14:35 Lingfield

Monday 11 December 2023

All12:3513:0513:3514:0514:3515:0515:35

Stay Golden With BetMGM Safer Gambling Conditional Jockeys' Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:36 | Winning time: 5m 16.34s

Moonlighter⁴¹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-1| J: Kai Lenihan⁽⁸⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 121

13/8

Back to winning ways over at Chepstow in January but hasn't got home on all 3 starts since, folding again on return from 7 months off despite a more fluent round of jumping than usual there just under 6 weeks ago. This is his first taste of veterans' company, so not ruled out.

Form: 23145-5

Saint Xavier^b,t³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Elizabeth Gale⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 120| D

15/2

In good form in veterans' company this season, scoring over 25f at Haydock last November before a solid fifth of 18 at Sandown in January. Below par since and will need to leave his reappearance effort at Auteuil (21.9f, heavy) well behind. Blinkers back on.

Form: 15986-P

Mr Muldoon^p²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Luke Scott⁽³⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 117

4/1

Solid third in handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot (21.5f, soft) on reappearance but failed to build on that at Ffos Las (23.9f, heavy) last month. Back over fences from a much-reduced mark so not ruled out back over the larger obstacles dropped in trip.

Form: 2P75-38

Desque De L'Isle¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Ned Fox⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 109| BF| C

5/1

Dual scorer at Ludlow last season. Below par since and ran no better than on his return despite returning to that venue when tailed off 2 weeks ago. Has slipped back to an attractive mark having his first go in a veterans' event.

Form: 1157-34

Mister Murchan³³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: N F Houlihan| T: R Rowe| OR: 100| D

10/1

Mostly out of sorts last term though ought to have won off reduced mark at Fontwell final start (idled and collared last 50 yds). Offered little after 7 months off so tough to support with much confidence.

Form: 5P552-8

Ramore Will^p¹¹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-3| J: Freddie Gordon| T: C Gordon| OR: 95| C| D

10/1

Course scorer who ended last term with a win in 6-runner handicap chase at Plumpton (19.8f, good) 8 months ago. Finished well held after 8 months off at this track (23.5f, good to soft) 11 days ago but that will have blown away a few cobwebs. Headgear back on.

Form: 11541-0

Mr Palmtree^b,t¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Conor Ring| T: H Dickin| OR: 93

14/1

Dual chase winner in 2020/21 before missing the following season. Campaigned over hurdles this year, showing he retains his ability when scoring at Warwick (3m2f) in March, though not in the same form on all 3 subsequent starts (latest after 7 months off). Now back chasing.

Form: 5P15-87

Non-Runners

Fairway Freddy²⁷

Weight: 11-2| Age: 10

T: N J Gifford J: Tabitha Worsley

Ballinslea Bridge²¹

Weight: 10-13| Age: 11

T: H Dickin J: Conor Ring

Forecasts

Moonlighter (13/8), Fairway Freddy (11/4), Mr Muldoon (4/1), Desque De L'Isle (5/1), Saint Xavier (15/2), Mister Murchan (10/1), Ramore Will (10/1), Mr Palmtree (14/1), Ballinslea Bridge (25/1)

RAMORE WILL enjoyed a productive 2022/23 campaign, and with his reappearance effort sure to have blown away any cobwebs, Chris Gordon's 12-y-o can regain the winning thread with headgear reapplied at the expense of Fairway Freddy, who should relish this drop back to 2½m. Moonlighter and Desque de L'Isle can fight out third spot.