Lingfield 21/3

[stodge]

It may not be Cheltenham but I’m off to Lingfield tomorrow for the Surrey course’s final NH meeting of the 2010-11 season. After the fiasco of the early February meeting, there are much better fields on offer tomorrow and it should be an interesting afternoon.

The card opens with a maiden hurdle over two miles. This has a large field of largely unknown quantities and form is in short supply. ARCHIE RICE has shown some form while SPIRIT D’ARMOR didn’t do too badly at Kempton last time. I quite like OSTENTATION, who I saw run at Sandown last month. He was well held by Kayef, who isn’t a bad type, in a much better race then this. I also think any market moves for the hurdling newcomers should be noted.

Race two is a novices’ hurdle over just shy of two and a half miles. Not too many to consider here to be honest and Sandown winner HILDISVINI looks to head the short list while CD winner NOT TILL MONDAY has it to prove after his Newbury flop which perhaps suggested he’d had enough for the campaign. JUNIOR JACK has claims but I prefer CLEAVER, albeit he is a 10-y-o against much younger opposition. He ran well enough at Kempton last time and drying ground will help.

Race three is a novices’ handicap chase over just shy of two and a half miles. RED LAW and GORING ONE come to this race in good form but both have run well over just two miles and this will be a much greater test of stamina. I like WHATCANISAY, who was beaten over two miles five furlongs on heavy ground at Folkestone last time. I think tomorrow’s trip and ground will help.

Race four is a selling handicap hurdle over two miles. As might be expected, this is a pretty moderate heat with a number of horses who know how to get placed but not how to win. JUST BEWARE and STRAVITA share the dubious distinction of being beaten by Little Roxy in selling hurdles at Plumpton and I narrowly prefer MUT’AB who ran ok in a handicap hurdle at Taunton the other day.

Race five is a handicap chase over three miles. PRESENT A STAR bolted up at Plumpton last Monday and connections have clearly decided to strike quickly before re-assessment and with only a 7 lb. penalty and moderate opposition, this could be a straightforward task for the bottom weight. GINOLAD looks a possible danger but has to concede 25 lbs. and that looks a tall order.

Race six is a handicap hurdle for conditional jockeys over just shy of two and a half miles. Once again, very little solid form is on offer here. WON MORE NIGHT won well when encountering good ground at Market Rasen and will be fancied to follow up. It’s possible one or two others in this field might benefit from the drying ground so I’ll put up the Venetia Williams trained BALLYVEENEY as an option in a race where small stakes should be recommended.

Race seven is a Bumper over two miles on the Polytrack. When these races are run on the AW surface, turf form on heavy ground can be discounted. CAPE BRETON went close on good ground at Kempton and sets the standard of those who have run. Market moves for any of the newcomers have to be noted and I’d be looking for any confidence behind FARAWAY DOWNS in particular.

Selections then at this stage:

2.30: OSTENTATION
3.00: CLEAVER
3.30: WHATCANISAY
4.00: MU’TAB
4.30: PRESENT A STAR
5.00: BALLYVEENEY
5.30: CAPE BRETON

[Anonymous]

All eyes will be on Archie Rice in the opener after promising conditional Matt Crawley took a bullet for Tom Keddy at Huntingdon.

[Author]

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