2.40pm Lingfield Tips & Betting Preview 29/11/2016

A few front runners here which should ensure they go a steady gallop on the forecast heavy ground with £6,330 going to the winner. Read on for our experts’ thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: Fort Carson will be dangerous here if returning to the form he showed earlier in the Spring and should be challenging turning for home. That being said he could struggle to contain both Collodi and THIRD ACT. The former was a good winner on the flat twice last month and if improving on his Hereford run can go close, but the latter was a good winner in a Conditional Event at Exeter last time out and with his yard continuing in scintillating form, he is a confident selection to follow up in race where a few have questions to answer.

1 Bingo D’Olivate – Took a nasty tumble at Huntingdon at the start of the tear but showed he was over that by winning comfortably by 8 lengths at Newbury in March. Has been off since then and up 11lb for that win. Others look to have his measure for now.

2 Sleepy Haven – Hasn’t won since back-to-back wins at Haydock and then Kempton almost years ago. 14 runs since those wins and looked to be running best race for a while at Haydock 10 days ago until unshipping his rider at the last when in contention. Down another 2lb since then and dangerous to rule out if able to cut out the errors.

3 Heath Hunter – Only fair form this year without winning although his last two runs were too bad to be true. Handicapper looks to have his measure these days and hard to fancy based on runs earlier in the Spring.

4 Theatre Flame – Won a modest Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow in February by 2 lengths and has finished last on his two most recent starts at Fontwell and Cheltenham. Looks up against it with the selection in this and can be overlooked for now.

5 Fort Carson – Won a Conditional Jockey’s Handicap Hurdle in March quite comfortably by 7 lengths and scored again 2 runs later at Exeter when staying on to win by 4 lengths to the useful Perspicace from David Pipe’s yard. Pulled up last time out Newton Abbott but he was having his sixth run in quick succession and maybe seen in a better light here having had the summer off. One for the short-list.

6 Darebin – 2 wins last Winter at Sandown and then an easy 11 length victory at Fontwell. Form tailed off over the Spring and looked in need of his run at Sandown 23 days ago when only sixth of 8. Could fare better here but may be seen to better effect in the coming months.

7 Collodi – Previously trained by David Bridgwater where he won a decent Selling Hurdle at Stratford in July by 9 lengths. Claimed back-to-back victories in Handicaps on the flat at Chepstow and Lingfield last month should have him spot on here and despite only a fair fourth of 9 at Hereford over Hurdles at the start of October, he should come on for that and give the selection most to think about.

8 Bohemian Rhapsody – Won over 1m4f at Chepstow in May but only fair form since and only fourth of 5 on last start over Hurdles 21 days ago. Improvement doesn’t look forthcoming and this looks a tough assignment.

9 Third Act – Pleasing on first start of the season when 4 ½ lengths second at Chepstow 27 days ago and followed up on that promising run by scoring readily at Exeter 9 days later. The horse that beat him at Chepstow has since won again and he looks to have an excellent opportunity at following up having escaped a penalty for that win and with his yard in irrepressible form. Should be hard to beat.

10 Beau Lake – Won twice on Heavy ground at Fontwell two years ago but has shown only modest form in 4 runs since. Lightly-raced and well weighted, he might just come on for this run and be one for later on. Best watched for now.