The weather is really ruining the mood of the horse racing world as it claimed Lingfield Sunday's meeting. It seems a bit strange that the meeting was called off as Lingfield were ‘ensure Monday's meeting went ahead' and that ‘the track was raceable', which makes no sense as the Monday meeting is hardly enthralling and has amazing races, but also, it's name is an ‘all-weather' track yet the weather has been the winner over recent weeks.
Rizzel's tips
Pic Roc 5/4 – Exeter 1.38
It is a tad surprising seeing the odds open as short as they are for Pic Roc, but being an overnight tipster means that you've got to settle for the price, despite thinking the horse you fancy will drift in the market. I won't be recommending an SP for this horse even though I think a drift will happen, because chances are he'll be backed in again closer to the off time.
I think this looks like a good opportunity for Pic Roc to get his first win over fences after falling on his chase debut when he was the odds-on favourite in a three-runner race at Carlisle. He didn't get too far into his chase debut as he fell at the fifth fence after sprawling on landing, and we haven't seen him since, which was 60 days ago, so he might've picked up a small injury or they have been working at home to get his confidence back over the fences, as well as working on his technique.
From the hurdling world, Pic Roc is the pick of these, hence why he is the horse carrying top weight, as he showed the best form over the smaller obstacles. The form throughout the season was at a decent level. He was second to Hasthing, who was always deemed to be well handicapped last year and has since won on his second chase start. Pic Roc was also ahead of Inthewaterside, who has been impressive at Newbury on his chase debut. Then at the back end of the jumps season he was second on two occasions at Sandown, once in a Grade 3 and the other in a Class 2, so there is definitely a class angle with Pic Roc, and if he has learnt from his Carlisle error, he should be too good for this field, despite carrying a heavy weight.