13:30 Lingfield

Tuesday 28 November 2017

All13:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:30

Stonegate Homes Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 3m 55.9s

Al Shahir²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 119| BF| D

5/6

So far proving to be frustrating to follow for punters, having started at a best price of 5-2 in his five runs, finding one too good in four of them. Beaten favourite again at Wetherby last time and while his form is solid he clearly carries risks.

Form: 221-22

Ashford Island⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Dave Crosse| T: A West

100/1

Well beaten in all three novices' hurdles so far at 2m1½f-2m4½f and on good/fast ground. Drops back to the bare minimum trip on soft this time, but looks like he will be more interesting when the handicapper has given him a mark.

Form: 687

Captain Cockle²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Teal⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Teal

100/1

Did not threaten to win any of his four starts on the Flat from 1m-1m1½f, where he is rated 48. Sole turf start was on good and so he has yet to encounter conditions as forecast. No history of jumps success in pedigree and looks best watched.

Form:

Fairmount²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: M Keighley

10/1

Not beaten far in either of his bumpers, the more recent at Chepstow being the better and that when he was fresh. Dam won over hurdles at this trip, though otherwise pedigree suggests that he will do better over further. Interesting nonetheless.

Form: 53

Fenlons Court¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁷⁾| T: J W Mullins

33/1

Showed improvement on his bumper run when tried over hurdles at Wincanton last time (1m7½f, soft), though likely to come much more into his own over longer trips. Couldn't rule him out of the money, but probably more attractive when handicapping.

Form: 32-63

First Flow²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

13/2

Ran to a similar level of form in both his bumpers at Exeter (soft) and Chepstow. Dam a half-sister a 2m-3m1f hurdle/smart chase winner Ballinclay King, so likely improvement to come over obstacles and in excellent hands to elicit that. Interesting.

Form: 4-4

Larry¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore

8/1

Won a Fontwell bumper (good to soft) in February and went as well as 12-1 SP perhaps suggested he might when 11½L sixth on hurdles debut at Plumpton last month. Departed early last time, so needs to get back on track but can't rule that out.

Form: 10-6U

Lost History⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: J L Spearing

16/1

Very steady improver on the Flat where he broke his duck at the 12th attempt at Roscommon in September (1m4f, heavy). Since changed hands and makes debut for ths yard today. No jumps pedigree but interesting pilot booked and market check suggested.

Form:

Minellatillmorning¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland

100/1

Well held in both starts over hurdles so far. Interesting that he was tried over 2m4f first before being dropped back to this sort of trip last time, when he was doing his best work towards the business end. Needs to improve to claim some money.

Form: 3U34-47

Movie Set⁷⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: R Spencer| BF

12/1

Won an Ascot maiden (1m2f, good to soft) on debut when owned by Godolphin in 2015 and was beaten just a neck in a handicap on his only other start. Sold for just £5,500 since. Very nice Flat pedigree and one to note in market on hurdles debut.

Form:

Paddy's Poem²⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: N J Gifford

25/1

Improved a bit on his Kempton debut to make the frame in a maiden bumper at Warwick (2m, soft) in March. Not seen since. Dam was placed over hurdles at 2m-2m4f and grandam a half-sister to a 2m hurdle winner. Perhaps best watched on hurdles intro.

Form: 93-

Rebel Collins⁶⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland

14/1

Has not seen much action since winning a Wolverhampton maiden (1m6f, AW) two years ago (rated 70 on AW). Has missed a couple of intended engagements since last seen in January 2016. Has well being to prove on hurdles debut. Check market for clues.

Form: 4022/

Ring Minella²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson

100/1

25-1 and never a threat before falling at the last on debut at Chepstow (2m, soft) earlier in the month. Certainly a well-related gelding on pedigree, so plenty of potential for improvement for that experience and needs lots of that to figure today.

Form: F

Under The Woods

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

66/1

£8,000 foal who cost £10,000 at three. Dam a 2m hurdle winning half-sister to useful 2m-2m4f hurdle/chase winner Crescent Island and useful 2m7f-3m1f chase winner Muckle Roe. Stable a bit quiet but otherwise likeable credentials ahead of his debut.

Form:

Elocution^h1²⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West

50/1

Won a 1m2f Bath handicap (good) in May 2016 from a mark of 48 (now rated 55 on Flat). Heavy ground a likely excuse for his tailed off/pulled up debut over hurdles at Plumpton in February, but has a few things to prove on his return to action.

Form: P-

Madame Claud²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: T Dowling⁽⁵⁾| T: Mark Gillard

100/1

Bath handicap winner (1m3½f, soft) on the Flat last year and rated 58 in that code. Stamina looks to be her forte and that is unlikely to be fully tested over this trip. Brought down at the first on hurdles debut (250-1) and probably one to watch.

Form: B

Forecasts

Al Shahir (5/6), First Flow (13/2), Larry (8/1), Fairmount (10/1), Movie Set (12/1), Rebel Collins (14/1), Lost History (16/1), Paddy's Poem (25/1), Fenlons Court (33/1), Elocution (50/1), Under The Woods (66/1), Minellatillmorning (100/1), Ring Minella (100/1), Captain Cockle (100/1), Madame Claud (100/1), Ashford Island (100/1)

The market should hopefully provide us with a few clues here. Al Shahir has the best form of those with hurdling experience, but he is proving expensive to follow and it may pay to look elsewhere and a chance is taken on FIRST FLOW. Kim Bailey will have the five-year-old well prepared and he could build on the promise of his bumper runs now jumping obstacles. Movie Set is clearly also very interesting and a market check is suggested to gauge how much of his early ability he retains ahead of this hurdling debut. Similar comments apply to Rebel Collins and Under The Woods, who has one of the better National Hunt pedigrees in this field.