Racing Chat - Friday 21st January

[The Brigadier]

The ITV team bring us eight races on Friday to our screens with four from Lingfield for the first of their Winter Millions meeting and as an added bonus four races from Market Rasen. Here’s a quick run through the eight.

 

Market Rasen 1.30

An ordinary eleven runner class 4 2m 7F handicap hurdle starts todays proceedings with the top weight Weebill having won a seller last time! The race is likely to be run at a strong pace as there are at least four habitual front runners in the contest. The least exposed runner is the Emma Lavelle trained Minella Buster who bolted up in a poor Plumpton maiden hurdle when last seen in December of last year winning by 24L. That was over 2m 4F but as a 3 mile Irish point winner should have no difficulty stepping up in trip today. He looks the most likely winner although respect is given to the Ben Pauling runner Le Grand Lion, a winner at Huntingdon over todays trip on Boxing Day. 

MINELLA BUSTER 1 point win @ 11/4 Bet365

 

Lingfield 1.50

This two mile handicap chase was nominated as his next target when Dan Skelton’s Eclair D’Ainay won the Castleford Handicap Chase at Wetherby over Christmas by 6L in good fashion and despite a 7lb hike in the weights looks sure to be thereabouts. Slight preference however is the Venetia Williams trained Frero Banbou who’s run well in all three two mile handicap chases he’s contested this season and off of the same mark as last time when a good third at Cheltenham may prove to be too good for the aforementioned Eclair D’Ainay. 

FRERO BANBOU 1 point win @ 10/3 Bet365

 

Market Rasen 2.05

Like the 1.30 this is a modest enough handicap hurdle this time run over 2m 125yds. Two horses here are well in according to the handicapper are Ravenscar who goes up 4lb in future handicaps for his neck second at Sedgefield last week whilst Angels Landing will be 3lb higher when re-assessed on the back of 4 1/4L second to Dr T J Eckleburg at Ludlow. It’s the latter I feel has a golden opportunity here. Regular readers will know how much I love a four year old in a handicap at this time of the year as they receive such a healthy age allowance (13lb currently). This will be Ian William’s filly’s first start in a handicap and even looks leniently treated on her flat form before we take into account her age allowance here. She has a major chance. One horse to keep a close eye on is the David Pipe handicap debutant Ladykiller. This is only his third run over hurdles and was a Group 3 and listed winner on the flat in Germany. He looks well treated although the Pipe yard aren’t really firing at present. 

ANGELS LANDING 2 points win @ 10/3 Bet365

LADYKILLER 1 point win @ 6/1 William Hills

 

Lingfield 2.25

The 2m 7F Cazoo Hurdle is run over a furlong short of three miles and has attracted a rather disappointing turn out of only five. On official ratings one of those quintet Dan McGrue is impossible to fancy making it realistically a four runner race. The best in at the weights, but only by 3lb is Nicky Henderson’s On The Blind Side and he may well win this but do you really want to take around 6/4 about a horse that pulled up last time out? (all be it in better company). Emitom stays well and was actually fourth in the 2020 Cheltenham Stayers Hurdle. He’s mixed fences with hurdles since and Warren Greatrex’s 8 year old gets the call here on a point of value with stable jockey Gavin Sheehan in the saddle. 

EMITOM 1 point win @ 3/1 Bet365

 

Market Rasen 2.40

Eleven mares assemble for this 2m 1/2F listed national hunt flat race that was won last year by the smart Eileendover. Two horses head the market who were visually very impressive when winning last time. Nell’s Bells trained by Donald McCain and racing in Tim Leslie’s wife’s name bolted up at Carlisle last month and could be anything as could the Fergal O’Brien trained Hidden Beauty who came from a mile back to win on her debut at Ffos Las with the third winning since. Preference is just for the latter here. 

