13:00 Lingfield

Monday 20 December 2021

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:30

Casumo Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 6m 28.95s

Quick Pick^p²⁷⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Lily Pinchin⁽⁵⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 100

22/1

Long time since he last hit the target and essentially opposable back hurdling here following a 9-month absence.

Form: 533494-

Waikiki Waves^b³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 98| C| D

18/1

Primarily campaigned over fences since 2019, winning 6 times, but his attitude is seemingly deteriorating and he was well held back in this sphere at Lingfield last month.

Form: 1624-P4

Dragoon Springs³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Nick Slatter⁽⁵⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 94

8/1

Fair form in a couple of bumpers and showed more on handicap debut in this sphere when fourth in a 6-runner Ascot event (21.6f) last month. 2 lb lower now and eased in class, so he's one to consider.

Form: 42-7654

Magnificent Ben^p²¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: James Best| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 89| BF

13/8

Winning pointer who was an eye-catching fourth of 15 at Southwell (24.3f) in March. Failed to build on that with cheekpieces back on (retained) there since, but not discounted on debut for new yard.

Form: 40UF4-P

Just Toby²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: David Dennis| OR: 87

11/2

Appeared to take a step forward when second upped to 27f at Lingfield on penultimate start, but not so good at Exeter next time and the percentage call is to look elsewhere.

Form: 593-828

Bunny Boru^t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Mrs Izzie Hill⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs L Hill| OR: 87

50/1

Successful between the flags and there were positives to glean from her first 2 starts over hurdles last winter. It's been all downhill since, though, and she's readily passed over.

Form: 2/267P-0

Doyen Queen^h,t1¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson| OR: 85

7/2

Dual point winner who arrives here on the back of a string of respectable efforts in handicap at up to 26.5f. Stamina clearly won't be an issue and claims here with hood refitted/tongue strap added.

Form: 66-4254

Avithos^b¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 84| D

12/1

Veteran mare who won twice over 3m+ at the start of the year. Bettered tame reappearance display when fifth of 12 at Exeter recently and, down another 2 lb, she has to enter calculations.

Form: 6611-P5

Rollercoster³¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: R Patrick| T: M Scudamore| OR: 83| DWS

25/1

Improved on debut for this yard after 17 months off when scoring at Bangor last November. Overall record is hardly compelling, though, and pulled up both starts since. Has undergone another wind op.

Form: P0P/1PP-

Timely Gift^t⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 82| D

16/1

Ended 2019 on a high, bagging a couple of handicaps at around this trip. However, he failed to fire on all cylinders last season and Ffos Las reappearance effort wasn't overly encouraging.

Form: 11/82P-6

Soloist^b,t⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 76

28/1

Fair Flat winner for Keith Dalgleish. Posted much her best effort yet in this sphere when third over this C&D last time and now 3 lb lower, but others preferred all the same.

Form: P8/78-83

Castcarrie^p1,t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁵⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 74

20/1

No promise to date, again out with the washing in a first-time tongue strap on C&D handicap debut last month. Cheekpieces now given a whirl.

Form: 7P/8-99

Jappeloup^p,t²²⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs D Grissell| OR: 69

100/1

Poor maiden hurdler/chaser who is 0-22 under Rules and likely to come up short once again.

Form: F9/555-3

Son Of Oz^b1³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R Stephens| OR: 70

50/1

No impact in a trio of hurdles and fared no better switched to fences in a handicap chase at Ffos Las last month. Blinkers applied.

Form: 9P0-7

Forecasts

Magnificent Ben (13/8), Doyen Queen (7/2), Just Toby (11/2), Dragoon Springs (8/1), Avithos (12/1), Timely Gift (16/1), Waikiki Waves (18/1), Castcarrie (20/1), Quick Pick (22/1), Rollercoster (25/1), Soloist (28/1), Bunny Boru (50/1), Son Of Oz (50/1), Jappeloup (100/1)

The vote goes to DRAGOON SPRINGS, who showed enough in a higher-grade contest on his handicap debut at Ascot to suggest that there are races to be won with him off this sort of mark. Magnificent Ben will be a player if able to get back on track starting out for a new yard, but as things stand Avithos and Doyen Queen rate the main dangers.