ALFRED Hutchinson has found a new lease of life for David O'Meara and can defy top weight in the Sunbets Bet £10 Get £20 Free Handicap at Lingfield.

Whereas most of his rivals have seen better days, Alfred Hutchinson is back up to within 1lb of his career-high mark of 100 despite turning nine in a few days.

He won snugly over seven furlongs last time out, but has proved just as effective over a mile and is only 1lb higher than his last win.

Alfred Hutchinson showed plenty of determination to prevail by a half a length last time and while his confidence is riding high, he should not be discounted.

The switch back to a mile and a half can help William Haggas' Wrangler return to winning ways in the Betway Middle Distance Handicap.

He has been plagued by injury in his career so far, but finally appears to be standing up to the rigours of regular racing.

Having caught the eye when third at Doncaster in October, he has been tried over further in two runs on the all-weather but it has not worked out.

Haggas has opted to drop down in trip here and Wrangler should feel the benefit of that decision to take a hand in the finish.

Red Gunner should also strike gold for Haggas despite running an inexplicably poor race last time out.

That effort was too bad to be true, but he reappears fairly quickly in the 32Red.com Nursery which suggests nothing was amiss and it could just be one of those displays that cannot be explained.

He had previously looked a nice type on his debut at Doncaster and when winning at Wolverhampton and it is perhaps telling that Haggas has gone for cheekpieces this time.

Dan Skelton's patience with Robin Roe can be rewarded with a victory in the Grade One Betfred "Goals Galore" Challow Novices' Hurdle at Chepstow.

After an extremely impressive victory at Aintree some 69 days ago, Skelton must have been chomping at the bit to run the top-class prospect again but he has resisted the urge.

He nominated this target in the immediate aftermath of his Merseyside stroll and he will finally get the chance to be proved right.

Bought after wining a point-to-point, Robin Roe cruised to success in a bumper at Warwick in March but was always going to come into his own over obstacles.

Running in a decent-looking novice hurdle at Aintree, he was simply in a different league to the others, running out a 12-length winner.

Runner-up No Comment has since come out and franked the form in no uncertain style by winning his next two outings, so the value of Robin Roe's form is there for all to see.

Skelton can double up for the same connections in the Betfred TV Novices' Limited Handicap Chase with Knockgraffon.

A beaten favourite on his chasing debut at Carlisle, he appreciated a strong gallop back at two miles last time out at Newbury.

The assessor took no chances by hitting him with a 12lb rise, but he might be better than a handicapper in time.

SELECTIONS

LINGFIELD: 12.25 Footlight, 12.55 Beatisa, 1.30 Red Gunner, 2.05 Alfred Hutchinson, 2.40 Wrangler, 3.15 Compton Prince, 3.45 Roy's Legacy.

NEWBURY: 12.10 Enola Gay, 12.40 Connetable, 1.15 Potters Cross, 1.50 ROBIN ROE (NAP), 2.25 Knockgraffon, 3.00 Court Minstrel, 3.35 William Henry.

UTTOXETER: 12.05 Kelsey, 12.35 Crank Em Up, 1.05 Kayf Charmer, 1.40 Bennys King, 2.15 Solstice Star, 2.50 Special Wells, 3.25 The Mistress.

WARWICK: 12.00 Minella Gathering, 12.30 Copper Kay, 1.00 Buveur D'Air, 1.35 Vice Et Vertu, 2.10 Handsome Sam, 2.45 Bredon Hill Lad, 3.20 Benechenko.

DOUBLE: Robin Roe and Alfred Hutchinson.