Neil Morrice shares his best bets and tips for Tuesday’s coming your way from Hereford, Wetherby and Kempton Park on 15 February 2023.
HEREFORD
Race 3 No3 BORN AT MIDNIGHT
Trainer: Bill Turner – Jockey: Harry Kimber
BORN AT MIDNIGHT has thrived since his return from an enforced absence of a year, scoring at Taunton and Wincanton before putting a poor show at Fontwell behind him with a good earning run at Huntingdon. He operates especially well on right-handed courses, and should again take home a decent cheque on this first visit to Hereford.
Race 4 No4 BASHERS REFLECTION (Nap)
Trainer: Ben Case – Jockey: Jack Quinlan
It’s hard to believe that BASHERS REFLECTION didn’t prevail at Fakenham, where he looked in control only to surrender the lead to Pachacuti. Having previously landed a gamble at Warwick this lightly-raced individual should have more to give, and can bounce back from that defeat by trumping paper favourite Pleasant Man.
Race 7 No4 EMMA HAMILTON (Each Way)
Trainer: Henry Daly – Jockey: Tom O’Brien
A market check is advised on EMMA HAMILTON whose trainer has a good record with his bumper runners here. As long as she doesn’t run green the Mount Nelson mare should take a hand in the finish.
WETHERBY
Race 2 No1 MONTGOMERY (Nap)
Trainer: Christian Williams – Jockey: Jack Tudor
MONTGOMERY endorsed the promise shown in a Worcester bumper by making no mistake on his debut over jumps at Fontwell. In defying a market drift, he showed gritty determination to prevail on a first run for his trainer, and a 7lb penalty shouldn’t anchor him as he’s very well regarded and remains unexposed.
Race 4 No1 MILKWOOD
Trainer: Neil Mulholland – Jockey: Sam Twiston- Davies
This is a good opportunity for MILKWOOD to step up to the plate. The nine-year-old hasn’t managed to add to his Scottish Champion Hurdle triumph of 2021 but nevertheless has put in some cracking efforts, including when second in the Welsh Champion Hurdle in November. With his ability to travel off a strong pace he can pick up his foes at the business end.
Race 5 No5 ROSE SEA HAS
Trainer: Dr Richard Newland – Jockey: Charlie Hammond
Xcitations blotted his copybook at Doncaster and could easily bounce back, but he may find it hard to keep tabs on ROSE SEA HAS who is only 3lb higher than when chasing home Galop De Chase at Hereford, and could easily get onto an easy lead and prove hard to peg back.
Race 6 No4 JUNIPER
Trainer: Harry Whittington- Jockey: Daryl Jacob
After three wins in succession JUNIPER experienced an off day against Coolvalla at Fontwell, but it could be wise to forgive the mare that lapse. She had earlier hacked up over this course and distance, and although facing a tough opponent in East Street here, can with another win advertise her liking for the track.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 2 No1 DESERT COP (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
The speedily-bored DESERT COP was clueless on debut at Southwell, but left that running miles behind when making Harry Magnus pull out all the stops over seven furlongs here last month. She won’t mind the drop to six furlongs, and from a good draw should dominate the finish of this maiden.
Race 3 No4 MCLEAN HOUSE
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
Balding and Probert can complete a quick-fire double with MCLEAN HOUSE, who brings solid credentials to the table following an earning run on his Southwell introduction. The Dream Ahead colt left some money behind after being backed into favourite on that occasion, but is going to be more streetwise for this swift return to the track, and can prove too hot for newcomer Samagon to handle.
Race 8 No3 THE PUG
Trainer: Sylvester Kirk – Jockey: Rob Hornby
This should see THE PUG following-up his recent Lingfield success. His tendency to carry his head high ensures he will never win by far, and though a tricky ride his jockey knows him well enough to go in again, at the main expense of the more heavily penalised Perfect Gentleman.
