Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Saturday 11 February 2023

NEWBURY

Race 3 Betfair Denman Chase (Grade 2)

No1 ELDORADO ALLEN
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell

Last year’s winner of this Gold Cup trial, ELDORADO ALLEN finished a creditable third to Allaho in the Ryanair Chase and has this season picked up a cheque in each of his three starts, latterly when fourth to Bravemansgame in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. His stable has been a bit quiet since the turn of the year, but with his liking for this course he can down paper favourite Hitman and the improving Does He Know.

Race 4 Betfair Exchance Game Spirit Chase (Grade 2)

No2 GREANETEEN (Nap)
Trainer: Paul Nicholls – Jockey: Harry Cobden

GREANETEEN will start at prohibitive odds for a race that should have some bearing on the Queen Mother Champion Chase market. The nine-year-old boasts an excellent win to run strike-rate since his switch to fences of 8 successes from 16 outings and he’s a proper Grade 1 performer. A clear winner of the Haldon Gold Cup on seasonal reappearance, he couldn’t cope with Edwardstone in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, but in this race he holds all the cards.

Race 5 Betfair Handicap Hurdle

No17 DEERE MARK (Each Way)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Charlie Deutsch

Novices have a good record in this betting extravaganza of the day, and the same can ring true with Master Chewy and DEERE MARK, my two against the field. The pair lurk at the bottom end of the weights and more than anything need to show they can handle the hurly-burly of such a competitive race. Master Chewy threw his race away at Plumpton when letting Hansard up his inner rounding the homeward turn and was also unlucky when crumpling on landing at Ascot’s final flight earlier in the season. But DEERE MARK has winning form in a handicap to bring to the table, having been tremendously impressive at Kempton. Furthermore, the underfoot conditions should be fine for him.

It’s been a dry week at Newbury and certain trainers are concerned that the ground will be too quick for their runners. Nicky Henderson will have an eye on the weather for No Ordinary Joe, while ante-post favourite Filey Bay scored recently on good and will be okay. He’s also barely out of the novice bracket and should be involved, but if there’s a surprise packet then that could be Aucunrisque, who has done nothing wrong over fences and provides a value option for his bang-in-form stable.

Prediction: 1st DEERE MARK, 2nd Master Chewy, 3rd Aucunrisque, 4th Filey Bay, 5th No Ordinary Joe

WARWICK

Race 1 No1 STOLEN SILVER
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Adam Wedge

STOLEN SILVER takes a class drop on a rare step away from Cheltenham for this long-distance handicap chase, a contest which can provide the grey with a confidence boost before he returns to Prestbury Park for the old Mildmay Of Flete Chase. He didn’t jump especially well and was beaten when unseating his rider as favourite for the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but was certainly on the mettle when chasing home Midnight River in the big handicap chase at the same track on New Year’s Day. He’s enjoyed a select campaign that suggests all roads will lead back to Cheltenham and the big Festivals on the close horizon.

Race 2 No3 LOVE ENVOI (Nap)
Trainer: Harry Fry – Jockey: Jonathan Burke

LOVE ENVOI has been found a perfect race in which to tee herself up for a shot at the mares’ hurdle at Cheltenham next month. Last season’s Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle winner has been beaten only once since joining her handler as a bumper winner from one outing in Ireland. Her only defeat in eight starts happened at Fairyhouse last April, otherwise she’s been completely dominant in her field and she should readily outclass her foes here.

Race 3 Virgin Bet Kingmaker Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)

No2 BASS ROCK
Trainer: Sandy Thomson – Jockey: Ryan Mania

Jonbon is undoubtedly a class act and a particularly good jumper who should strengthen his claims for the Arkle. However, for exotics purposes, I suggest BASS ROCK as an alternative and the one that might cause him problems. The selection looked a natural for fences when landing a strongly contested novice chase at Carlisle before being narrowly denied by Grandad’s Cottage in a novices’ handicap chase at Wetherby. He’s one of the best prospects housed north of the border for sure, and can make a race of it with the favourite.

UTTOXETER

Race 2 No8 SULOCHANA
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Kielan Woods

This looks a weak mares’ novices’ hurdle in which SULOCHANA can raise her game. Bred to enjoy easy conditions, she was easy to back on debut over jumps at Huntingdon but can improve from that initial experience to take home a cheque.

Race 4 No10 JIMMY THE DIGGER (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: Mr G Nolan

JIMMY THE DIGGER looks like a horse with plenty of stamina, and that will be needed in order to take out this attractive betting race.he has good form round Cheltenham and ran a cracker in the Last Fling Chase at Haydock, travelling best for much of the journey and refusing to concede without a fight. His trainer excels with this type of individual, and I’m confident he’ll put up a good show.

Race 5 No1 FINE CASTING (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Pauling – Jockey: Kielan Woods

FINE CASTING comes here following an authoritative triumph at Haydock where he looked better the further he travelled. He seems to operate just as well on good ground as in the soft, and if at a similar level form can thwart Sayadam with the pair holding strong claims to finish in the first three.

WOLVERHAMPTON

Race 2 No2 LEXINGTON HERO (Nap)
Trainer: Mick Channon – Jockey: Charles Bishop

LEXINGTON HERO should be good enough to take out this lowly seller. He wasn’t far out of the money on debut at Kempton at the end of last month, and granted normal progression should be hard to beat as his main rivals have had plenty of chances.

Race 4 No1 ALLIGATOR ALLEY
Trainer: David O’Meara – Jockey: Jason Watson

ALLIGATOR ALLEY goes from strength to strength and can record a fourth win on the spin under top weight. The Kingman gelding took his form up a couple of notches when switched to the all-weather and has shown a liking for Dunstall Park where he dug deep for a hard-fought success before Christmas. However, he looked even better when defying his new mark at Southwell on New Year’s Day.

Place Accumulator Perm (Races 1-7)

6, 10, 5 x 2 x 2 x 1, 6 x 7, 9, 4 x 6, 4 x 3, 4

R36