14:00 Lingfield

Monday 10 December 2018

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:00

Weatherbys Racing Diaries Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 4m 8.40s

He's A Goer¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: T Lacey| OR: 125| D

12/1

Novice hurdle winner in September at Warwick finished second next but was too keen latest and pulled up. Switched to handicap for first time now and drops back in trip on much softer ground. Trip a positive and should handle ground so not ruled out.

Form: 84-412P

Clayton^t³¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 122| BF| CD

10/1

Short-head winner of this race 12 months ago (soft) flopped next but again showed liking for this C&D next when a 1L second on heavy. 5lb higher this time and no prep which he'd had last year but still has possibilities here.

Form: 2/04172-

Eddiemaurice¹⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: J E Moore| T: J L Flint| OR: 120| D

12/1

Over two years since last win and not won on conditions as testing as these. Couple of his better runs last term would give him a shout here but others have more compelling claims especially given he's first time out.

Form: 442654-

Royal Sunday²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A M Hales| OR: 119| D

14/1

Hereford maiden hurdle winner (heavy) was still going well next when falling two out. Pulled-up on recent return in a Sandown handicap but that a considerably stronger contest than this so should fare much better here.

Form: 1F-P

Volpone Jelois⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 116| BF| D

9/1

Won three times in total for Paul Nicholls although the only hurdle success a Taunton maiden almost two years ago. Third and second in last two starts at Wincanton but they came on good to firm and firm and conditions here far less suitable.

Form: 4514-32

Gregarious²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 114| D

11/4

Heavy ground Towcester winner last season ran well the next twice to end the campaign. Not performed at nearly that level this term however including over this trip on heavy last time. Leap of faith required now.

Form: F134-00

Chief Brody³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: James Bowen| T: W R Muir| OR: 112| D

11/4

25L winner on stable debut in a heavy ground Warwick maiden last March. Made return when a good second at the same venue on good last month on handicap debut and with testing conditions now he makes plenty of appeal.

Form: 82FP/1-2

The Gipper²¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: Evan Williams| OR: 111| D

4/1

Good record over hurdles and while he hasn't won since Feb 2017 most of the runs since have been over fences where he seems less effective. Little disappointing back over hurdles latest but softer ground here so hopefully show more.

Form: 56344-7

Oden¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford| OR: 109

20/1

1m2f flat winner for Roger Varian showed little in four starts over hurdles so far and beaten by over 20L in all of them. Beaten 38L in a C&D novice hurdle latest so hard to be optimistic here.

Form: 5-99

Non-Runners

The Cannister Man²³⁷

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: S Thomas J: Charlie Deutsch

Harmonise²⁹

Weight: 10-13| Age: 4

T: Miss S West J: M Goldstein

Forecasts

Chief Brody (11/4), Gregarious (11/4), The Gipper (4/1), The Cannister Man (6/1), Volpone Jelois (9/1), Clayton (10/1), Eddiemaurice (12/1), He's A Goer (12/1), Royal Sunday (14/1), Oden (20/1), Harmonise (25/1)

CHIEF BRODY absolutely hacked up on his stable debut last term in similar conditions and after a positive second on a quicker surface to start this season he can get back to winning ways now with a return to conditions akin to those he won so impressively in. Similarly impressive on heavy ground last season was The Cannister Man and he rates the biggest danger with the lack of a recent run the only way to separate the pair really. Completing the shortlist is last year's winner Clayton who will also enjoy conditions.