14:15 Lingfield

Tuesday 3 December 2019

All12:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:15

Birdie's 2020 Wall & Desk Calendars Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:16 | Winning time: 4m 18.10s

Nelson's Touch²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| OR: 124| D

9/1

Runner-up on four occasions since winning at Uttoxeter (2m, good) in May 2018; ran well without seeing out the trip on seasonal reappearance at Sandown (2m4f, heavy).

Form: 2602-26

Ruacana^p¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 123| CD

13/8

Fortunate when making a winning debut for this trainer here (2m3½f, heavy) last month but doubled-up over this trip a week later (under his stand-in rider Racheal Kneller) beating Flaminger by 10L; 4lb higher seeking a hat-trick.

Form: 564-511

Ghost Serge^t1¹⁷²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 119| C| D

16/1

Generally speaking wasn't at his best for Sophie Leech earlier in the year and has moved onto David Pipe as a result; operates fine under these conditions; is probably worth a market check in a newly fitted tongue-tie.

Form: 2402-70

Deebaj¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 117| C| D

12/1

11lb higher than when winning over an extended 2m3f on this card 12 months ago (heavy) - beat Max Do Brazil by 15L; well beaten third on seasonal reappearance a fortnight ago.

Form: 51382-3

The Gipper^p1⁴¹

11/2

Beat Oden by 7L when winning this race from a 2lb lower mark in 2018; followed up next time at Ffos Las (2m, heavy) but has lost his way in 2019; wears cheekpieces on return from wind surgery.

Form: 168-069

Bonne Question³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 113| D

11/2

11lb higher than when scoring by 19L at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) in February; finished a mildly respectable sixth (beaten 11½L) to Mr Scrumpy on seasonal reappearance at Wetherby (2m3½f, soft) last month; drops back in trip.

Form: 5/0125-6

Hier Encore¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Rex Dingle⁽³⁾| T: N Dunger| OR: 106

7/1

Fontwell regular, winning twice over 2m3f there (soft) last season; now sits 9lb above his last winning mark; no chance with the winner when beaten 14L (third) by Song For Someone latest.

Form: 1041-23

Shaw's Cross^h²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson| OR: 104| D

9/1

Won in the mud at Sandown (2m, heavy) last December and broadly consistent thereafter - rider failed to weigh-in when finishing third over C&D in January; 2lb lower than for his recent comeback run.

Form: 212D5-8

Sky Full Of Stars^p¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: J E Moore| T: C Gordon| OR: 98| D

50/1

Won twice for Chris Gordon at Fontwell (hurdles and fences) in January; weakened from two out when finishing in excess of 33L sixth of ten to Kenny George on seasonal reappearance (Fontwell, 2m3f).

Form: 2118P-6

Forecasts

Ruacana (13/8), Bonne Question (11/2), The Gipper (11/2), Hier Encore (7/1), Shaw's Cross (9/1), Nelson's Touch (9/1), Deebaj (12/1), Ghost Serge (16/1), Sky Full Of Stars (50/1)

Plenty of those declared are seeking to build positively upon their recent comeback runs, and in truth there isn't an obvious standout contender from that particular cohort. Meanwhile, last year's winner The Gipper sports cheekpieces on his return from wind surgery. Therefore, the risk-free option is the hat-trick seeking RUACANA who made plenty of headlines when winning for late stand-in rider Racheal Kneller over C&D (heavy) a fortnight ago.