3.50pm Leicester Tips & Betting Preview 20/11/2017

3.50pm Leicester tips for Monday’s race. Read on for our free betting tips, predictions and analysis.

IN SUMMARY: In a race that may not take too much winning Nicky Henderson’s MELANGERIE stands out after her two bumpers wins which are evidence she has plenty of ability. She looked as if she would improve for the experience on her hurdling bow and if that is the case she will take all the beating here.

1 BRIDEY’S LETTUCE – Once raced over hurdles when a thirty-six lengths eleventh of twelve on his first run for Charlie Pogson after leaving the Ivan Furtado yard for a new career at the winter game. He did win a Beverley seller by six lengths in early August but needs to show he can match or better that over obstacles which hasn’t happened so far.

2 DESTRIER – Shoed all the usual signs of inexperience and as green as grass at Kempton when well beaten (fifty-two lengths) in a bumper in March and not seen since. Dan Skelton has his horses running well enough overall to suggest the four-year-old will do better now but he may still be green after a long lay-off and it may be sensible to keep an eye on the betting to help assess his chances.

3 DOC CARVER – Plenty of point to point experience including a ten-length win at Monksgrange for trainer Richard Donohoe in Ireland but unsighted in his only bumper at Cork. He officially moved to Henry Oliver’s last month and has run the once over hurdles when fifth to Whatmore at Bangor when jumping the last a bit on the big side, and may do better now he has that run behind him.

4 SPEED COMPANY – Five wins from nineteen races on the flat at distances up to a mile and a quarter and needs to prove he can stay this far on his first start over obstacles. Last of twelve in a good race at York when last seen but beaten twenty-four lengths at the line and although the class act here if he jumps and stays, he does come with question marks for trainer John Quinn and jockey Brian Hughes.

5 VOODOO DOLL – A half-brother to bumper winners Wylde Magic and Mystical Dreamer, neither of whom have won over hurdles yet and a bit of an unknown quantity on his debut. Cost 28,000 Euros at the Goffs Sales in 2016 and trainer Evan Williams is in among the winners with six in the last two weeks and another worth a market watch any for signs of support. 

6 YELLOW KANGAROO – Ran a promising race on his debut at Bangor to finish fifth of nine in January at odds of 33/1 and was even easier to back over hurdles at Warwick when sent off at 100/1 before finishing a thirty-nine length twelfth when held up and hampered though that should not be put forward as much of an excuse. Seems the sort who might do better over time but hard to argue a case for on what we have seen so far.

7 MELANGERIE – Two wins from four starts in bumpers, one each at Market Rasen and then Cheltenham mark her down as a mare of some ability and with Nicky Henderson looking after her she seems sure to win more races. He one start over hurdles so far saw an eight and a quarter length fifth to All Currencies at Worcester in October when making a mistake two out, and if she learns from that she ought to get involved in the finish here.

8 ROBIN DEUZ POIS – Bought for £47,000 after finishing second in her only point to point at Necarne in Ireland she is yet to live up to the price tag and was tailed off when pulled up at Warwick in December last year before reappearing at Doncaster with an eighteen and a half-length fourth of five at Doncaster. Off again since she may well be fragile with such long gaps between here races in which case she is even harder to suggest now than her bare form suggests.