Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Monday’s racing coming your way from Plumpton and Wolverhampton on 4 December 2023.
PLUMPTON
Race 1 No2 BOB BOB RICARD
Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill – Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr
BOB BOB RICARD showed good form to trouble the judge in two bumpers before finishing second on his hurdling bow at Wetherby for a trainer whose horses are starting to click into gear. While this is no penalty kick for the five-year-old he should handle this sharp track and prove too strong for Hurricane Danny.
Race 3 No1 CLASSIC LORD (Nap)
Trainer: Tim Vaughan – Jockey: Alan Johns
CLASSIC LORD travelled and jumped beautifully when opening his account at Fontwell and has to be of serious interest in his follow up bid under a penalty. The form of his previous defeat by Wyenot at Ludlow has worked out, and he can prove too strong for locally-trained Goodwin who will come in for plenty of support and is a danger.
Race 6 No4 BALTRAY
Trainer: Emma Lavelle – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
BALTRAY is an eye-taking addition to handicap hurdling after a win and a second in only two outings since joining his trainer. The Milan gelding will need to be smart of he’s to repel Walk Of No Shame, Stanley Pincombe and Good News, but looked to have plenty in hand when landing the odds at Hereford and is a horse with abundant room for progression.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 3 No8 ALEXANDRETTA (Nap)
Trainer: Sir Mark Prescott – Jockey: Jack Gilligan
ALEXANDRETTA is a filly for whom a success this side of the New Year can only be a good thing granted her smart pedigree. The daughter of Sea The Moon has squandered a few chances, but looked unlucky not to prevail at Chelmsford in July, and did not appear to enjoy cheekpieces on her latest start at Ayr. The head gear has now been dispensed with.
Race 6 No1 BRAZEN IDOL
Trainer: John Butler – Jockey: Harry Burns
BRAZEN IDOL gained a deserved first success of the campaign at Ffos Las in September when coming home unchallenged and landing some good bets in the process. He’s been given a nice break and is fresh and well for this return to the all-weather, and to a track he won at last year.
Race 7 No6 WATERLOO SUNSET
Trainer: Denis Coakley – Jockey: Laura Pearson
Another to gain a deserved triumph on his latest start is WATERLOO SUNSET. That delivery at Kempton came after a sequence of six earning runs and might have provided the confidence lift to put another one on the board against top-weight God Of Thunder.
Race 8 No8 EXPERT WITNESS (Each Way)
Trainer: Sir Mark Todd – Jockey: Brandon Wilkie
EXPERT WITNESS is a speculative advice for the nightcap in which she is better drawn than top-weight Goldsmith. The Expert Eye filly receives 8lb including the 5lb claim of her jockey, and can make this a second all-weather win and first on Tapeta, at her first attempt on it.
