By Charlie McCann
Lingfield's turf meeting fell foul to the elements yesterday and our jumps racing comes from Taunton on ground described, at the time of writing, as soft. The feature event is the wonderfully named Superman & War Elephant Challenge Handicap Hurdle over the minimum trip and the juvenile Box Office was bought by Jonjo O'Neill for leading owner JP McManus for E185,000 back in November.
His sole defeat came when he finished 6th to leading Triumph Hurdle hope Bristol De Mai at Auteuil back in September. Do note that 13 went to post in that particular contest and the names of all thirteen began with the letter B!! He could be anything but he must give 16lbs to the progressive Avel Vor (3.30) who is 10lbs higher than when runner up at Warwick last time and is clearly improving with his racing. That said he has been a well backed beaten favourite on his last four starts and connections might be running out of patience.
Kingfisher Creek (2.00) must give weight to his nine rivals in the first division of the Novices' Hurdle but the form of his half-length defeat by Aso over slightly further here last month has been well and truly franked by the winner in the interim period.
For “N” Against will be of interest when handicapping and Beacon Lady is worth more than a second glance if the market speaks in her favour. Connections have had a lot of fun with the horse on the flat and insist there have been excuses for her two poor runs over timber to date. The drying ground will help and she really is one to keep an eye out for.
Third Act (3.00) has yet to fulfil the potential he showed as a Bumper horse but he might have been let in lightly for his handicap debut. He shaped with considerable promise on his chase debut behind two above average sorts at Exeter on New Year's Day and this is much more his grade. Sun Wild Life has bumped into two well-handicapped rivals of late and is the obvious danger and it should be noted that Daryl Jacob rode Sun Wild Life and Third Act last time and is on board the former today. Noel Fehily is not a bad replacement for the selection.
Milosam (4.00) has never finished out of the first two in six starts at Taunton and, although he is 13lbs higher than when he last scored, is taken to gain a fourth C&D success for Philip Hobbs and regular pilot Tom O'Brien.
Capilla (4.30) has won between the flags and a Ffos Las Bumper and trainer Evan Williams perseveres with going right-handed having jumped out to his left when runner up over C&D earlier in the month. He will appreciate stepping up in trip and could be well treated despite having to carry top-weight.
At Southwell Reetaj (3.10) has finished runner up in both starts over C&D and deserves to get his head in front given he might have run into one when beaten by Kevin Ryan's debutant Weld Al Emerat here last month. Ian's Memory and Street Force have the form in the book to land a modest maiden but Peter Chapple-Hyam can land his first winner of the year.
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