There is a good jumping card at Lingfield on Tuesday and a big race on the all-weather at Newcastle too. Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway runs through his best bets on the day.
Happy Boy @ 10/1
1pt win
Seigneur Des As @ 11/2
1pt win
Helenn Clermont @ 11/8
1pt win
Fine Wine @ SP
1pt win
Chris Gordon's string is in scintillating form and the Hampshire-based trainer emphasised that point by landing a big-race double with Aucunrisque and Annual Invictus on Saturday.
Gordon saddles Happy Boy in the Novices' Hurdle (2.30) at Lingfield and the six-year-old has a good chance if he can reproduce his best bumper form.
He twice ran well in such contests and Ascot and Warwick last season and was well-fancied to land a hot event at this track on the all-weather in December following a 339-day break.
Happy Boy was beaten nine lengths into fifth, but shaped well after such a long absence and the form is working out well. The third and fourth are both subsequent winners and Happy Boy, who was placed in an Irish point, should do better over hurdles with that under his belt.
Seigneur Des As is 6lb wrong at the weights in the Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (3.00) at Lingfield, but that can be overcome in a race where only four will line up, and it's worth taking a chance on him making a mockery of the handicap.
The selection had some useful form over fences when trained by Daniela Mele in France and he has looked more at home since returning to chasing on his last two starts for Milton Harris.
Seigneur Des As was a good fourth over 2m4f at this track in November and built on that in a 2m7f novice handicap chase at Taunton last time when five lengths behind Love Actually.
The winner was successful again at Kempton on Friday and the runner-up has since finished a clear second at Ffos Las. That suggests the form is solid and my selection can build on that.
The Mares' Maiden Hurdle (3.35) at Lingfield doesn't look like a strong race and is an opportunity for Helenn Clermont to get off the mark over hurdles.
This mare must show plenty of ability at home as she has gone off a short-priced favourite for all three of her runs. That includes two Irish points and her debut under rules in Britain for Harry Derham last month at Ffos Las, when she may not have been suited by heavy ground.
She still showed promise to finish only five lengths behind winner Mrs Grimley and Helenn Clermont has more to offer switched to better conditions and upped to 2m3½f with a tongues trap fitted. She should be well capable of winning this en route to better things.
The 6f Handicap (6.30) at Newcastle is one of the better sprints to be run on the all-weather this season and Group-race performer Diligent Harry heads the weights. He has a good chance, but has to give 3lb to Fine Wine and that may prove decisive.
Fine Wine has been in fantastic form this winter over 5f, winning three of his last five starts, and he was strong at the line when pulling away to win a handicap at this track in December.
He was taken on for the lead at Southwell last time but still kept on strongly to hold everything bar winner Alligator Alley and a reproduction of that form may be enough.
The step back up to 6f is an unknown as he has looked a non-stayer at the trip in the past, but it's a long time since he last tried the distance and the strong way in which he has been finishing his races recently gives hope that he may even improve for a stiffer test of stamina.
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