schofield
REGAL BLUE takes a class jump into this Listed contest, but with only one outing under his belt over hurdles is open to any amount of improvement. He was impressive in dispatching his foes at Ffos Las and looks exciting.
Race 6 No3 NOTNOWLINDA
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Bridget Andrews
Andrew’s’ riding in Scotland has been a highlight of the past few days, and the wife of Harry Skelton can further display her skills with victory aboard NOTNOWLINDA. The mare scored on two of her three outings in novice company and showed by troubling the judge in a Kelso handicap that she’s getting close to another triumph.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 1 No1 SOVEREIGN SPIRIT (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
SOVEREIGN SPIRIT gave away a fair amount of real estate when racing wide on his latest start at Southwell. Doing all his best work at the finish that day, he races from a 2lb lower mark and enjoys the added allure of having Oisin Murphy in the hot seat.
Race 3 No11 TIGER BAY (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Candy – Jockey: Dane O’Neill
TIGER BAY earned on both juvenile starts on sand in the early winter, and now returns from a four month absence. Horses from her stable have performed well in the last few days, and from a favourable draw she can put her best foot forward to score in the colours of her trainer.
Race 6 No8 COOL LIGHTNING
Trainer: James Tate – Jockey: Neil Callan
COOL LIGHTNING has less miles on her racing clock than the others in an interesting sprint, and her 2023 record reads an impressive 121. Callan gelled with the daughter of Exceed And Excel at Wolverhampton last month, and the combination can strike again.
