Lingfield Tips: Rivellino

The 3.10 Lingfield is a fascinating contest and the two four-year-olds at the head of the market hold the key to the puzzle.

Perfect Pasture is looking for a double hat-trick but for the first time in recent months he looks vulnerable. His last three victories have come over the minimum trip, albeit impressively, especially when forced very wide at Kempton, but it remains to be seen whether he’s as good over 6f.

Rivellino was an impressive 3.25 length winner on his last start and he has the edge because it came at 6f.

Karl Burke has always rated the horse highly, touting him as a potential Group horse as a juvenile. It’s taken him time to mature but his last two runs have been excellent.

He wasn’t beaten far over course and distance in November, having to contend with a poor draw and then won in good style at Wolverhampton, registering a fair time for the grade despite the slack early pace. He’s a horse with plenty of scope and crucially is proven at the distance.