Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Monday’s racing coming your way from Windsor, Pontefract, Hexham and Kempton on 24 April 2023.
WINDSOR
Race 2 No11 TOKYO DRIFT
Trainer: David Loughnane – Jockey: Kevin Stott
TOKYO DRIFT has an experience edge on each of his ten foes who are all making their career debuts. The Showcasing filly finished a close up third at Kempton, will be more streetwise and with the ground riding soft could be in the right place breaking from stall 11.
Race 4 No6 SYDNEY MEWS (Nap)
Trainer: Andrew Balding – Jockey: David Probert
SYDNEY MEWS earned on all but one of her five outings as a juvenile including when second over this course and distance on her final appearance. While she’s yet to encounter cut in the ground on the track she’s worked well in it at home, and with all but one of her foes racing on turf for the first time enjoys a notable advantage. Getting weight as well, she should make no mistake and takes the spoils at the main expense of Swift Lioness.
Race 7 No5 WATERLOO SUNSET (Each Way)
Trainer: Denis Coakley – Jockey: George Bass
WATERLOO SUNSET was partnered by Bass to his only success at Lingfield and he’s been lightly-raced since that summer of 2021 triumph. Beaten only a length and a quarter when claiming a minor cheque on his reappearance in March, he’s got few miles under his racing bonnet and is well worth a market check.
PONTEFRACT
Race 2 No4 CONCORDE (Nap)
Trainer: George Boughey – Jockey: Ben Curtis
After sluicing up on handicap bow at Redcar, CONCORDE was an unlucky loser at Chelmsford when with a slightly more forceful ride he would have prevailed. He is essentially a winner without a penalty, and if turning up in similar form returned to turf he can regain the winning thread.
Race 3 No10 CUMULONIMBUS (Each Way)
Trainer: Charlie Fellowes – Jockey: Hollie Doyle
CUMULONIMBUS hails from a yard amongst the winners and enjoys a cracking draw that should see him obtain a handy early position. The chestnut came of age in the autumn with successes at Yarmouth and Haydock and rounded off with a narrow defeat in a blanket finish at Nottingham. He’s been handed a good earning chance on this first run of the year.
HEXHAM
Race 1 No3 ECLAIR D’AINAY (Nap)
Trainer: Dan Skelton – Jockey: Tristan Durrell
The Skeltons need respecting with their forays from middle England to the Scottish borders and should waste no time in taking out the opening novices’ hurdle with ECLAIR D’AINAY. The Nap won on his previous start over hurdles at Market Rasen in late March when granted first time cheek pieces. With the headgear retained he can return to winning ways.
Race 3 No1 BOIS GUILLBERT
Trainer: Lucinda Russell – Jockey: Stephen Mulqueen
A 10lb penalty might not prevent BOIS GUILLBERT from completing a fine hat-trick even though the race is laced with dangers. Joker Du Chanel is an interesting challenger from Ireland and was going well at the time of his fall at Wetherby. The pair can dominate proceedings.
Race 4 No8 EX S’ELANCE (Each Way)
Trainer: Victor Thompson – Jockey: Thomas Dowson
EX S’ELANCE has proved a real money spinner for his connections with a flurry of successes including by a short head at Newcastle last time. It’s his first attempt at three miles but his style of racing suggests he will stay.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 1 No4 RUSSIAN RULER (Nap)
Trainer: Nicky Henderson – Jockey: Nico de Boinville
It too a while for RUSSIAN RULER to open his account, but now that he has the floodgates could open. He bolted up switched to a handicap at Newbury, having fallen there when going well previously, and is confidently expected to consolidate with another triumph now back amongst novices.
Race 4 No4 JAY BEE WHY
Trainer: Alan King – Tom Cannon
JAY BEE WHY has been a remarkably consistent performer over hurdles and fences and earned in ten of fourteen outings but is yet to score in handicap company. However, he stayed on in eye taking style to finish third in a hotter race than this at Newbury last time, has enjoyed a fresh in break, and should again by on the shake-up.
Race 6 No9 DOM PERRY
Trainer: Hughie Morrison – Jockey: Niall Houlihan
DOM PERRY hasn’t found as much off the bridle as it looks as if he will on his last two starts at Ludlow and Southwell. The application of a tongue strap appeared to assist him last time, and if being held up as late as possible he could swoop to conquer. His trainer is amongst the winners and the selection is taking his racing well.
