Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Sunday’s racing coming your way from Hereford, Musselburgh and Hong Kong on 5 February 2023.
HONG KONH
Race 8 THE CENTENARY SPRINT CUP
No1 WELLINGTON
Trainer: Richard Gibson – Jockey: Alexis Badel
Richard Gibson might have Royal Ascot on his mind if WELLINGTON puts his best foot forward in this sizzling sprint. The latter restored his position as the top in his sphere when taking out the Hong Kong Sprint and can confirm his superiority over Sight Success from that race. Wellington overcame a tricky draw to prevail with something up his sleeve and chalked up a fifth triumph from his last six starts. Alexis Badel is back on board with the combination breaking from gate five. A similarly slick display could see Wellington nominated for the Platinum Jubilee Stakes in June.
SIGHT SUCCESS made his first start of 2023 a winning one when successfully reverting to 1000 metres and holding Rewarding Together in handicap company. It shows the seven-year-old to be at least as good form as when running at the International.
LUCKY SWEYNESSE is a horse whose form ties in closely with the majority of the field. The Manfred Man-trained five-year-old made it an eight success from only 12 career starts over 1400 metres here on New Year’s Day but has a tricky outside draw to contend with here. Furthermore he will be looking at a strong pace to chase.
COURIER WONDER wasn’t disgraced when taking away a minor cheque in the Hong Kong Sprint and has bits of Group 1 form that if repeated puts him right in the picture.
Prediction: 1st WELLINGTON, 2nd Sight Success, 3rd Lucky Sweynesse, 4th Courier Wonder
HEREFORD
Race 4 No5 TOWN PARKS (Each Way)
Trainer: Kerry Lee – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
Veteran TOWN PARKS represents a trainer with a good record at this track. The veteran last success happened here in November 2020, and though out of the money in three outings this season he’s shown flashes of his old ability and is undoubtedly well treated if able to rediscover a semblance of his old form.
Race 5 No5 ARDMAYLE (Each Way)
Trainer: Ali Stronge – Jockey: Brendan Powell
ARDMAYLE made an encouraging return to the fray at Southwell where lack of condition only told on the gelding in the closing stages. The eleven-year-old is just 1lb higher than his last winning mark, and like Town Parks can show there’s still a tune to
Race 7 No7 MR MACKAY (Nap)
Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
The best bet on this card is MR MACKAY. The gelding has been all dressed up with nowhere to go during the cold snap, but now finds himself with a gilt-edged opportunity to open his account. He brings the best form to the table, while his trainer has excelled with his recent novice and bumper runners.
MUSSELBURGH
Race 3 No1 CARCACI CASTLE (Nap)
Trainer: Sandy Thomson – Jockey: Ryan Mania
A double penalty makes life harder for CARACI CASTLE, but the seven-year-old finds himself on the cusp of completing a four-timer after impressively denying the useful Traprain Law at Kelso. The former Irish point winner was sourced from a top provider and can thwart the potent challenge of General Officer and Toothless on a first visit to this track.
Race 4 No11 SALVINO (Each Way)
Trainer: Sandy Thomson – Jockey: Bruce Lynn
For sheer consistency, SALVINO deserves to get himself back on the scoresheet in this trial for the Pertemps Fonal at the Festival. Though barely out of the novice bracket the selection has only narrowly been denied in handicaps at Catterick and Newcastle and competes off a mark from which he can surely put in yet another earning run.
Race 7 No4 GARDE DES CHAMPS (Each Way)
Trainer: Keith Dalgleish – Jockey: Billy Garritty
Few can be ruled out in a competitive finale, but maybe GARDE DES CHAMPS can at last put it all together. He served notice that his turn might be near with a near miss at Doncaster last time, and though still a maiden over jumps, his form since undergoing a second wind operation has stepped up a notch.
