14:00 Lingfield
Tuesday 5 December 2017
All13:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:30
starspreads.com Novices' Handicap Chase
- 4YO plus  |  Class 4  |  2m 7f 110y  |  Soft (Good to Soft in places in the home straight)  |  9 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 14:01Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 6m 18.5s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Took a 2m soft ground maiden hurdle at Ludlow February, but has often been less than foot perfect since making the switch to fences. A clear round has to be the sole objective at present.
Pulled up on his chasing/handicap debut at Chepstow last month (heavy), and remains a maiden. Should be allowed more time over fences to progress given his age and connections, but hard to fancy nevertheless.
Now a 28 race maiden, with 50% of those efforts coming over fences. Not with current connections for all that long, and finished a staying on 13L third to Somewhere To Be over 2m4f here last month, so well worth a try over 3m.
Beaten a neck by Wizards Bridge at Fontwell in October (3m2f good), after seemingly being in control at the final fence. Still a rules maiden as a result, but 1lb lower and an interesting runner nevertheless.
Ploughed through the mud when winning by an eased down 15L over hurdles here in March (2m7f heavy), and ran well under a penalty just a week later. Switched to fences this term, and unseated rider at the first over 2m4f here last week.
3m point-to-point winner (March 2016) who also scored over hurdles at Ffos Las (2m4f soft) in February. Not fully convinced over fences so far this term, unseating his rider at Plumpton latest (2m3f+).
Beaten 11L by Dandy Duke in a 3m handicap hurdle at Chepstow last month on just his second start for this trainer. Had fair 3m placed form in Ireland prior to that (for Michael Winters), so has possibilities on rules chasing bow.
Left Dan Skelton for £13,000 in June, and achieved little on stable debut over 2m3f+ (hurdles) here last month. Up in trip for chasing debut, and couldn't be fancied despite some limited scope for optimism over fences based on pedigree.
Stays well over hurdles, and is a two time course winner (2m7f), so in many respects this race is an obvious target. However, has it to prove over fences (12 race maiden), and races from out of the weights.
Forecasts
For Carmel (7/2), Point N Shoot (9/2), Tzar De L'Elfe (5/1), Britanio Bello (5/1), Ben Arthur (6/1), Velvet Cognac (8/1), Ulva Ferry (14/1), Burgess Dream (14/1), Cap Horner (16/1)
The fences are there to be jumped, and a number of these runners haven't exactly excelled over the larger obstacles so far. Point N Shoot is a proven stayer, and a Lingfield winner over hurdles, but he got no further than the first fence on his chasing debut last week (2m4f), whilst Britanio Belle has an F, and a UR amongst his form figures in five starts over fences. Tzar De L'Elfe has had plenty of chances in his career, but is relatively new to fences for his current trainer Richard Rowe, and he's worth a try over this longer trip, whilst For Carmel is a fencing newcomer who could potentially make the frame. However, with no real zest for making a selection, the nod goes to the Lawney Hill trained VELVET COGNAC. He bypassed a race at Sedgefield last week, and comes here instead off a relatively fair mark, and with fewer 'convictions' than the majority of this field.
- Velvet Cognac
- Point N Shoot
- For Carmel
Prize Money
1st: £5,198.002nd: £1,526.003rd: £763.004th: £382.00
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