'I think he's well handicapped' - seven chasing newcomers clash in open Lingfield handicap, but who holds the key?

You sense this will be an informative handicap given the number of top yards represented by chasing newcomers. In essence, it would be a novice race in all but name if Captain Boudet (2-3 over fences) were absent from the final field. 

Captain Boudet remains interesting for Jeremy Scott despite an 11lb rise for his two chase victories since January. He defied top weight of 12st to repel three next-time-out winners at Exeter in March and has already won in this grade, although the fact Scott is 0-21 this jumps season tempers enthusiasm.

It is only natural to gravitate towards the fencing newbies. The EBF Final at Sandown on Imperial Cup day is a well-established spring target for future chasers and Aviation, Followcato and Silver Thorn all ran in that. Aviation and Silver Thorn were both pulled up at Sandown, but breathing may have been the issue as both were sent for wind surgery afterwards. 

Ben Pauling has his string in top form (31 per cent over the past fortnight) and Followcato, who was second on his only start in a point-to-point, is shortlisted. 

Pauling is 21 per cent with handicap chase debutants and this six-year-old’s third behind Newton Tornado and subsequent dual winner Courageous Strike in a Ffos Las maiden hurdle when last seen reads well. 

Olly Murphy is another trainer who has hit the ground running at the start of the core season, and fences will surely help Dangerous Touch get his act together. He went close on his sole point-to-point start and was sent off favourite for both bumpers off the back of that.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

Ground and weather

The going on the Lingfield chase course on Monday was good. The showers during the day were due to dry up in the evening and through the night, with a cloudy day and temperatures of 14C forecast for raceday.

What they say

Emma Lavelle, trainer of Silver Thorn
He made a few gulping noises in races, so I put a tongue-tie on, which he was grand in at home. However, he wouldn't face it at all in the EBF Final last spring at Sandown, which was so unlike him as he's so enthusiastic. He's had his palate done, he's schooled really well and he's bouncing.

Neil Mulholland, trainer of Batwomen
She'll improve a ton for her third at Fontwell the other day when she just got a little tired. She ran in a point-to-point and she jumps fences very well.

Ben Pauling, trainer of Followcato
We’ve been desperately keen to run and he’s been ready for three weeks, if not a month. He just wanted some safe ground and everywhere we’ve entered we haven’t found it. We’ve actually found quite a competitive open handicap that is going to take a bit of winning and he’ll have to jump very well.

Josh Moore, joint-trainer of Kalif D'Airy
He finished second four times last season and I think he's well handicapped. He's been immature so far, but the penny seems to be dropping and hopefully he'll improve over a fence this season.
Reporting by Charlie Huggins

By Chris Cook

Murphy runners worth a look

Olly Murphy continues in the impressive vein of form that brought him 18 winners at a 41 per cent strike-rate in October and his two runners at Lingfield are worth a close look. First up is Ikarak, who won two handicap hurdles last term and finished with a career-best effort when runner-up to Doyen Quest. He's in a winnable-looking 2m7f contest (1.52) for his reappearance. Dangerous Touch, a winner on his handicap debut over hurdles last term, now tackles fences in the 2m4f handicap chase (3.02), a job for which the grey seems tailor-made. A non-runner for ground reasons at Ffos Las a couple of weeks ago, he seems sure to be ready for a big run.

Under the radar

Also going well but hopefully below a few radars is Tom Gretton, whose recent record is three winners from six runners. Even more interestingly, he has won with all three of his runners in handicap chases in that time, including a 33-1 shot at Hereford last week. Next up is Crac De Megaudais, whose jumping warmed up during his chasing debut at Newton Abbot in May. He should be better suited by stepping back up in trip at Huntingdon (2.01). Brian Hughes, who has a 20 per cent record for Gretton (9-45), is booked. Worcestershire-based Gretton is not exactly local to Huntingdon but it HAS been his most successful track by number of winners.

Trainer's time of year

November seems to be Ben Clarke's time of year. I remember being agog at the Dorset trainer's form a year ago, when at one stage he had won with four runners out of five. Things appear to be heading in a similar direction as, after a quiet May to September, he's had two winners from his last five. Renoir, in the last at Hereford (3.55), is his only current entry. The six-year-old, a winner on his second handicap outing for Clarke in March, has had a couple of spins this autumn and showed significant improvement in the second of those. We can hope to see the best of him now. Toby McCain-Mitchell, who rode an 8-1 winner for Clarke recently, takes off a useful 5lb. A tongue-tie and cheekpieces are fitted, both for the first time.

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