The Chatteris Fen Juvenile Hurdle at Huntingdon has a distinctly mixed recent record as a source of future excellence, as with the sole exception of Sceau Royal two years ago, this was as good as it ever got for the last seven winners. The latest renewal does look well above par on paper, however, and both Style De Garde (3.00) and Gumball are quoted at around 25-1 for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
Gumball offers a line to the form of Apple’s Shakira, the current ante-post favourite for the Triumph, who cantered 17 lengths clear of Philip Hobbs’s runner in a Grade Two race at Cheltenham’s November meeting.
If he could brush up his jumping, which has been sloppy in all three starts this season, Gumball might give Style De Garde a race this afternoon, but Nicky Henderson’s runner has far more scope for progress after coasting home in a decent race – and a solid time – at Newbury last time out. It will be disappointing if he cannot take a stride up the ante-post Triumph betting this afternoon.
Henderson also has an intriguing runner in the card’s novice handicap chase, where Terrefort makes his British debut after arriving from Guillaume Macaire’s yard, off a mark of 137. It could prove to be a lenient starting point, as Terrefort was not beaten far in a Listed event at Auteuil last time out, but this is a strong event of its type and Charlie Longsdon’s Bentelimar (3.30), whose form behind Gino Trail at Cheltenham in December was franked when the fifth home went in next time, could give him plenty to think about.
Lingfield Park 12.20 Star Story 12.50 Father Ailbe 1.20 Dark Alliance 1.50 Complicit 2.20 Mystique Moon 2.50 Dutiful Son 3.20 Nautical Haven 3.50 Roundabout Magic
Sedgefield 1.10 Main Fact 1.40 Quick Pick 2.10 Frankie Ballou 2.40 Canny Style 3.10 Kings Eclipse 3.40 Colby
Huntingdon 1.30 Le Capricieux 2.00 Leapaway 2.30 Global Domination (nb) 3.00 Style De Garde (nap) 3.30 Bentelimar 4.00 Dory
Newcastle 5.45 The British Lion 6.15 Cherry Oak 6.45 My Target 7.15 Tommy G 7.45 Dubai Acclaim 8.15 Blastofmagic
Elsewhere on today’s cards, Mystique Moon (2.20) and Complicit (1.50) both hold strong chances on the all-weather card at Lingfield, while Kings Eclipse (3.10) showed plenty of promise to get off the mark on his chasing debut last time out and should follow up at Sedgefield.