HIDDEN BEAUTY 2 points win @ 11/4 Bet365

 

Lingfield 3.00

A £50k guaranteed purse for the inaugural running of the 2m 7F 119yfs novice chase which features seven staying chasers. The most interesting runner here is the ex Stuart Edmunds smart hurdling mare Queenohearts who is making her chasing debut for her new trainer Kim Bailey and receives all the allowances. We haven’t seen her for over a year mind so is probably best watched today. On official ratings there is only 6lb between the seven runners with my slight preference for the Nigel Twiston-Davies runner Fantastikas who has the highest rating here and has kept good novice company on his last two starts at Doncaster and Cheltenham. 

FANTASTIKAS 1 point win @ 7/2 Bet365

 

Market Rasen 3.15

A three mile handicap chase that may go the way of the Fergal O’Brien trained eight year old Hunny Moon who’s only been raised 3lb for her course and distance victory two weeks ago. That was only her second ever race over fences and there could easily be more improvement to come with stable jockey Paddy Brennan in the saddle. There are many dangers however including the Skelton runner Flegmatic and Oliver Sherwood’s Cilaos Glace. 

HUNNY MOON 1 point win @ 7/2 Bet365

 

Lingfield 3.35

The biggest field of the day and the biggest prize of £100k guaranteed assemble for the two mile handicap hurdle. It does have a distinctly open feel about it although it may pay to keep a close eye on the three Irish runners - two trained by the shrewd Emmet Mullins. Paul Townend is over to ride his Carrarea and he’s the pick. He’s yet to encounter ground as soft as this but Mullins would have known when shipping him over what the conditions would likely be so I’ll take a chance on him. Mullins also saddles Sevenna Star but jockey bookings would suggest he’s the second string. Sean Thomas Doyle brings over Lucky Max who’s chasing a four timer following three handicap hurdle victories in the Emerald Isle on bad ground and has to be on the short list also. The best of the home team maybe Metier who will appreciate the very soft ground. 

CARRAREA 2 points win @ 4/1 BetVictor

 

[calva decoy]

5 hours ago, The Brigadier said:

The ITV team bring us eight races on Friday to our screens with four from Lingfield for the first of their Winter Millions meeting and as an added bonus four races from Market Rasen. Here’s a quick run through the eight.

 

Market Rasen 1.30

An ordinary eleven runner class 4 2m 7F handicap hurdle starts todays proceedings with the top weight Weebill having won a seller last time! The race is likely to be run at a strong pace as there are at least four habitual front runners in the contest. The least exposed runner is the Emma Lavelle trained Minella Buster who bolted up in a poor Plumpton maiden hurdle when last seen in December of last year winning by 24L. That was over 2m 4F but as a 3 mile Irish point winner should have no difficulty stepping up in trip today. He looks the most likely winner although respect is given to the Ben Pauling runner Le Grand Lion, a winner at Huntingdon over todays trip on Boxing Day. 

MINELLA BUSTER 1 point win @ 11/4 Bet365

 

Lingfield 1.50

This two mile handicap chase was nominated as his next target when Dan Skelton’s Eclair D’Ainay won the Castleford Handicap Chase at Wetherby over Christmas by 6L in good fashion and despite a 7lb hike in the weights looks sure to be thereabouts. Slight preference however is the Venetia Williams trained Frero Banbou who’s run well in all three two mile handicap chases he’s contested this season and off of the same mark as last time when a good third at Cheltenham may prove to be too good for the aforementioned Eclair D’Ainay. 

FRERO BANBOU 1 point win @ 10/3 Bet365

 

Market Rasen 2.05

Like the 1.30 this is a modest enough handicap hurdle this time run over 2m 125yds. Two horses here are well in according to the handicapper are Ravenscar who goes up 4lb in future handicaps for his neck second at Sedgefield last week whilst Angels Landing will be 3lb higher when re-assessed on the back of 4 1/4L second to Dr T J Eckleburg at Ludlow. It’s the latter I feel has a golden opportunity here. Regular readers will know how much I love a four year old in a handicap at this time of the year as they receive such a healthy age allowance (13lb currently). This will be Ian William’s filly’s first start in a handicap and even looks leniently treated on her flat form before we take into account her age allowance here. She has a major chance. One horse to keep a close eye on is the David Pipe handicap debutant Ladykiller. This is only his third run over hurdles and was a Group 3 and listed winner on the flat in Germany. He looks well treated although the Pipe yard aren’t really firing at present. 

