Wednesday’s UK racing tips come your way from meetings Kempton and Newcastle on 16 November 2023.
KEMPTON
Race 1 – MUKAAFAH 9/4
Kevin Philippart de Foy’s Shadwell-owned MUKAAFAH made a pleasing enough debut to make him of interest in the Unibet More Extra Place Races Novice Stakes at Kempton.
Sent off favourite, he stayed on to be fourth of nine at Yarmouth last month and is entitled to improve a great deal.
No trainer ended the turf season in better form than Ralph Beckett and his Frightening brings a similar profile into the Unibet/British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes.
She was third of seven on heavy ground at Nottingham and is entitled to be a good bit wiser for that.
Race 5 – MATSURI 1/1
MATSURI almost made the perfect start to his career going down narrowly tackling this trip at Salisbury last month. That experience may prove vital.
The Charlie Appleby-trained Dubawi newcomer Cupid Dream’s obviously warrants respect.
Fellow debutant Sword looks fascinating on paper racing for the Gosden stable who won this contest last year.
Cambria Legend shaped nicely when sixth delivering debut at Newmarket. Represents a yard whose horses tend to improve plenty for their initial outing.
Race 7 – ORZO 9/4
ORZO should make her presence felt in the Try Unibet’s Improved Bet Builder Fillies’ Handicap.
A course and distance winner on her introduction a couple of years ago, Andrew Balding’s inmate was subsequently sidelined for 18 months.
Since her return, the four-year-old has run two sound races in defeat, finishing third at Kempton in April and on her handicap debut at Newmarket three weeks ago.
The assessor gives her another chance off the same mark of 79, which may underestimate her potential.
Race 9 THE COLAD KID 10/3
THE COLA KID arrives seeking a course hat-trick following wins over six and seven furlongs recently.
The booking of top jockey Oisin Murphy catches the eye and a 5.5lb penalty may not be enough to anchor him.
Annie Law battled on strongly to score over track and trip a month ago and should remain competitive off this mark, with a good draw in stall four also a positive.
Redcar third Northcliff looks interesting going up in distance on his stable and debut, while First Company completes the shortlist.
NEWCASTLE
Race 3 – QUANTUM CAT 13/2
QUANTUM CAT must have every chance in the BetUK Take Time Out During #SGWeek23! Handicap.
The €300,000 yearling purchase made a successful start to his career for John and Thady Gosden at Wolverhampton last year, but struggled when switched to the turf at Newmarket in the spring.
He returned to the all-weather back at Wolverhampton a couple of weeks ago and while he was no match for the impressive odds-on winner To Catch A Thief, Quantum Cat was miles clear of the rest in second.
Moving into the handicap sphere off a perch of 83, he remains open to progress.
Race 5 – BALLSBRIDGE 5/2
BALLSBRIDGE is an interesting runner for Jennie Candlish in the Use Safer Gambling Tools At BetUK Novice Stakes.
He is the first foal out of the dual Group One-winning mare Happily, by Lord Kanaloa, a champion sprinter from Japan who slammed Sole Power by five lengths in the Hong Kong Sprint of 2013.
Not surprisingly, a horse with this pedigree started out at Ballydoyle, yet after just two outings, a fourth at Navan and a second at Naas, he was sent to the sales.
Incredibly, he made only 20,000 guineas at the horses in training sale and Candlish gets the chance to succeed where Aidan O’Brien failed and make him a winner at Gosforth Park.
Race 6 – SNASH 10/3
Now Tim Easterby has got SNASH’s head back in front, he might be able to rattle off a sequence.
Having begun his campaign rated 87, his mark had dropped all the way to 68 before winning at Newcastle a fortnight ago.
Up 2lb for the first division of the Stay In Control At BetUK Handicap, he may remain well treated.
Race 9 – INVERLOCHY 9/4
INVERLOCHY found success in a 1m handicap at Chelmsford City last week. Leading chance.
Hey Lyla brings strong form with a one mile victory at Chelmsford, preceding a close second at Wolverhampton, so should be respected.
Daydream Express represents top yard and is open to further improvement.
Bowood posted a good second here over seven furlongs last month and holds claims.
