December 19 / 15.30 Lingfield

15.30

Good To Soft

Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4247.88
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 11 runners
SKY
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Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Handicap Chase

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

Form: 6P54/4 D

Last run: 53 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
His mark has tumbled and he's one to watch in the market on his second run back from a long layoff; however, he failed to shine in the 2020-21 campaign and it was the same story on his comeback at Stratford this October; major turnaround needed in first-time tongue-tie and reapplied cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

20th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 4f 114y

Class 5

14:50 Plumpton

Punches Cross

10st 5lb

J: Mr Billy Marshall

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Not as good as he was and when backed at Wincanton (3m, good) a month ago he was found wanting when it mattered; has become very difficult to win with but should still be involved.

15/2

3rd

6

19th Oct 2023

Good To Firm

3m 0f 150y

Class 5

16:20 Wincanton

Punches Cross

10st 6lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Not as good as he was; placed twice under Benjamin Macey at Fontwell in recent weeks (2m5f/3m2f) but dropped out without putting up much of a fight on latest start.

14/1

6th

7

19th Sep 2023

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

14:00 Uttoxeter

Punches Cross

10st 13lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo O’Neill

prominent, weakened before 2 out

8/1

Abandoned

Form: 9PP1-4 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Won in first-time cheekpieces (retained) over hurdles at Uttoxeter (2m, soft) in March and she was a good fourth at Ffos Las (2m, soft) last month when back over fences for her reappearance; could be thereabouts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

29th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

15:10 Market Rasen

Starvoski

11st 5lb

J: David Bass

T: Kim Bailey

Well held in two chases and one back over hurdles on latest three starts; won at this time last year (in first-time cheekpieces) after a bleak spell so lightning could strike twice as she now sports a visor.

7/1

1

18th Mar 2023

Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

16:45 Uttoxeter

Starvoski

12st 0lb

J: David Bass

T: Kim Bailey

Unknown quantity at present as she had a very stiff task back hurdling last week after two modest chase runs, but she won this off a similar mark in 2022 (soft) in first-time cheekpieces and this headgear switch could suit; worth considering.

9/2

6th

3

12th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

13:50 Warwick

Starvoski

11st 12lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Kim Bailey

Well beaten over fences the last twice but good ground may not have suited last time and she's not ruled out now back on a slower surface over hurdles, off a mark just 1lb higher than when winning at Uttoxeter (2m, soft) last May on her latest attempt in this sphere.

8/1

Form: P-2602

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Inconsistent over hurdles for this yard but has finished second on two of his last four starts (2m1f/1m7f, good/good to soft), most recently at Leicester three weeks ago; effective over fences (and on testing ground) when trained in France and this 5yo is of interest now reverting to chasing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

9

(6)

24th Oct 2024

Heavy

1m 2f 50y

Class 6

16:25 Nottingham

Martin Spirit

9st 5lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Adam West

steadied start, held up in rear, smooth headway over 3f out, went second over 2f out, no extra towards finish

8/1

4th

5

(7)

14th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 3f 99y

Class 6

16:15 Windsor

Martin Spirit

9st 10lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Adam West

in touch with leaders

7/1

5th

5

24th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

16:50 Fontwell

Martin Spirit

11st 1lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Adam West

Soft-ground hurdle winner in March off 2lb lower; out of sorts when last seen hurdling but in good form on the Flat since the blinkers went on, latest when a close third at Windsor this month; could play a part if the headgear continues to have a positive effect back over hurdles.

8/1

Form: 4P-652

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
0-10 but he produced a positive performance in first-time cheekpieces (retained) on his chase debut at Southwell (2m, good) three weeks ago, finishing second; might not be far away if conditions suit (also effective on good to soft; unproven on softer).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

29th May 2023

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

17:15 Cartmel

Mexican Boy

12st 0lb

J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: J J O’Shea

Maiden; second in a Southwell handicap chase last November (2m; RPR 101) but fell on latest two attempts and has left Olly Murphy; new trainer (also runs The Creadan Rogue) has good record in these races; market a help.

