METIER is just the job in the Sovereign Handicap Hurdle (3.35) as Lingfield Park’s Winter Million gets underway today.
Harry Fry’s son of Mastercraftsman has suffered three defeats since demolishing his rivals in the Grade 1 Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown Park last January but a drop in the handicap and a return to heavy ground will help Sean Bowen’s mount show his true colours.
The rain-softened playing surface is no problem for BROKEN HALO, a worthy favourite for the weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Novices' Chase (3.00) after a 19-length supremacy at Exeter on New Year’s Day.
Mudlark LE LIGERIEN is 5lb higher in the weights as a result of his win at Chepstow 15 days ago, but another good account is on the cards in the racehorselotto.com Handicap Chase (1.50).
The Cazoo Hurdle (2.25) is a good opportunity for EMITOM, a high-class hurdler as a novice two winters ago, to make a winning switch back to timber.
At Market Rasen, Phil Kirby has sound prospects of a double, courtesy of RAVENSCAR in the Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap Hurdle (2.05) and SUNSET WEST in the Symphony Group Handicap Chase (3.15).
Ffos Las debut scorer HIDDEN BEAUTY gets the vote for the Alan Swinbank Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (2.40), while back-to-form LE GRAND LION has plenty going for him in the Matchbook Best Odds Handicap Hurdle (1.30).
Friday tips
SOUTHWELL
12.10 MAYELF
12.40 LAST AMMO
1.10 HART FELL
1.40 TREVIE FOUNTAIN
2.15 AVAILABLE ANGEL
2.50 CUSTARD THE DRAGON
3.25 INEVITABLE OUTCOME
3.55 BANG ON THE BELL
MARKET RASEN
12.30 CAPTAIN BROOMFIELD
1.00 HERE WE HAVE IT
1.30 LE GRAND LION
2.05 RAVENSCAR
2.40 HIDDEN BEAUTY
3.15 SUNSET WEST
3.45 LOTS OF LUCK
LINGFIELD PARK
12.50 RAINYDAY WOMAN
1.20 WOULDUBEWELL
1.50 LE LIGERIEN
2.25 EMITOM
3.00 BROKEN HALO
3.35 METIER (NB)
4.08 CHAMBARD
NEWCASTLE
4.00 RESUMPTION
4.30 VINDOBALA
5.00 TADLEEL
5.30 SUGAR BABY (NAP)
6.00 LORD PARAMOUNT
6.30 ATRAFAN
7.00 TOMMY TAYLOR
