Lingfield’s all-weather Polytrack surface gets a welcome respite as the attention on Monday switches to the jumps course, weather permitting.
Recent rain means that the meeting will have to pass an early inspection but, should it go ahead, EPSOM DES MOTTES looks well worth a bet in the Sky Sports Racing On Virgin 535 Handicap Hurdle (Div II) at 1510 GMT.
Horse Racing Betting at William Hill
Philip Kirby has become a staple of the northern jumps circuit but rarely ventures as far south as leafy Surrey. However, he is making an exception with the French-bred six-year-old.
A very easy winner of a race for conditional jockeys on similar heavy going at Ayr a week ago, Epsom Des Mottes can race off the same handicap mark at Lingfield. Tommy Dowson has also journeyed south to take the ride and the partnership is getting 23lb from recent Plumpton winner High Up In The Air, who is carrying a penalty. If the cheekpieces work a second time on the North Yorkshire raider, defeat is unlikely.
Sports Racing On Virgin 535 Handicap Hurdle (Div II) Current Best Odds
Epsom Des Mottes 7/4, High Up In The Air 10/3, Sissinghurst 7/1, Bact To Black 15/2, Kestrel Valley 9/1, Modulus 10/1, De Bene Esse 14/1, Auenwirbel 18/1, Dandy Times 25/1
A PERFECT GIFT may be some value in the Watch Sky Sports Racing In HD Maiden Hurdle at 1405 GMT at 11/4 with Bet365.
Olly Murphy’s novice, a winner of a National Hunt Flat race on his racecourse debut, wasn’t given a hard time by Richard Johnson on his first run over hurdles at Uttoxeter in November. He’s since had wind surgery but the champion jockey is taking the reins again so connections must think that he is capable of much more.
Battle-hardened chaser will relish conditions
Flaminger, a progressive young chaser, is likely to be all the rage for the Brian Sewell Will Never Retire Handicap Chase at 1305 GMT as he arrives on a hat-trick after comfortable wins on the south coast at Plumpton and Fontwell. He’s clearly much better over fences than he was over hurdles but has gone up a further 6lb.
THE GIPPER has been well handicapped for a while but last week’s second at Chepstow was the first real sign that the 10-year-old is in the form required to take advantage.
Evan Williams’ gelding was no match for easy winner Dorking Cock but was eight lengths ahead of a previous winner. No doubt he’ll be going up in the weights again for that so it makes sense to run him again quickly and the 11/4 with William Hill is a fair price in a four-horse race no with expected ground conditions likely to suit.
(All odds correct at 1715GMT 12 January)