Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Worcester, Ayr, Exeter and Chelmsford City on 12 October 2023.
WORCESTER
Race 3 No1 WEST WARHORSE (Each Way)
Trainer: Ben Brookhouse – Jockey: Jack Quinlan
Rickety Bridge will be the automatic place for punters to go as he’s an unbeaten point-to-pointer trained by Paul Nicholls. Nevertheless, backing WEST WARHORSE each way might prove as beneficial, and provide a value option. The selection has had a couple of runs in bumpers, and wasn’t beaten far when sixth to Long Symphony at Wetherby. He’s been well tutored for this switch to jumps.
Race 4 No2 BERTIE B
Trainer: Clive Boultbee-brooks – Jockey: Richard Patrick
BERTIE B put in an improved showing when third to Blue Shark at Huntingdon before disappearing onto the sidelines. The Bangor bumper winner has few miles on his racing clock, and could well have more to offer for his owner/trainer as he returns to the fray.
Race 5 No1 DOUGHMORE BAY (Nap)
Trainer: Emma Lavelle – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy
Milan gelding DOUGHMORE BAY readily took care of business on his introduction in a bumper here in the spring. Although lumbered with a 6lb penalty and opposed by a couple of dangerous-looking rivals, he can sweep them aside on this first outing over jumps.
AYR
Race 5 No12 OBEE JO (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: David Allan
This looks a race OBEE JO can do well in, as the Kodiac gelding has shown on each of his last two starts that he’s on the cusp of a return to winning ways. While it’s slightly worrying that the selection’s last six outings have all happened at Catterick, this change of scenery to a course he last visited 15 months ago can prove an assist, not a hindrance.
Race 6 No5 BEN ASKER (Each Way)
Trainer: Paul Robson – Jockey: Billy Garritty
The key to BEN ASKER is his ability to run well fresh, as he did when scoring on his 2022 reappearance at this course. Equipped with first-time cheek pieces he posted a 40-1 shocker, only to follow up over the same course and distance the following month. The headgear is retained, and although not ideally drawn he can be competitive.
EXETER
Race 2 No1 JEUDIDEE
Trainer: Kim Bailey – Jockey: David Bass
JEUDIDEE won in authoritative style on his first run over hurdles at Worcester but seemed a tad out of his depth against Williethebuilder at Uttoxeter. A penalty follows him into this novices’ hurdle, but with the opposition not as strong he can bounce back.
Race 4 No6 NEWMILL GETAWAY (Nap)
Trainer: David Brace – Jockey: Conor Brace
If NEWMILL GETAWAY takes to hurdling the mare should make no mistake in this mares’ maiden hurdle. Having troubled the judge in each of her starts under Rules she’s the go-to horse on a first run over jumps.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 3 No8 LEADENHALL
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
Haydock winner LEADENHALL did his level best to follow-up at Newmarket when just held in a tight finish. The Kingman gelding went up just 1lb for that solid performance, and can now outpoint a couple of in-form opponents in Roman Dynasty and Turquoise Diamond.
Race 4 No6 VELVET CRUSH (Each Way)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Rab Havlin
VELVET CRUSH hasn’t really built on her promising first offering at Kempton and wore cheekpieces when beaten over thirteen lengths at the same track last month. Though that underwhelming effort earned her a handicap mark she needs to rise to the occasion with blinkers replacing the previous headgear. On the credit side she should enjoy the surface and has a very good slot in the gate.
Race 6 No4 ARLECCHINO’S GIFT
Trainer: Mark Usher – Jockey: Joey Haynes
ARLECCHINO’S GIFT didn’t have things go his way and yet went down by the narrowest of margins over course and distance. He looks like a horse returning to form after a couple of low-key runs, while most of his rivals are badly out of it.
Race 9 No4 SHALFA (Nap)
Trainer: Lydia Richards – Jockey: Saffie Osborne
SHALFA came of age with a wide-margin success at Brighton and is in a good position to consolidate under the eye-taking Osborne. The Ribchester filly made a big step up on previous efforts and should handle this Tapeta surface.
Place Accumulator Perm (Races 3-9)
8, 7 x 6, 3, 2, 7 x 4, 9 x 4, 3, 8 x 7, 3 x 1 x 4, 7, 2
R196
