Hi all,
Unfortunately, Lingfield's Winter Million Festival card on Friday fell victim to freezing weather, but the good news is that jump racing resumes today. Tune in to ITV3 for live coverage of five races from Lingfield, plus the Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase at Thurles (1:35), featuring notable contenders like Allaho, Envoi Allen, and Appreciate It among the six declared runners. It’s Allaho’s to lose given and provided he’s over his King George VI Chase effort can win this in receipt of 4lb from Envoi Allen.
Despite the rise in temperatures Fakenham failed a 3pm Saturday inspection with the truck still frozen. More bad luck for Fakenham who would have been staging races on terrestrial TV for the first time in years.
Let's take at the ITV races at Lingfield:
Lingfield
1:50 – Download The Racing App Now Lightning Novices' Chase – 2m
The ground at Lingfield is currently good to soft, but frost sheets have been in place for days, likely resulting in a holding good to soft. The ITV races kick off with an interesting contest featuring the likes of Matata, Djelo, and Master Chewy.
Djelo, undefeated in three outings over fences this season, stands out as a horse with potential for further improvement. JPR One, victorious on his chase debut at Newton Abbot, seemed poised to secure a Cheltenham Grade novice chase win before unseating his rider at the last. Despite a mishap two fences from the finish in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown last time, he remained in contention. To secure victory, he must rectify these errors, but if he can do so, I believe he has the potential to win.
1:50 – Saint Segal, looked sure to go close when falling at the last at Ascot 57 days ago. Lingfield’s easier fences should suit the 6-year-old and he’s the one to beat. Frero Banbou, a past winner of this race, and The King Of Prs, undefeated over fences, add depth to the field.
2:25 – Nurse Susan, took advantage of a favorable mark when winning a mare's handicap hurdle at Cheltenham last month. A 4lb rise doesn’t look to harsh for this lightly raced mare who won’t be far away if staying 2m 7f. Gowel Road, is unexposed as a staying hurdler, and Moka De Vassy, a recent winner at Taunton, bring their own strengths to the race.
3:00 – Fitzdares Fleur De Lys Chase – 2m 6f
The feature race of the day, offering £85,850 to the winner, is a clash between L'Homme Presse and Protektorat. L'Homme Presse, returns for the first time since unseating the rider in last season’s King George VI Chase at Kempton. He remains a strong contender and the Britain’s best hope in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He’ll come on for the run, but connections will surely be disappointed if he can’t beat Protektorat in receipt of 4lb. Protektorat isn’t one I trust and if I’m ever backing him then I will give up on the game.
3:35 – Fitzdares Surrey National Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 3m 5f
The Surrey National promises a competitive betting heat with 14 declarations. O'Connell, ran well when length 4th of 10 (15/8 fav) in the Lincolnshire National last time. I’m not sure he truly stayed 3m 3 ½ f at Market Rasen so today’s longer trip is a concern. On the plus side Harry Cobden has been booked and he travelled last time like he’s on a winnable mark. Now a non-runner.
Animal, was a ¼ length and one place in front of O'Connell in the Lincolnshire National and looked the stronger stayer of the pair.
Regal Blue is unexposed over fences and the step up to a marathon trip could really suit the 7-year-old.
Not Sure and Fern Hill are contenders, but there are stamina doubts about both.
Movethechains, and Notachance are struggling for form this season but are well handicapped. The former’s Lingfield form figures are 11112. He’s not the best of jumpers and might prefer more give underfoot but a return to this venue could see him return to form. Notachance has been well below his best on two starts this season, but he did finish third in both the Midlands Grand National and Warwick’s Classic Chase last season. A reproduction of either of those efforts would put him in the mix.
Sunday Selection:
Lingfield
1:15 – JPR One – 1pt win – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Good luck with your Sunday bets.
John