Neil Morrice best bets and tips – Tuesday 26 December 2023

KEMPTON PARK

Race 2 LADBROKES KAUTO STAR NOVICES’ CHASE (Grade 1)

No6 TIGHTENOURBELTS (Each Way)
Trainer: Emma Lavelle – Jockey: Thomas Bellamy

This is the best novice chase run in England this season and features a mouth watering clash between HERMES ALLEN and French raider IL EST FRANCAIS. The latter, trained by Noel George, has been impressive in each of his two starts over fences at Auteuil. He was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles and brings a breath of fresh air to our marquee meeting at a time when Gallic runners in England are thin on the ground.

Hermes Allen was an authoritative scorer in Grade 2 company at Newbury and on that occasion had TIGHTENOURBELTS back in third. He’s amongst the favourites for the Turners Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but over this longer trip and on a sharper track the latter can close the gap.

Value is the priority, and TIGHTENOURBELTS has claims to make the frame at a working mans’ price, which in betting strategy is what it’s all about.

Race 4 LADBROKES KING GEORGE VI CHASE (Grade 1)

No1 ALLAHO
Trainer: Willie Mullins – Jockey: Paul Townend

This doesn’t look a vintage King George by any stretch of the imagination although in ALLAHO, BRAVEMANSGAME and SHISHKIN the sponsors have attracted a trio of household names. It seems logical to ignore the claims of the other three runners. Festival scorer THE REAL WHACKER will have his supporters, but having flopped in the Paddy Power Gold Cup has plenty to prove. Bravemansgame hails from a stable that has harvested this contest, but worrying is the fact that he’s been beaten on his last four outings. He was jumping’s big white hope when landing the corresponding race 12 months ago, but then had a hard race in the Gold Cup and comes here with questions to answer.

Shishkin brought the ‘Mr Hyde’ side of his complex character to the table when refusing to race at Ascot. His behaviour has to be taken on trust but should he turn up he’s a definite player. Nicky Henderson has been pleased with him at home.

Allaho is the winner of seven of his last eight which represents an unbeaten run going back to the spring of 2021. The dual Ryanair Chase winner looked as good as ever when returning from a lengthy absence and winning the Clonmel Oil Chase, and should not have his stamina limits tested around this sharp track.

Prediction: 1st ALLAHO, 2nd Shishkin, 3rd Bravemansgame

Race 5 No2 GENTLEMAN’S RELISH (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville

Henderson has some big guns to fire from his team of novice hurdles at Seven Barrows from which GENTLEMAN’S RELISH could be one of the aces in the pack. He was the subject of sustained market support when taking out a Newbury bumper and has done everything right at home, both in his schooling and the quality of his work.

Race 6 No2 WILL CARVER
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville

WILL CARVER was greeted with a 9lb hike in the weights after his comeback triumph at Taunton but appeared to score with plenty up his sleeve. It was his first outing since February, and shows that much of the talent he exuded as a novice before injury intervened, remains in his locker.

AINTREE

Race 3 WILLIAM HILL FORMBY NOVICES’ HURDLE (Grade 1)

No4 FLORIDA DREAMS (Each Way)
Trainer: Nicky Richards – Jockey: Danny McMenamin

From a stable whose horses are amongst the winners, FLORIDA DREAMS can take this big jump up the class ladder in his stride and get into the shake-up. Though having to work for his recent Ayr triumph, he was well on top at the end and can justify his trainer’s high opinion of him by mixing it with the likes of Jango Baie, Tellherthename and Irish challenger Farren Glory.

Race 6 No2 CHASING FIRE (Nap)
Trainer: Olly Murphy – Jockey: Sean Bowen

Any one of the six acceptors could win this novices’ limited handicap chase, although there’s a class element in the profile of CHASING DREAMS which makes him stand out. Winner of a bumper and three novice hurdles before being swamped at the bottom of the hill in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, he won well on chase debut at Uttoxeter and was a 6-5 shot when only fourth to Marble Sands in a similar race to this at Ayr. He came away from that with a genuine excuse, and having had time to fully recover can now bounce back, although I shall have a saver on SUPREME GIFT just in case he doesn’t show up.

WINCANTON

Race 2 No9 PARTY VIBES (Nap)
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: Richard Patrick

One of the most attractive bets on a hectic day is PARTY VIBES, who can lead from tape to winning post in this mares’ novices’ hurdle. The five-year-old tried to burn them off from the front at Uttoxeter, and though eventually succumbing to Little Miss Dante lost no caste in defeat. She can take the spoils for a syndicate headed by former champion jockey Richard Johnson.

Race 5 No7 KING’S CASTLE (Each Way)
Trainer: Jeremy Scott – Jockey: Bryan Carver

The first of two runners to back from the Scott stable is KING’S CASTLE. The Camelot gelding ran a cracker when returning from five months off to take away a cheque at Taunton two weeks ago, and if this doesn’t come too quick can open his account under Rules.

Race 7 No2 ANOTHER FINE MESS
Trainer: Jeremy Scott – Jockey: Bryan Carver

At least as good a chance is afforded to Scott’s ANOTHER FINE MESS whose third on debut at Newbury is the best form on offer. Not only will the grey improve, but he should enjoy the track and the ground.

WETHERBY

Race 1 No3 LADY ALEX (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: David Bass

LADY ALEX returns from well over a year on the sidelines but is a very interesting prospect for a trainer who has a good record with his runners here. Her earning efforts in a Bangor bumper and Uttoxeter maiden hurdle seem light years away, but she’s done plenty of work and is unlikely to fail from the fitness angle. She needs respecting in the popular colours of Sir John Timpson.

Race 3 No6 STRACKAN (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: David Bass

From the same stable, STRACKAN can have a big say in the finish of a competitive novices’ handicap hurdle. Easy to back when troubling the judge at both Chepstow and Market Rasen, he was always going to head down this route and should be wiser for the experienced gained on those occasions.

Race 6 No4 OUR JET (Nap)
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Harry Skelton

Some of the Skelton runners have underperformed recently but OUR JET was gameness personified when scoring in first-time cheekpieces at Kempton, where he edged out a good yardstick in Thelasthighking. That second run back from a wind operation shows the surgery has worked, and he can end the impressive winning sequence of Special Rate.

FONTWELL PARK

Race 7 No1 HALONDO (Nap)
Trainer: Olly Murphy – Jockey: Dylan Johnston

Although the form of his Lingfield comeback hasn’t worked out, HALONDO should improve sufficiently to thwart locally-trained Good News. A 3lb rise doesn’t appear insurmountable, but I shall have a precautionary saver on his well weighted opponent.

MARKET RASEN

Race 6 No6 ANIMAL (Nap)
Trainer: Sue Smith – Jockey: Harry Bannister

ANIMAL’s form has a consistent ring to it, bolstered earlier in the month by success on his return to the fray at Sandown for which he’s been raised 4lb. His stable is amongst the winners, making him a solid entity to go close in the best race on this card.

WOLVERHAMPTON

Race 5 No1 MOUNT ATHOS (Nap)
Trainer: James Tate – Jockey: Callum Shepherd

MOUNT ATHOS has a Kempton success and a Listed placed in France as the last two strikes on his CV. He enjoys the luxury of the rail in this featured Group 2, and can maintain his progress as the best bet on the card.