Lingfield is hosting a six-race jumps card on Thursday. It is the only British National Hunt card on offer during the day, and so Joe Napier has provided his insight into every race, with selections to follow.
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2:15 Lingfield – Enjoy The Racing App For Free Handicap Chase
This benign Classic Maestro’s chase debut makes him an awkward betting proposition given he might be a short price on recent hurdles form. He would not have to improve for larger obstacles to win, but it is a sudden switch of test and there’s a chance that UNIT SIXTYFOUR still has wiggle room off his current mark.
Ben Pauling and Ben Jones are in red hot form, so he should improve a fair amount from his seasonal debut 61 days ago. His only chase run on soft saw him win by 12 lengths and although he is now much higher in the weights, he backed up that win with another around this time last year. He is back down to just 4lb above that most recent winning mark, which makes him a tempting proposition in the opener.
2:45 Lingfield – Support The Injured Jockeys Fund Maiden Hurdle
The two to focus on are HIDDEN HISTORY and Home Free, with little to split the pair. The latter was third behind a bigger reputation in Tellherthename, but the form of the selection’s third place on debut at Newbury is working out very well, with the winner going in again since in handicap company.
Likewise, the fourth home that day bolted in on his next start at the weekend, so there is serious substance throughout that race. Trainer Chris Gordon has trained four winners from his last 11 runners, so his six-year-old should be ready to fire and improve.
3:15 Lingfield – Try The Racing App This Afternoon Mares’ Handicap Chase
Pretty much the entire quartet is on the decline in this third race, though the one who looks most likely to arrest her slide is ANNIE MAGIC. The tongue tie goes back on to combine with cheekpieces, which got her to finish third at Warwick last month. She probably didn’t see out the trip that day, so a return to 2m4f in these conditions, with the tongue tie to potentially help, should see her last home a bit better. A mark of 107 underestimates her at her best.
3:45 Lingfield – At The Races App Expert Tips Handicap Hurdle
Once again, this looks a two-horse race. Having sided with Chris Gordon over Dan Skelton’s in race two, the opposite is the case here, as MAJOR FORTUNE is progressing and winning readily, and he should bring up the four-timer in this contest at the chief expense of San Pedro.
Both horses won as they liked last time out, with San Pedro escaping a penalty here. However, the selection saved his best effort until most recently when winning on the bridle eight days ago over course and distance. With conditions set to be almost identical, a 7lb penalty can be overcome.
4:15 Lingfield – Download The Racing App Now Handicap Chase
This can go to the 11-year-old MISTER MURCHAN. He may be in search of his first win in over three years, but there are plenty of elements in his favour here, namely that he gets a suitable ground and distance for the first time since his seasonal return.
His record when fresh is dreadful, so his last of eight at Chepstow can be ignored, but he put that well behind him to be second at this venue over 2m4f on good to soft in December. That would have represented the bare minimum trip for him, especially on that ground, so that was a solid effort, and he gets to run off 4lb lower here having likely found a similar trip too sharp at Fontwell.
4:45 Lingfield – At The Races App Market Movers Handicap Hurdle
A very open race to finish in which it may pay to side with the unexposed ARABESCATO, having just his second run for Olly Murphy. The seven-year-old qualified for a handicap mark when fourth at Southwell earlier in the month, and that was decent form for a stable debut more than 18 months since he first ran over hurdles.
The third from his recent novice hurdle outing was a stablemate who has since been given a mark of 129 given he had already run twice. There is no doubt more between Murphy’s pair than the 3 ½ lengths which separated them that day, but it nevertheless makes a mark of 96 for the selection look lenient.
Lingfield Through-The-Card Selections
Joe Napier’s Selections at Chelmsford on Thursday, 15th February
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