Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from Ludlow, Sedgefield and Kempton Park on 7 February 2024.
LUDLOW
Race 2 No10 THE GREY MAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Harriet Dickin – Jockey: Benjamin Poste
THE GREY MAN shaped well when upping his game in a Hereford bumper, won by Jackpot Des Bordes. He’s an interesting recruit to hurdling for his small stable, and could prove a value alternative to South Omo Zone, who also brings decent bumper form to the table.
Race 3 No4 BALLYBEGG
Trainer: Kerry Lee – Jockey: Richard Patrick
BALLYBEGG was dominant throughout his recent course and distance triumph for which he reappears off a 6lb higher mark. He’d been largely in the wilderness before that and can show by following up that he’s back to being the strong force of old.
Race 4 No9 REGAL RENAISSANCE (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: Alice Stevens
The Daly stable has been noticeably quiet, but REGAL RENAISSANCE possesses the consistent quality to go well in this mares’ handicap hurdle and help buck the trend. The six-year-old is 2lb lower than when finishing second here six weeks ago, while the slightly shorter trip can also benefit her.
Race 7 No13 PHONE HOME (Nap)
Trainer: Jamie Snowden – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
PHONE HOME hit a flat spot before staying on well to chase home Brucio at Catterick. The form received a mighty boost when the winner followed up at the Dublin Racing Festival last weekend, and this daughter of Telescope will hopefully prove a bet worth waiting for.
SEDGEFIELD
Race 5 No7 BEBSIDE BANTER (Nap)
Trainer: Chris Grant – Jockey: Danny McMenamin
BEBSIDE BANTER has shown a liking for this track and impressed when making all to score last month. If he can get onto a similarly dominating lead he can follow up off 4lb higher.
Race 6 No9 JUST CALL ME AL
Trainer: Gillian Boanas – Jockey: Brian Hughes
Coup De Gold is always of interest here and is becoming a standing dish, but JUST CALL ME AL can spoil the party for him. The selection raised his game to earn on his latest outing at Musselburgh, and might find this drop back to two and a half miles an added advantage.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 1 No5 FIDDLER’S ELBOW
Trainer: David Evans – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
Go-to jockey Ryan can guide FIDDLER’S ELBOW to victory in an opener that shouldn’t take too much winning. The gelding didn’t enjoy the rub of the green when finishing second here last time, but can improve for the addition of blinkers and open his account.
Race 4 No1 SYMBOL OF LIGHT (Nap)
Trainer: Julie Camacho – Jockey: Tom Marquand
Godolphin cast off SYMBOL OF LIGHT should prove a bet to savour in this Class 2 feature. He’s been raised just 1lb for defeat on his first outing of the year at Newcastle, in which he endured a luckless run after being heavily supported. The horse that beat him, Dear My Friend, was an impressive winner in a Lingfield Listed race on Sunday, and it all points to my Nap showing that the losses were merely lent.
Race 5 No2 HEERATHETRACK
Trainer: Mark Usher – Jockey: George Rooke
HEERATHETRACK looked like he wanted to go further when scoring over seven furlongs here for a small yard that’s been popping in the winners in the opening weeks of 2024. The grey gets the vote to complete a hat-trick in a race where Egoiste, Stoic Syd and Marchetti can bolster exactas, trifectas and quartets.