ANGELS LANDING 2 points win @ 10/3 Bet365

LADYKILLER 1 point win @ 6/1 William Hills

 

Lingfield 2.25

The 2m 7F Cazoo Hurdle is run over a furlong short of three miles and has attracted a rather disappointing turn out of only five. On official ratings one of those quintet Dan McGrue is impossible to fancy making it realistically a four runner race. The best in at the weights, but only by 3lb is Nicky Henderson’s On The Blind Side and he may well win this but do you really want to take around 6/4 about a horse that pulled up last time out? (all be it in better company). Emitom stays well and was actually fourth in the 2020 Cheltenham Stayers Hurdle. He’s mixed fences with hurdles since and Warren Greatrex’s 8 year old gets the call here on a point of value with stable jockey Gavin Sheehan in the saddle. 

EMITOM 1 point win @ 3/1 Bet365

 

Market Rasen 2.40

Eleven mares assemble for this 2m 1/2F listed national hunt flat race that was won last year by the smart Eileendover. Two horses head the market who were visually very impressive when winning last time. Nell’s Bells trained by Donald McCain and racing in Tim Leslie’s wife’s name bolted up at Carlisle last month and could be anything as could the Fergal O’Brien trained Hidden Beauty who came from a mile back to win on her debut at Ffos Las with the third winning since. Preference is just for the latter here. 

HIDDEN BEAUTY 2 points win @ 11/4 Bet365

 

Lingfield 3.00

A £50k guaranteed purse for the inaugural running of the 2m 7F 119yfs novice chase which features seven staying chasers. The most interesting runner here is the ex Stuart Edmunds smart hurdling mare Queenohearts who is making her chasing debut for her new trainer Kim Bailey and receives all the allowances. We haven’t seen her for over a year mind so is probably best watched today. On official ratings there is only 6lb between the seven runners with my slight preference for the Nigel Twiston-Davies runner Fantastikas who has the highest rating here and has kept good novice company on his last two starts at Doncaster and Cheltenham. 

FANTASTIKAS 1 point win @ 7/2 Bet365

 

Market Rasen 3.15

A three mile handicap chase that may go the way of the Fergal O’Brien trained eight year old Hunny Moon who’s only been raised 3lb for her course and distance victory two weeks ago. That was only her second ever race over fences and there could easily be more improvement to come with stable jockey Paddy Brennan in the saddle. There are many dangers however including the Skelton runner Flegmatic and Oliver Sherwood’s Cilaos Glace. 

HUNNY MOON 1 point win @ 7/2 Bet365

 

Lingfield 3.35

The biggest field of the day and the biggest prize of £100k guaranteed assemble for the two mile handicap hurdle. It does have a distinctly open feel about it although it may pay to keep a close eye on the three Irish runners - two trained by the shrewd Emmet Mullins. Paul Townend is over to ride his Carrarea and he’s the pick. He’s yet to encounter ground as soft as this but Mullins would have known when shipping him over what the conditions would likely be so I’ll take a chance on him. Mullins also saddles Sevenna Star but jockey bookings would suggest he’s the second string. Sean Thomas Doyle brings over Lucky Max who’s chasing a four timer following three handicap hurdle victories in the Emerald Isle on bad ground and has to be on the short list also. The best of the home team maybe Metier who will appreciate the very soft ground. 

CARRAREA 2 points win @ 4/1 BetVictor

 

Here's hoping both meetings pass morning inspections & the ground staff have blanketed the course otherwise it could be embarrassing for Lingfield's ' BIG 3 day meeting ' if day 1 is off .

More looking forward to day 2 personally decent flat card , if it's sunny day 1 & 3 potentially lots of hurdles & fences omitted leading to false results , times etc...