Unfortunately, the weather was the winner on Saturday, claiming all of Saturday's jumps meetings. Hopefully, we can get some racing on Sunday, preferably Plumpton as that is the venue of my sole selection.
Rizzel's tips
Lemoncello 8/1 EW – Plumpton 2.05
It's always a thought that a horse is being saved for next season for their debut season over fences, which could be the reality for Lemoncello for Venetia Williams, but based on his runs over hurdles over shorter this season, I think the step up to 3m on heavy ground could be what he wants over the shorter obstacles.
Last time out Lemoncello was severely lacking the pace to go with the winner and even those ahead of him, but he showed that stamina is his strong point as he was last turning for home and in big trouble, but stayed on strongly to eventually run a good race, but a race where he was never going to threaten the winner who did it easily. If Plumpton goes ahead, the ground is going to be very testing and I think that will play into the hands of Lemoncello who is going to run off a very low weight as Miss Lucy Turner takes off 5lbs from the already low weight of 10st 2lbs, but also it puts more emphasis on stamina.
I think the main contenders for this race are the ones towards the top of the weights, all of which appear to be on tough handicap marks. Monmiral won the Pertemps finale at Cheltenham last year off a lower mark and has been beaten on similar marks over hurdles on this handicap mark. Transmission won this race last year, but he is much higher in the handicap this year, and I don't think heavy ground is going to be in his favour. Tommie Beau has to be respected as he is a very strong stayer and game as a badger.
