Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Saturday’s racing coming your way from Ascot, Haydock, Newcastle and Lingfield on 23 December 2023.
ASCOT
Race 2 No3 EXCELLO
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
Although his first run under Rules here fell short of what the betting had implied, EXCELLO remains a top prospect at Deven Barrows and can post a minor upset on this switch to fences. The former French-based gelding went off 5-4 when third to Farnborough but has schooled well over fences and can show himself a better performer in this new division.
Race 3 No4 TRIPLE TRADE (Nap)
Trainer: Joe Tizzard – Jockey: Brendan Powell
The consistent TRIPLE TRADE makes abundant appeal in a race lacking its usual depth. He’s really got his act together since posting back-to-back successes at Wincanton and Kempton in the spring , returning for the current campaign with a second and a win at the Showcase and Open meetings at Cheltenham and a three lengths defeat behind Boothill at this course at the end of last month. Over the same trip and in similar conditions he can take the spoils at the main expense of Cap Du Mathan.
Race 4 HOWDEN LONG WALK HURDLE (Grade 1)
No4 DASHEL DRASHER (Each Way)
Trainer: Jeremy Scott – Jockey: Rex Dingle
There might not be any Irish challengers for the day’s feature, but it nevertheless is a cracking contest and stacked with talent. PAISLEY PARK renews his rivalry with old adversary CHAMP, while CRAMBO, WEST BALBOA and BLUEKING D’OROUX are new kids on the stayers’ block that need respecting. The latter posted a tenacious victory here last month while West Balboa smoothly landed the odds on his comeback at Aintree, and has won his last three.
CRAMBO appeared to hit a flat spot before rallying and is considered unlucky not to have won last time at Haydock, but the one that looks sure to run his race is DASHEL DRASHER. Only once out of the frame in his last eight starts, seven of them at Graded level, he gamely resisted Paisley Park in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury while his rider Dingle has shown himself to be one of the most improved jockeys in the weighing room.
Prediction: 1st DASHEL DRASHER, 2nd Blueking D’Oroux, 3rd Crambo, 4th Champ, 5th Paisley Park, 6th West Balboa
Race 5 No8 GIT MAKER
Trainer: Jamie Snowden – Jockey: Gavin Sheehan
Another good race for exotic wagering sees GIT MAKER out to make it a fourth success on the bounce for a stable whose chasers are in rude health. The upwardly mobile selection downed his stablemate Super Survivor on seasonal reappearance at Lingfield, form which reads very well. By winning this Howden Silver Cup he can boost the claims of the latter in next week’s Welsh National.
BLACKJACK MAGIC was an impressive scorer at Wincanton on his own return to the fray and rates a big danger, while the Gavin Cromwell-trained HASCOURT CLERMONT has to be taken seriously as he hunts down a hat-trick of successes. Of the roughies, FLEGMATIC is not discounted For the Skeltons.
Prediction: 1st GIT MAKER, 2nd Blackjack Magic, 3rd Hascoeur Clermont, 4th Larry
Race 6 No2 NEMEAN LION (Each Way)
Trainer: Kerry Lee – Jockey: Richard Patrick
Not many nightcaps have the allure of this ultra-competitive handicap hurdle in which Nicky Henderson fires a potent triple assault via IBERICO LORD, IMPOSE TOI and LUCCIA. The Seven Barrows handler would be at short odds to take the spoils with one of the trio but it’s a race in which several others come into the equation.
ALTOBELLI will no doubt progress from his solid first run back when runner-up here while HANSARD picked up stylishly to score at Newbury and can again get involved.
I felt Welsh Champion Hurdle NEMEAN LION was given a tad too much to do in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham. He made minor errors at each of the last two flights, without which he could have gone close. Barely out of the novice stage, he’s a horse that could have more to give and he gets the vote.
Prediction: 1st NEMEAN LION, 2nd Luccia, 3rd Hansard, 4th Altobelli
HAYDOCK PARK
Race 1 No1 LORD OF CHESHIRE (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: James Turner
The free-going LORD OF CHESHIRE returned from an enforced absence to score in good style at Warwick and this unexposed individual can follow-up on the way to better things.
Race 4 No3 FAMOUS BRIDGE
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Sean Quinlan
From a stable that is royalty in the North, FAMOUS BRIDGE can take out the featured Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase. He seemed to have a bit up his sleeve when opening his account for the season here on Betfair Chase day. That was a third win from his last four starts, and from his revised mark he can keep up the good work.
NEWCASTLE
Race 1 No1 THE KALOOKI KID (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Danny McMenamin
THE KALOOKI KID was impressive when opening his account at Musselburgh. Back down in trip, he can take the measure of Deep Strat, who should improve from his comeback and represents top connections.
Race 3 No3 REGARDE
Trainer: Jamie Snowden – Jockey: David Bass
REGARDE has attracted heavy support in each of his triumphs in chases this season. Unbeaten over fences, he’s made further progression judging from his work at home, but will need to have done in order to repel Snowy Evening.
Race 6 No4 SIX ONE NINE
Trainer: Chris Grant – Jockey: Danny McMenamin
SIX ONE NINE has earned in each of his three outings this season and deserves a change of luck. The first of his two career successes over fences happened here, while he wasn’t beaten far at Sedgefield last time.
LINGFIELD PARK
Race 1 No4 SIXTIES CHIC
Trainer: Jack Channon – Jockey: George Bass
SIXTIES CHIC didn’t manage to overcome her trappy draw here earlier in the week and is worth another chance. She also raced too freely, yet made up ground in the short home straight to bear down on the principals. She again has a tough outer post, but this is a smaller field and her jockey will be determined to assist in the filly making amends.
Race 7 No5 MR TRICK (Nap)
Trainer: Ian Williams – Jockey: Liam Keniry
MR TRICK has to circumnavigate all but one rival but over the mile-and-half but should have sufficient time to achieve that. He’s been in rude health and fully deserved his Chelmsford success last week. He can follow-up off this 2lb higher mark.
