Thursday’s UK racing tips come your way from meetings at Lingfield and Taunton on 30 November 2023.
LINGFIELD
Race 3 – HI RIKO 10/3
Richard Hobson’s HI RIKO was unlucky not to win last time out but can make amends in the Try The Racing App This Afternoon Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
Very lightly-raced compared to most of his rivals on this occasion, Hi Riko appeared set for victory at Uttoxeter when unfortunately his conditional jockey Elizabeth Gale dropped her whip approaching the last.
Still with an advantage, it looked like he might hold on until the heavy ground took a toll and he began to tire and was caught in the final strides.
Annoyingly for connections, he is up 4lb for that effort but Gavin Sheehan takes over in the saddle.
Race 4 – PARADIAS 6/5
Alan King’s PARADIAS is a very interesting newcomer to the jumping game in the Enjoy The Racing App For Free Novices’ Hurdle.
The four-year-old is a rare thing in that he has smart form on the Flat but instead of being sold abroad he has been kept to go hurdling and his connections will be hoping for similar success to that which Burdett Road is enjoying.
He won at Sandown in June off a mark of 90, ran well in several big handicaps at Goodwood and York and was last seen in the Cambridgeshire.
Race 6 – COCO MADEMOISELLE 5/6
COCO MADEMOISELLE maintains a promising profile with a rules debut success in a Wetherby 2m jumpers flat race during April. That preceded a good hurdle debut run when second contesting a Stratford 2m6f mares maiden hurdle.
Top selection here and further improvement is expected.
Melusine De Pail showed promise at Ludlow finishing third tackling a 2m5f mares novices hurdle and makes for appeal.
Race 7 – TEMPLIER 9/2
TEMPLIER found success tackling this handicap chase level and trip at Fakenham last week. Is a serious player and is set to follow up.
Calidad placed third at Fontwell two starts ago attempting a handicap hurdle and is likely to improve on second outing for the season.
Flamelco represents a trainer worth noting and can make amends unseating at Fakenham and holds claims with Imperial Hope.
TAUNTON
Race 2 – MATERHORN 4/6
MATTERHORN finally looked like scaling the heights he promised in France when winning at Taunton last time out and he can repeat the dose in the Taunton Racecourse Business Club “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle.
Bought from France by Paul Nicholls for owner Johnny de la Hey, it has to be said that he had come nowhere near to reproducing what was thought of him.
Having finished in front of Gaelic Warrior in a three-year-old Listed hurdle at Auteuil, he was sent off strongly fancied on his UK debut at Sandown but ran far too free.
Given over 100 days off, he reappeared at a lower level at Taunton, where he was an easy winner but still ran with the choke out.
That same trait was there when Matterhorn was beaten at Huntingdon in April and he subsequently had a wind op.
Back at Taunton for his seasonal reappearance, he once again made the running but this time he was listening to Harry Cobden and coasted to victory.
The five-year-old has a handicap mark of 128 but Nicholls has decided to try and win another novice with a double penalty first.
Race 4 – AFADIL 2/1
Nicholls and Cobden must have a strong chance of doubling up with AFADIL in the Stables Business Park Handicap Hurdle.
He is wearing first-time cheekpieces after a dull run at Cheltenham in much hotter company, but that result can be explained away due to the soft ground.
Afadil is much more at home on a sounder surface, which he will get here and he had when impressing at the Scottish Grand National meeting at Ayr in April, winning going away.
Cobden actually chose Afadil over subsequent Coral Hurdle winner Blueking D’Oroux at Ascot last year, of course without knowing what we now know about his stablemate.
It will be a surprise if this son of Camelot is still rated as low as 127 when the season ends.
Race 6 – SAILED AWAY 11/4
SAILED AWAY returned after a break with a good second at Fakenham. Only denied by two and a half lengths attempting a handicap hurdle and is firmly in the mix.
Imperial Measure started new campaign securing a victory at Newton Abbot.
Not disgraced finishing third in a sixteen runner Exeter contest and a bold bid is anticipated.
Caitlin’s Court was a good second at Newton Abbot.Sixth at Exeter subsequently and better is expected.
Race 7 – EDE’IFFS ROCK 11/4
EDE’IFFS ROCK appears to be progressing with each run since a break.
Returned after a six month break with a good second at Plumpton and was only denied by one and a half lengths and could come forward for the outing.
Noble Savage managed a good fourth on reappearance following a five month absence and has some fair form last season.
Sinurita is entitled to progress running fourth when resuming at Fakenham, so should be considered for a place.
