Richard Hoiles' top tips for Tuesday: Air can strike at Lingfield

It was about ten years ago that I started to try and incorporate a walk of the track into my daily routine. Whilst it was partly to stem my expanding waistline, it has proved invaluable down the years in understanding not just track characteristics, but also how conditions and layout vary from meeting to meeting.

Having got used to squelching through mud or dodging frost covers, it was clear that Warwick on Saturday was very different to the usual Classic Chase day.

With the usual strip of fresh ground on the Chase course it was generally good and only a little more tacky on the hurdles track.

The rather strange Warwick layout means the rapid ascent and then descent of the hill rules out any jumping on that part of the track resulting in quickfire fences down the back straight.

Not only that but the triangular shape means the sharper turn is into the straight and with that inner bend being shared on Saturday, it also meant speed round the turn would be a big asset, especially over hurdles.

It led me to completely the wrong conclusion in the Novice Chase where my view was OK Corral’s big physique coupled with his demolition of a fence at Plumpton would mean Rocky’s Treasure could put his extra experience to good use.

That proved hopelessly incorrect as Rocky’s Treasure would never really stand off his fences whilst OK Corral motored throughout.

As amateur Derek O’Connor had been brought over to ride him, all the talk was of the 4m National Hunt Chase afterwards but to me it actually looked as if he would have every bit as good a chance in the RSA Chase.

He was not short of pace here and it was more Rocky’s Treasure who looked to need the extra trip rather holding down the Santini form in the process.

The presence of Santini may well make Henderson reluctant to change the game plan but it surely won’t have escaped the attention of a certain JP McManus.

OK Corral may be one to consider backing for the RSA Chase when more firms go Non-Runner No Bet.

Also keep an eye on the rating given to runner-up Secret Investor. Going into the race on 143 he could be a very interesting contender in the 0-145 Close Brothers Novice Handicap Chase at the Festival, for which he would need to have one more run, if his mark remains below the ceiling.

He doesn’t yet appear in any ante-post lists for the race.

There was one horse whose performance has resulted in my first ante-post bet for the Festival. It is NotwhatIam for the Pertemps Final after an effort in the qualifier that suggests he is potentially ahead of his mark.

As mentioned earlier, the ground and layout of the hurdles track meant trying to come from the back in a steadily run race, especially round the outside, was a near impossible task.

His form lines with the likes of Midnight Shadow look strong and he is a typical horse that Dan Skelton will continue to improve having only had him this season.

Currently right on the cut off in recent years of 135, he has now qualified (after capsizing in an earlier attempt at Cheltenham when still travelling well) and to my mind should be every bit as short as his conqueror on Saturday, Keeper Hill, yet is significantly bigger and well worth a bet.

As well as NotwhatIam, here are a few others who may be worth a second look :

Well clear of the rest when second at Chepstow and looks sure to go well off the same mark. Lightly raced in recent seasons, this looks a perfect opportunity for him to reward connections patience. He will take plenty of beating.

Debece should be able to dictate matters here and hopefully stack them up before kicking on in the home straight. Tim Vaughan has his horses in great form and his chief market rival, Jammin Masters, took a while to get rolling last time and could get caught flat footed off a steady pace.

Looks another who could get a soft time on the front end and can follow up her win at Hexham last time out. She has proved very consistent on her runs to date and is making up into a nice prospect.

Has been largely disappointing but seems to be finding a level at which he can be competitive after placings at Kempton and Chelmsford on his last two runs. On the first of those over 7f he looked as if the mile would suit but when stepped up to it last time, he met trouble at a crucial stage.