Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Hereford, Wincanton and Kempton Park on 27 March 2024.
HEREFORD
Race 1 No2 EL GRANJERO (Nap)
Trainer: C Boultbee-Brooks – Jockey: Richard Patrick
EL GRANJERO brings strong form to the table after a trio of near misses in as many starts over hurdles. Beaten by Inoui Machin in a tight finish over this course and distance earlier in the month, he’s likely to appreciate the step up to two and a half miles, and can take the spoils at the main expense of Stay If U Want To.
Race 6 No2 ROCKING MAN
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
This looks a strictly two horse affair, with ROCKING MAN taken to outpoint Jurancon. The selection attracted plenty of support for his two career starts at Chepstow, and though surrendering his unbeaten record to Queensbury Boy there over Christmas, has strengthened up for a mid-season break.
WINCANTON
Race 1 No4 REGAL RENAISSANCE (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: Mr Archiell Jones
REGAL RENAISSANCE is a regular visitor to the win and place enclosures and also a good ride for an inexperienced pilot. This should serve the mare well as she tries to back up a convincing success at Chepstow. She’s opposed by a dangerous Irish raider in Seasett, but looks certain to give her running and gets the vote.
Race 3 No2 GAYE LEGACY
Trainer: Tom Symonds – Jockey: Benjamin Poste
GAYE LEGACY put in a slightly underwhelming display when fifth to Pinot Rouge in a Listed novices’ hurdle at Doncaster after proving a fine servant to her connections with successes at Market Rasen and Newbury as well as near misses at Aintree and Kempton. The mare is back in her comfort zone in this Class3 and can prove a thorn in the side of paper favourite Elle East Beau.
Race 4 No2 JUNIPER (Nap)
Trainer: Anthony Honeyball – Jockey: Harry Cobden
JUNIPER has two ways of running, but when right is a very effective operator. This mares’ handicap chase provides her with a gilt-edged opportunity to follow-up her smooth Taunton success, when Cobden was in her saddle for the first time.
Race 7 No7 JOHANNES
Trainer: David Pipe – Jockey: Harry Cobden
Three horses that emerged from the wilderness with successes on their latest starts need respecting in this novices’ limited handicap hurdle, with JOHANNES preferred to Plaisir Des Flos and Clinton Lane. The selection progressed for a move into the handicap arena when scoring at Taunton and should benefit from having title race leader Cobden in his saddle for the first time.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 3 No1 CRACKING GOLD (Nap)
Trainer: Clive Cox – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
Although burdened with a 5lb penalty, CRACKING GOLD can prove the key to this three-year-old only handicap. The Havana Gold colt was backed as if defeat was out of the question with Ryan in his saddle at Lingfield and the combination came home unchallenged. The chestnut should again prove on a different platform to his foes.
Race 4 No5 ARABIAN STORM
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: Oisin Murphy
Kingman colt ARABIAN STORM wasn’t able to build on a victory at Newcastle in terms of adding to those spoils, but nevertheless ran a cracker when third to Shouldvebeenaring in a Listed race at Newmarket, and beaten only three-quarters of a length. On just a fifth career start the four-year-old can thwart the challenges of Mount Athos and Mostabshir.
Race 5 No3 BURDETT
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: Charles Bishop
This looks a tight-knit affair in which any of the seven runners can win, but BURDETT may have the most scope to progress. He had his juvenile season cut short after winning at Ffos Las and finishing second at Haydock but has strengthened up into a likeable individual who it can pay to follow.
