Monday Racing Tips: Rogue Soldier to win the battle at Chelmsford

There are three meetings in the UK on Monday, as a brand-new racing week gets underway with National Hunt cards from Lingfield and Ayr - plus evening all-weather fare at Chelmsford.

We've picked out a trio of horses to follow across Monday's cards, including a lightly-raced chaser who looked a touch unfortunate when only second at Kelso last month.

13:05 Lingfield - Jeune Belle @ 8/11

Trainer Lucy Wadham should be excited about the prospect of seeing Jeune Belle tackles jumps for the first time in the Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 519 Mares' Novices' Hurdle over two miles at Lingfield.

The mare by Champs Elysees was a beaten favourite in a bumper at Wetherby on her debut in January and then ran a sound race when beaten seven-lengths in a Listed contest at Sandown in March.

After a 233-day absence she made good on the promise of those runs by scoring at Huntingdon (2m, good to soft) in October's comeback run, while she then belied odds of 33/1 in a soft-ground Listed bumper at Cheltenham's November Meeting when chasing home the Willie Mullins-trained Baby Kate.

On the evidence of that run, Bryony Frost's partner has a bright future ahead and she's expected to make her mark at the first time of asking over timber for a trainer that has been amongst the winners recently.

13:20 Ayr - Ned Tanner @ 15/8

Second at Kelso last month, Ned Tanner is fancied to go one spot better back up in trip for trainer Neil Alexander at Ayr.

The Milan gelding won last season on his second start off a lay-off - his second start over fences - and he might have repeated that pattern at the scene of that win four weeks ago but for suffering interference at the second last jump from a falling rival.

His two wins at the Borders venue last season came over 2m7½f and in that run last month, over 2m5½f, he just didn't have the time to recover from that interference, though he rallied to get back up for second.

He's gone up 1lb for that effort, but remains just 3lb clear of his previous win-mark and a return to this sort of staying trip looks promising. He's still low-miles and can regain the winning thread at Ayr.

20:30 Chelmsford - Rogue Soldier @ 6/1

Patience can be rewarded for punters in waiting for the nightcap at Chelmsford as Rogue Soldier looks to hold strong claims for Tom Clover in the concluding Celebrate Christmas At Chelmsford City Racecourse Handicap over a mile-and-a-quarter.

The gelded son of No Nay Never showed some promise earlier in the year on turf/AW at trips from 6f-1m½f, but it was last month's Wolverhampton maiden win upped to 1m1½f that was really pleasing.

Back from a break, he was well supported in the market and travelled well until seemingly getting outpaced three-furlongs from home.

He responded to Billy Loughnane's urgings, but on the final bend appeared to be the meat in the sandwich between the other leading protagonists. Once he got daylight, he settled matters quite quickly and was strong at the finish in a clear-cut success.

He's up 4lb to 76 now and Rob Hornby rides as the unexposed three-year-old bids to take another step forward at this intermediate trip.