14:45 Lingfield

Tuesday 3 December 2019

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

TU Fund Managers Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 5m 24.80s

Lord Ballim^h,t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 113| D

20/1

Slipped up three starts ago at Perth (3m) when still in contention before a sulky performance at Huntingdon (3m1f); tailed-off at Sedgefield (3m3f, soft) latest, so has questions to answer on his recent mixed bag of form.

Form: 8-P4F43

Jaisalmer^t1²¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Bryony Frost| T: M Bradstock| OR: 112WS

9/1

Unsuccessfully tried chasing last season, and also flopped over hurdles at Kempton (2m5f) in May; returns from wind surgery (wearing a tongue-tie) on a reasonably attractive mark - won twice as a novice on heavy; basic market check needed.

Form: P0/282-7

Maypole Class³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 112

11/8

Lightly raced (0-4); kept on well from the final flight without ever threatening the 2½L winner Frightened Rabbit on handicap debut at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) four weeks ago; solid chance even if a subsequent 3lb rise is considered a shade harsh.

Form: F/207-32

Imperial Acolyte¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 112

17/2

Won a Wetherby novice (2m, good to soft) by 6L last November; ran his best race since when finishing a tired fourth (beaten 16½L) to Bhutan at Ludlow (2m5½f, soft) 19 days ago; place claims from a 3lb lower mark.

Form: 5/1500-4

Playa Blanca¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-10| J: J McGrath| T: J W Mullins| OR: 111

10/1

Sprung a 33-1 surprise when staying on late to win a 2m maiden at Huntingdon (good to soft) in March; has ran adequately in two starts this season (Wincanton and Taunton) without necessarily looking like he's primed to strike.

Form: 3810-46

Montys Angel⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: M Goldstein| T: J J Bridger| OR: 108

50/1

Fairly modest since winning at the first time of asking for Dan Skelton at Market Rasen (2m4½f, good) in July; has her quirks and needs to bounce back swiftly from an early to mid-race fall at Kempton (3m) last week.

Form: 43-1R4F

Norse Legend^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Kimber⁽⁷⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 106

14/1

Failed to complete in four of his last five starts over hurdles and fences, but was in the process of running a better race when unseating at the last at Exeter (2m7f, soft) three weeks ago; has won on heavy previously (in 2014).

Form: 8P3U-PU

The Game Is A Foot¹⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 105| CD

12/1

South coast regular who is at his strongest when the mud is flying; notched a hat-trick (won twice here) in Nov/Dec 2017; raced sparingly since; 5lb lower than when a never dangerous third (beaten 24L) to Ruacana here (2m) a fortnight ago.

Form: 1141/3-3

Honorable^p1²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 102

9/1

Won on the Flat in France (1m6½f, Clairefontaine) for M.Delzangles; has shown bits and pieces of positive form since switched to hurdles by Gary Moore, namely when 6½L fourth to Catch The Cuban at Kempton (2m, good); cheekpieces are now applied.

Form: 52750-4

Ted Bach¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: P J Brennan| T: P Henderson| OR: 93| D

8/1

Competes from the same mark (93) as when making a winning debut for this trainer at Fontwell (2m3f, soft) in February; finished a one-paced third (beaten 12L) to Kenny George at that same track 16 days ago.

Form: 0195-83

Mr Fitzroy^t⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: James Davies| T: Miss J S Davis| OR: 92| CWS

16/1

Course winner (2m) who appreciates racing prominently; has struggled for form since winning by ½L at Fontwell (2m1½f, soft) in January 2017 - is now rated 23lb lower; very difficult to fancy despite a proven ability on soft/heavy ground.

Form: U74/50-P

Forecasts

Maypole Class (11/8), Ted Bach (8/1), Imperial Acolyte (17/2), Jaisalmer (9/1), Honorable (9/1), Playa Blanca (10/1), The Game Is A Foot (12/1), Norse Legend (14/1), Mr Fitzroy (16/1), Lord Ballim (20/1), Montys Angel (50/1)

MAYPOLE CLASS is relatively unexposed after making just four career starts. Jonjo O'Neill's charge was spotted staying on to some effect without really troubling the winner Frightened Rabbit on handicap debut at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) four weeks ago. Although a subsequent 3lb weights rise is arguably fraction harsh, he still holds every chance of going one place better in a perfectly winnable handicap. Others worthy of a positive mention include Colin Tizzard's Norse Legend, the newly cheek-pieced Honorable and the veteran course specialist The Game Is A Foot.