Who To Follow On Day One Of The Winter Million Festival At Lingfield

Lingfield - January 21 2022
Lingfield 15:35
11
Richard Patrick

Thibault

J: Richard Patrick
T: Adam West
N/A
Age: 9
Weight: 10-7
OR: 122
Days: 48

The penultimate event of the afternoon is the most valuable on the card and we like the look of one of the outsiders for trainer Adam West.

The nine year old Thibault near the bottom of the weights could be a surprise winner of the race, but if not has big place claims especially loving heavy ground.

The nine year old has been tried over both the flat and hurdles of late, with his exploits over obstacles reaping much better rewards.

Since October he has been seen six times already, running well over hurdles, placing at Fontwell twice before heading to Haydock and finishing a good second by the highly progressive Tommy's Oscar who has since won twice more.

He then stepped back down to two miles and ran a cracker to finish third in a Listed Handicap Hurdles at Sandown.

Given a month off he ran on the flat which looked a prep for this event and getting his ideal ground he looks a big player at a double figure price.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
18/02/23ASC19.5GS10-29
01/02/23KEM16St/Slw9-87
07/01/23LIN16St9-94
13/11/22FON17.5Gd11-104
21/10/22CHL16.5Gd10-1310

Trainer To Follow - Nicky Henderson

Nicky Henderson is a trainer that was massively out if form heading into last week, but after a five timer on Saturday and some nice winners this week, he is firmly back flying.

On Friday at Lingfield he has some huge chances, starting in the 2m7f Cazoo Hurdle with On The Blind Side who is looking to bounce back to form.

Another nice chance for the Seven Barrows yard is the eight year old Neil The Legend who is looking to be 2/2 for the yard.

Henderson heads into the weekend sporting a 22% strike rate having managed to land eight winners from 37 rides across the last two weeks.

Jockey To Follow - Harry Skelton

Dan and Harry Skelton send a good team to Lingfield on Friday and with that in mind we have picked out the rider as the one to follow.

In the first race of the day they have arguably one of their best chances of the afternoon with their unbeaten mare Nurse Susan who looks to have more improvement in her.

In the £50,000 Handicap Hurdle, Eclair D'Ainay should go well off top weight having won nicely at Wetherby last time out.

Skelton rides Midnight River in the three mile Handicap Chase and he is not without a chance and then in the Sovereign Handicap he sits on Antunes who will be looking to upset the odds.

Skelton heads into the meeting on Friday landing three winners from 15 rides which sees him pose a 20% strike rate over the last two weeks.

James Mackie | @jamesmackieee