6/1

5

13th Apr 2023

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

15:45 Taunton

Mexican Boy

11st 4lb

J: Fergus Gregory

T: Olly Murphy

in rear, not fluent 2nd, mistake 7th, some headway before 13th, in touch with leaders 14th, soon shaken up

11/2

8

31st Mar 2023

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 5

16:25 Wetherby

Mexican Boy

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Runner-up at Southwell (2m, good) last November and his half-brother Mance Rayder has won at up to 3m4f; however, no threat when fifth over 2m the last twice and the suitability of this step up in trip is questionable.

12/1

Form: 2U4F-P

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 5lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
10yo who is very lightly raced for his age and when pulled up at Exeter last time he was making his hurdle/seasonal debut; however, just one of last season's seven chase performances was a positive run and it may be best to look elsewhere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

28th Feb 2023

Good To Firm

2m 4f 25y

Class 4

15:00 Leicester

Captain Cuckoo

10st 2lb

J: David Noonan

T: Mark Gillard

4th

3

12th Feb 2023

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

14:00 Exeter

Captain Cuckoo

11st 0lb

J: David Noonan

T: Mark Gillard

prominent, pushed along from 8th, ridden after 11th, soon no chance, tailed off

50/1

5th

8

29th Jan 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 135y

Class 5

16:00 Fontwell

Captain Cuckoo

10st 9lb

J: David Noonan

T: Mark Gillard

0-9 in points and 0-14 under rules; badly out of sorts this season (pulled up on all three appearances) and beginning to look a lost cause.

50/1

Form: 5P-PP6

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Pulled up three times in a row over hurdles before finishing down the field on last month's chase debut over C&D (soft); hard to fancy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

6th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

18:42 Fontwell

Valirann Gold

10st 13lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Harriet Brown

Course winner; a lot of his form is over shorter but he proved his stamina for 3m when runner-up at Ffos Las two weeks ago (good); unlikely to be far away off the same mark.

5/1

2nd

10

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

18:42 Ffos Las

Valirann Gold

10st 5lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Harriet Brown

Produced a remarkable late surge to snatch what had looked an unlikely victory at Fontwell (2m5f, good to soft; blinkers removed) last month but this inconsistent 9yo tends to race lazily nowadays and got going too late when back at Fontwell a fortnight ago; other are much less risky.

12/1

Form: 4138-4 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 10st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Inconsistent but he was an easy winner at Warwick (2m, heavy) last December and last month's fair fourth at Fakenham (2m, good) was his first outing since January; may improve for that latest run and could go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

12th Apr 2024

Good

2m 0f 59y

Class 4

16:20 Fakenham

Templier

10st 4lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Sarah Humphrey

Scored over C&D (good to soft) on seasonal debut in November and has remained in good form since but usually knocks about in Class 5 races and may find a couple of today's rivals too strong.

5/1

5th

9

12th Apr 2024

Good

2m 0f 59y

Class 4

16:20 Fakenham

Templier

10st 4lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Sarah Humphrey

raced in fourth, not fluent 8th, soon dropped to last, mistake 3 out, soon struggling

5/1

2nd

3

12th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 5

15:10 Sedgefield

Templier

11st 11lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Sarah Humphrey

midfield, not fluent and dropped to rear 2 out (usual 3 out), soon rallied, went third home turn

6/1

Form: P24-22 C

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 13lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
10yo who has been beaten on his 16 starts since winning over hurdles here in December 2019, but he's finished second on four of his six starts this year (including over C&D on soft last time) and there's every chance he'll be thereabouts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

20th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:35 Lingfield

Shaws Cross

10st 2lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Andy Irvine

Runner-up at Plumpton (2m3f, good to soft) in December and respectable fourth in his last two runs but this 13yo is now 1-24 over fences and that win was over two years ago; down the list.

