Both National Hunt cards at Uttoxeter and Warwick need to pass morning inspections and with both far from certain to go ahead it could be worth taking a closer look at the all-weather action at Lingfield. Simon Crisford has a 33% strike-rate at the track in his maiden season as a trainer and can build on that excellent strike-rate with Mostashreqah (1.00) who is a confident selection to give weight and a beating to her 13 rivals in the 7f Nursery. The well-bred daughter of Equiano built on an impressive success in a Wolverhampton maiden when failing to see out a mile on her nursery debut last time out at Kempton and now back in trip should be difficult to beat from an unrevised mark.
George Baker is another who has enjoyed a stellar year at the track, 25 winners at Lingfield Park in 2015, and is likely to add to that tally aboard Chris Wall’s Cambodia (1.30) in the 7f Maiden. The selection made a promising debut last month at Kempton when chasing home an odds-on favourite for the Richard Hughes yard and with the benefit of experience he can get the better of Jeremy Noseda’s thrice-raced Broadway Icon.
David Evans’ string remain in good nick and after an excellent second last time out at Wolverhampton Dougan (2.30) can go one better under 7lb apprentice Josephine Gordon. The selection won over the trip at Kempton and showed plenty of pace when scoring on handicap debut at the track when dropping back to six furlongs. The son of Dutch Art is officially 2lb ahead of the handicapper on the back of that runner-up effort on Boxing Day and appears well-placed by connections to make it three wins from his last four starts.
There are some old favourites on an excellent card at Punchestown where Seabass bids to follow-up a memorable success for the Walsh family last time out at Thurles. The 12-y-o isn’t sure to be suited by the drop back in trip and preference on this occasion lies with Texas Jack (1.05) reverting back to the smaller obstacles for the first time in over three years. Noel Meade‘s 9-y-o has held his form well in much higher grade and looks to have been found an excellent opportunity to get a nice confidence booster before a likely bid to make it third time lucky in the Irish Hennessy at Leopardstown.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien enjoyed an excellent week at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival with the Ballydoyle handler’s exciting gelding Ivanovich Gorbatov the new 6/1 favourite with BetVictor for the Triumph Hurdle after his impressive debut over timber under Barry Geraghty. Connections send another smart flat recruit over hurdles with King of Aragon (1.35) a fascinating runner in the 3-y-o Maiden Hurdle and Geraghty once again in the plate. The selection was rated 87 on the flat and looks the ideal type to make a winning debut over hurdles.
The G2 Novices’ Hurdle scheduled for Limerick’s abandoned card on Tuesday has been salvaged and whilst Up For Review is respected for the all-conquering team of Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh a chance is taken on Jetstream Jack (2.05) causing something of an upset on his first start over three miles. The selection joined the Gordon Elliott yard after winning a point-to-point and followed-up by making a winning debut in a warm Fairyhouse bumper under Nina Carberry. The 5-y-o has improved on all three starts over timber but should prove even better over a trip and should go close under Davy Russell.
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