Horse racing tips – Thursday February 20: Lingfield and Huntingdon
Calum Weill's selections:
Odds provided by Betfair and correct at the time of writing.
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4.05 Punchestown – Sri Lanka Awaits You Handicap Hurdle (2m 7f)
Freddie Gordon's valuable 3lb claim ensures that SAN PEDRO effectively escapes having to carry top wait and a 3lb penalty for winning last time out at Plumpton 10 days ago.
The eight-year-old produced a brave run that day in a conditional jockeys' race over 3m 1f, and while the jockeys Gordon faces today will have more quality, the same can't be said for their mounts, with only one of San Pedro's nine rivals having finished better than fifth last time out.
There has been a bit of support for the Olly Murphy-trained Tropical Speed, but that should just ensure some value in today's nap.
1.45 Huntingdon – Advertise Your Business At Huntingdon Maiden Hurdle (2m)
When CARLTON was trained by Tracy Waggott, he made his hurdles debut at Market Rasen in August, but finished out of the frame after jumping to his right throughout the race.
The five-year-old son of Frankel has since moved to the yard of James Owen, who has transformed the horse on the Flat, Carlton recording a four-timer and rising 20lb in the weights.
Similar improvement today plus Huntingdon's right-handed track should ensure that he makes the frame here.
2.35 Lingfield – Sri Lanka, The Wonder Of Asia Handicap Chase (2m 7½f)
SUMMER IN MILAN steps up in trip on his chasing debut after just two runs at handicap hurdle level, both at Fontwell, where he came eighth over 2m 1½f in December and third over 2m 5½f last month.
Trainer Chris Gordon has an excellent record at Lingfield and it looks like today's selection may have been laid out for this test of stamina over the bigger obstacles.
Having placed in an Irish point-to-point race that was won by the current favourite for the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, it is very likely that Summer In Milan will relish today's conditions.
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