7/1

4th

11

31st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:48 Lingfield

Shaws Cross

10st 2lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Andy Irvine

Veteran who scored over hurdles here (heavy) in 2019 and broke a long losing run two years ago over fences at Plumpton; no joy since but, even though he's 2lb out of the weights today, he's regularly shown enough to be given a place chance.

16/1

4th

11

31st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:48 Lingfield

Shaws Cross

10st 2lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Andy Irvine

Veteran who scored over hurdles here (heavy) in 2019 and broke a long losing run two years ago over fences at Plumpton; no joy since but, even though he's 2lb out of the weights today, he's regularly shown enough to be given a place chance.

16/1

Abandoned

Form: 2/64-7

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Well handicapped on his chase form up to April 2021; was returning from a long absence when tailed off at Wincanton 18 days ago and may have needed the run, but he has to prove how much ability he retains.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

8th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

15:10 Fontwell

Eurkash

10st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

Defied a 12lb higher mark in 2020 for previous stable; best efforts for new yard when solid second over C&D in September/October; could well go one better, provided he takes to new headgear.

5/2

6

8th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

15:10 Fontwell

Eurkash

10st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

Defied a 12lb higher mark in 2020 for previous stable; best efforts for new yard when solid second over C&D in September/October; could well go one better, provided he takes to new headgear.

5/2

2nd

7

23rd Oct 2024

Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

16:15 Fontwell

Eurkash

10st 6lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

led, headed after 3 out, weakened approaching last

7/2

Form: 33F/04

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
0-11 over fences and he was about 14l behind runner-up Shaw's Cross when fourth over C&D (soft) last time; however, that wasn't a bad performance from 9lb out of the handicap on his second start back from a long absence, and he runs off 5lb lower today; not ruled out each-way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

11th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Plumpton

Clondaw Robin

10st 2lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Andy Irvine

led, not fluent 2 out, headed just before last, soon no extra

13/2

2nd

4

11th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Plumpton

Clondaw Robin

10st 2lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Andy Irvine

led, not fluent 2 out, headed just before last, soon no extra

13/2

4th

7

3rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 214y

Class 5

13:55 Plumpton

Clondaw Robin

10st 2lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Andy Irvine

led, headed before 5th, lost ground 7th, weakened before 2 out, tailed off

12/1

Form: 000-PP

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
5yo who has raced only seven times, but she showed very little over hurdles and was pulled up on last month's handicap/chase debut at Southwell (3m); dramatic improvement needed now back down to 2m in first-time visor.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

16

27th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:40 Warwick

Kilfords Queen

10st 2lb

J: Alex Edwards

T: Nick Gifford

Unable to get seriously competitive in three chases this season (2m1f-3m; cheekpieces added last time) and is 8lb out of the handicap here.

50/1

5th

7

9th Apr 2023

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 5

17:25 Plumpton

Kilfords Queen

10st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

prominent, lost ground and dropped to last after 5th

25/1

6th

7

27th Feb 2023

Good

2m 0f 214y

Class 5

14:00 Plumpton

Kilfords Queen

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Nick Gifford

jumped left throughout, raced in last, pushed along after 7th, outpaced from 3 out

66/1

Verdict

The 10yo SHAW’S CROSS needs to snap a 16-race losing sequence, but he’s been running well in the main this year and is taken to go one better than when second over C&D last time. Templier may be the main danger on the back of a fairly encouraging comeback run, with Starvoski, Martin Spirit and Mexican Boy others to consider.[Ben Hutton]

Selections

POSTDATA:

Mexican Boy

The Times:

Martin Spirit

WEST COUNTRY:

Starvoski

SPOTLIGHT:

Shaw's Cross

RP Ratings:

Templier

Daily Mirror:

Mexican Boy

Daily Record:

Mexican Boy

The Guardian:

Martin Spirit

The Sun:

Martin Spirit

Telegraph:

Starvoski

The Star:

Starvoski

Daily Mail:

Shaw's Cross

D Express:

Templier