A Grand Day Out at Lingfield
Well now, what a lovely afternoon we had down at Lingfield Park on Wednesday. Six races of proper jumps action on good ground that was riding easy – the kind of surface that separates the wheat from the chaff, so it does. When the going's genuine like this, you get to see which horses have real ability and which ones have been flattering to deceive on softer surfaces.
The Lingfield Park racecard looked a treat on paper, and by Jaysus, it delivered in spades. From novice hurdlers showing their class to hunters giving it their all in the Eddie Mapp Memorial, there was something for everyone who appreciates the noble art of jumping.
Feature Race: The Boyne Cup Chase
The HR Smith Handicap Steeplechase, run for the Boyne Cup, was the feature event, and what a cracking contest it shaped up to be. Almazhar Garde, carrying top weight off a mark of 122, had David Bass in the saddle – and that's a combination that knows how to get the job done when the chips are down.
But don't be sleeping on Epic West with Gavin Sheehan aboard. That horse has been knocking on the door lately, and Sheehan's booking tells you everything you need to know about connections' confidence. At 117, he's well in if reproducing his best form, and on this good ground, he could be the value play of the day.
Tax For Max caught my eye too – J.J. Slevin doesn't travel over from Ireland for the craic, and at 115, this one looks to have been laid out for a touch. The way he jumped last time out suggested he was coming to himself, and these extended trips at Lingfield suit horses with a bit of stamina in the pedigree.
Novice Hurdle Nuggets
The opening Powell & Construction Novices' Hurdle was a proper schooling ground for future stars. Un Sens A La Vie, rated 130 with Sam Twiston-Davies up, was the class act on paper, but in racing, paper doesn't win prizes – horses do.
What interested me more was the trio of unrated newcomers. Winston's Oath with Lee Edwards caught the eye in the paddock, and when a horse is making its debut over hurdles at this level, you know connections think they've got something special. Latin with Jonathan Burke is another to keep an eye on – that's a yard that knows how to place their horses.
Not For Passin has the 'D' next to his name, meaning he's won at the course before, and that local knowledge can be worth its weight in gold around Lingfield's unique undulations.
Handicap Highlights and Horses to Follow
The Templar Medical Handicap Hurdle over the extended trip was where the real punting opportunities lay. Maximum Offers with Gavin Sheehan looked well handicapped off 113, especially if you forgive his last run on heavy ground that wouldn't have suited.
But the horse that really tickled my fancy was Noonetellsmenothin with Jonjo O'Neill Jr. in the saddle. Off a mark of 106, this one's been running some cracking races in defeat, and the booking of young O'Neill suggests the family think he's ready to strike. That's a combination I'll be following with interest through the spring.
Springs A Girl is another to keep on the right side of. Harry Atkins knows this mare inside out, and at 109, she looks to be coming into form at just the right time. The way she stayed on last time suggested this step up in trip would suit her down to the ground.
Mares' Races and Future Stars
The mares' contests provided some fascinating insight into potential future stars. Lady Dapple Rose in the Limited Handicap looked the one to beat on ratings, but in these mares' events, you often get surprises from horses improving for their new environment.
The real treasure trove was the Mares' Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race – a proper lucky dip with 14 runners all unrated. Rose of Knocknamoe with Jack Hogan is a name that's been whispered about in the right circles, and Arm's of An Angel with David Bass suggests that yard has found something they like in this mare.
These maiden flat races are where tomorrow's stars cut their teeth, and any winner here will be one to follow religiously over hurdles next season.
Looking Ahead
What made this card so enjoyable was the quality of racing from top to bottom. The hunters' chase to finish provided a proper test of jumping and stamina, with Potters Party and Prohus Yank looking the pick of the bunch on ratings.
The horses that caught the eye here will be popping up at tracks like Fontwell, Plumpton, and back here at Lingfield through the spring. Keep your notebooks handy, because several of these performances will prove to be significant stepping stones to bigger things.
All in all, a grand day's racing that reminded us why the jumps game is the greatest show on earth. Roll on the next meeting!
