Lingfield Saturday

1:25 Boost Your Acca-Fenwa With BetUK Handicap 1m 4f

Orange N Blue is one of a few to catch the eye for this, with Callum Shephard taking over from the inexperienced Sorin Moldoveanu for whom plenty went wrong last time. He looked outpaced for much of the Southwell contest but stayed on late despite his pilot dropping the reins in the latter stages which allowed his mount to drift to the disadvantaged part of the track.

That was only Orange N Blue’s fourth start, and improvement is virtually guaranteed.

Raintown can be given a chance on his 2022 all-weather form with his best efforts coming at the track, while Forge Valley Lad also merits respect. He badly needed his run at Kempton in December, his first since April, but took a step forward at Wolverhampton last time despite only beating one home.

He wasn’t beaten far in a slowly-run race over a trip which is on the short side for him, and that should set him up for a big run at a track where he won three times in the first half of last year.

2:00 Bet £10 Get £40 At BetMGM Handicap 1m 1y

It’s possible to make a case for a few here, but I’ve narrowed it down to a couple, with Plantadream holding claims on his Lingfield track record which reads 2122.

He was off for more than two years before a creditable return at Kempton in December and he backed that up when beaten less than a length in fourth of eight to Talis Evolvere there early this month.

He should be cherry-ripe after those outings and rates a big danger to main selection Al Rufaa, who is another to be revived by the skills of Daniel and Claire Kubler.

Al Rufaa needed the run on debut for new connections but impressed when scoring at Wolverhampton on his penultimate start when suited by the strong pace.

He was a creditable third at Southwell on his latest start but failed to settle fully behind a moderate gallop and shaped better than the result. He’s likely to get a solid pace to aim at here and is taken to get back on an upward curve as a result.

2:35 Build Your Acca With BetUK Handicap 5f 6y

Bedford Flyer is a useful sort on both turf and the all-weather but he’s particularly at home at Lingfield where his form reads 1121.

On his last start at Lingfield in November, he won an easy two and a quarter lengths, showing a smart turn of foot in the process, and ran well on his latest start when second to Clarendon House at Southwell. That should set him up perfectly for this, and there’s no reason for him not to go well.

Biggest danger could well be Zarzyni, who caught the eye in the Wolverhampton race won by Diomed Spirit last time, where the front trio set off at a scorching pace only to be picked up late by the patiently ridden winner.

Zarzyni travelled best of all that day and his failure to win may simply be down to a lack of peak fitness after a break. With blinkers fitted now to replace cheekpieces and although parked wider than ideal in stall ten, is still feared.

Lingfield Sunday

1:15 Download The Racing App Now Lightning Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) 2m

The Lightning looks very open and while I don’t have a strong view on the outcome, I did think that the initial prices about Matata were very generous, and I could be tempted if that discrepancy isn’t corrected. A sound-jumping front runner, Matata ran really well to be beaten a length by Libberty Hunter in a handicap at Cheltenham last time.

He produced a smart time in the circumstances as well and must be a live danger to all in receipt of weight from graded winners Djelo and Master Chewy.

1:50 Download The Racing App Now Godstone Handicap Chase 2m

Saint Segal would almost certainly have beaten Triple Trade had he not toppled at Ascot’s final fence in November, and with the latter winning at that track next time, the form looks solid. Both have gone up 3lb in the weights so I’d expect Saint Segal to have the edge again, albeit in a contest which looks tightly graded.

3:00 Fitzdares Fleur De Lys Chase 2m 6f 10y

It’s not easy to get heavily involved in the Fleur De Lys given the best horse in the race is returning from absence, but L’Homme Presse was reportedly back in full training in the autumn, and the impression is that connections did not want to race him until he was 100%.

Backing the chasers trained by Venetia Williams when they return from an absence has always been a profitable ploy, of course, so the general view that L’Homme Presse will need the run could prove wide of the mark.

15:35 Fitzdares Surrey National Handicap Chase 3m 4f 178y

He’s taking a big hike in trip, but that could work the oracle for the unexposed Regal Blue, and the point winner is selected to win a rather patchy renewal of the Surrey National.

Jonjo O’Neill’s seven-year-old is by the same sire as nascent superstar Marine Nationale, but appears to have a bit more stamina, again doing his best work late when second of seven to Happy And Fine in a two and a half-mile handicap chase at Haydock last time.

This is a big step up in trip for Regal Blue, but it will help with his jumping to be going a stride slower, and he’s given the strong impression on both chase starts that staying will be his forte.

Saturday:

Orange N Blue 1:25 Lingfield – 1pt win @ 13/2 (Coral, Ladbrokes)

Al Rufaa 2:00 Lingfield – 1pt win @ 13/2 (Hills – 6/1 Unibet)

Bedford Flyer 2:35 Lingfield – 2pts win @ 13/2 (general)

Sunday:

Regal Blue 3:35 Lingfield – 1pt win @ 11/2 (general)