15:15 Lingfield

Monday 18 February 2019

All13:4514:1514:4515:1515:5016:2516:55

Free Bets At Betting Rant Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 5m 15.80s

Eye In The Sky¹¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Matthew Batchelor| T: J E Long

20/1

Soft ground winner over hurdles in Norway but that form is hard to evaluate in comparison to rest. the betting can guide but the penalty for that win makes for a stiff test.

Form: 1

Dominateur⁷²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: G Sheehan| T: O Sherwood| OR: 125

10/11

Lightly raced but getting the hang of things and a bold show from Smiths Cross earlier in the card would be a boost to his claims. One to bear in mind if the market shows him min a good light.

Form: 2-323

Ector³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: D A Jacob| T: W Greatrex

40/1

Not shown a great deal so far and big amount of improvement required. (Yet to start over hurdles at an SP of less than 50/1.)

Form: 090U

Jog On³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Brendan Powell| T: Nicky Martin

40/1

Well fancied on debut but was big disappointment. Nowhere near as much confidence last time and the gelding was easily brushed aside. Hard to recommend just now.

Form: 6-9

New Age Dawning⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe

2/1

Bred for the game and has shown plenty of ability in each of his previous starts in bumpers. Stayed on well to win at Exeter and has to be considered as a player in being introduced over hurdles at this level.

Form: 2-1

Risky Gold^t1⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'BrienWS

20/1

Point-to-point winner last April but well beaten in two bumpers since joining his current yard. Needs to improve greatly for the switch to hurdles.

Form: 4/421-00

Writingsonthewall⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs D Grissell

100/1

Completion rate in point-to-points and hurdles is poor and the gelding isn't too hard to overlook on this occasion.

Form: PFP-U0P

Destinee Royale²⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss V WilliamsWS

4/1

Cost £56,000 and repaid a chunk of the investment at the first time of asking when landing a hard fought win in a bumper at Towcester last April. Had wind surgery since but has to be respected with his yard in good form. Shortlisted.

Form: 1-

Scarlet Couture³⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore

66/1

Weakened tamely to finish last on debut in Ascot bumper a year ago and has to be a concern that the mare hasn't been seen since. Bred to get a trip, she may also find this distance to be on the sharp side just now.

Form: 9-

Forecasts

Dominateur (10/11), New Age Dawning (2/1), Destinee Royale (4/1), Risky Gold (20/1), Eye In The Sky (20/1), Jog On (40/1), Ector (40/1), Scarlet Couture (66/1), Writingsonthewall (100/1)

NEW AGE DAWNING could have been found a very good opportunity to get off the mark over hurdles at the first time of asking. The gelding caught the eye when winning a bumper at Exeter last month and will be hard to beat in this company if, as can be expected, he's been put through his paces for a career over Jumps. Destinee Royale has been off for a while but has a similar profile to the selection. She too merits serous consideration. Dominateur appeals as the best of the rest.