Day One Winter Million Lingfield Preview

The first race of the day at Lingfield on Friday is the Winter Million Mares Novices' Hurdle and the horse we are siding with is the Dan Skelton trained Nurse Susan

The €32,000 daughter of Doctor Dino has been emphatic on both her starts to date, making her debut at Carlisle in November when bolting up by close to eight lengths.

She had to work a little harder for her win last time out at Leicester when taking a much better event by three lengths, albeit being eased at the finish.

She looks to have huge scope for progression and having had a nice break she should be right at it for this valuable event.

Next up is another Mares event this time over fences with a 2m4f Handicap Nobvices' Chase and at an each way price Wouldubewell for Emma Lavelle makes big appeal.

The eight year old mare has been a very consistent horse for the yard over both hurdles and fences, making her rules debut last term at Uttoxeter when winning a 2m7f Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Uttoxeter on heavy ground.

Finishing a good fourth in a strong Mares Novices' Hurdle at Wincanton, she then backed that up with another close second on her final hurdles start.

Not seen for 10 months, she came back at Fontwell for her chase debut this season and got back to winning ways in taking style.

Last time out she put in another taking effort when a narrow third in a good handicap chase at Haydock over Christmas.

She will love the heavy ground and now only 1lb higher off a mark of 128, she looks to have a big chance.

The £50,000 two mile Handicap Chase sees just the seven runners go to post and the horse that has caught our eye is the Venetia Williams trained Frero Banbou.

The seven year old gelding has been a good horse for the thriving yard, constantly knocking on the door in better fielded races that this.

Having won in March last year at Sandown by nine lengths off a mark of 124, he then went to Aintree in April and was a superb fourth of 18 in the Grade Three Red Rum Handicap Chase.

Put away for the rest of that season he returned at Ascot this term in a good Listed Handicap Chase where he again he was a valiant fourth.

Since then he has been seen twice at Newbury and Cheltenham over two miles and on both occasions has finished third behind some well handicapped horses.

He still seems feasibly treated for this event and having form in tough conditions he could go close.

One of the big races of the day is the Cazoo Hurdle over 2m7f and the class angle in the race is On The Blind Side for Nicky Henderson.

On The Blind Side for Nicky Henderson has really turned his career around with some superb performances over the last few years.

Having been tried over fences, hurdles and on the flat two seasons ago, Henderson stuck with flights last term and he made a bright start to the campaign.

He went to Cheltenham on last year's seasonal debut in November for the Listed Handicap Hurdle and beat a decent field of runners over three miles.

He then headed back over the same course and distance last time out and the extra weight told being beat into second by the well handicapped Come On Teddy.

Dropped slightly in trip but upped in Grade, he was sent to Kempton in the Grade Two Relkeel Hurdle and finished a superb second behind bright spark McFabulous.

Quickly turned around, he went to Market Rasen just a week later and going back up to three mile made the difference and saw him land a decent hurdle event.

Being in fine form he headed to Haydock last time out for the Grade Two Rendlesham Hurdle and although only finishing third.

Looking to stay on an upward curve he went to Aintree for the Ryanair Stayers' Hurdle and finished a fair sixth of 15.

He tried to finish his season off with a win at Sandown but it looked as though all the runs caught up with him.

This term he has been seen three times, finishing a good second on seasonal debut at Newbury in the Grade Two Long Distance Hurdle but since then has struggled in good company.

He was sixth of eight in the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot and then was pulled up last time out in the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham.

This is a much easier assignment and it should allow him to bounce back if anywhere near his best.

Another nice event at Lingfield on Friday is the Novices' Chase over three miles and the Broken Halo for Paul Nicholls should enjoy this step up in trip.

The seven year old was an average hurdler only winning once from four starts, but since going chasing this term looks like a much better animal.

Starting his campaign this term at Chepstow over three miles he finished a good third at 12 at Chepstow behind two nice types, with the second running a cracker last time out in the valuable Grade Three Handicap Chase at Warwick.

He has since been seen again, this time getting off the mark at Exeter, revelling in the heavy ground to bolt up by 19 lengths and now back up in trip could be dangerous.

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.

The final event of the afternoon is the Winter Million Handicap Chase over 2m4f and Neil The Legend for Nicky Henderson could be tough to beat.

The eight year old had been massively struggling for trainer Katharine Davis and this term was moved to the Seven Barrows maestro Nicky Henderson.

Having his first run for the yard and first run for nine months he went on to bolt up by 15 lengths over todays distance at Warwick.

Up 11lb for that win he still looks to have weight in hand and getting back on conditions he is proven on should see him go close again.