Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Thursday’s racing coming your way from Ffos Las, Wolverhampton and Chelmsford City on 5 January 2023.
FFOS LAS
Race 1 No6 MRS GRIMLEY (Nap)
Trainer: Ben apauling – Jockey: Luca Morgan
MRS GRIMLEY looks to hold the cards in this mares’ novices’ hurdle after maintaining her good run of form with a close second on jumps debut. The winner Red Dirt Road has boosted that Southwell form which makes the selection very much the go-to horse in the field.
Race 3 No9 THE BOAT
Trainer: Evan Williams – Jockey: Adam Wedge
Respect is afforded to Brulure Noire who was a worthy winner on reappearance, but in receipt of 20lb THE BOAT is preferred. The grey landed some good bets in style at Leicester, has looked a better horse since switching to fences, and can with another triumph consolidate.
Race 6 No5 DENTLEY DE MEE
Trainer: Venetia Williams – Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
With few miles on his racing clock, DENTLEY DE MEE is the most likely winner of this veterans’ chase. When a close second to Alminar in November he was having a first outing in over seven months and a first for his new trainer. It’s likely she will exact a fair bit of improvement out of him.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Race 2 No3 DEMILION (Nap)
Trainer: Charlie Johnston – Jockey: Joanna Mason
History will be in the making should DEMILION put his best foot forward, as the Roaring Lion colt would then become a first winner for rookie handler Charlie Johnston. The latter has some very big shoes to fill following the retirement of his father Mark last week, but Demilion has an obvious chance of taking the spoils on this handicap bow.
Race 5 No2 ME AND MRS JONES (Each Way)
Trainer: Sylvester Kirk – Jockey: Kieran O’Neill
ME AND MRS JONES started 100-1 for a bottom of the league handicap at Lingfield on Monday, and though finish last of five flattered for a few strides approaching the final furlong. It might be unwise to ignore the daughter of Acclamation, who can not only turn the tables on third placed Dafyre but also get her trainer off the cold list.
CHELMSFORD CITY
Race 2 No2 PROSPERING (Nap)
Trainer: Ed Walker – Jockey: Rossa Ryan
Cool Lightning will take out a big chunk of the betting handle on this maiden, and at skinny odds might be worth opposing with PROSPERING. The selection has good form in his own right after chasing home Think Climate on all-weather debut at Southwell, while having started at 22-1 on both starts it might prove that today is when his career really begins.
Race 4 No5 MAFIA POWER
Trainer: Archie Watson – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
Now that MAFIA POWER has put his head back in front there should be more to come from the ultra-consistent gelding, whose jockey is proving a winner machine this winter. The six-year-old faces strong competition from fellow last-time-out scorers Storm Catcher and Goldsmith but can prevail.
Race 7 No6 BASCINET
Trainer: Eve Johnson Houghton – Jockey: Mia Nicholls
This is a good opportunity for long-standing maiden BASCINET to finally break his duck. The chestnut has earned in each of his last five outings including when narrowly denied here last month. He appears to prefer racing on sand, while his jockey is familiar with his idiosyncrasies.
