Tag: Lingfield

Lingfield Saturday Preview

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The Derby and Oaks trials are coming thick and fast at present and Lingfield is the venue for tomorrow’s classic pointers.

The Derby Trial at 2.55 has attracted just five runners with John Gosden’s Christophermarlowe odds-on favourite. The son of Tapit won the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom by four lengths from Future Empire but that horse was left trailing at Chester this week. He was more workmanlike than scintillating that day and Frankie Dettori is likely to make a long run for home on this long striding colt.

Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore won the Chester Vase with Hans Holbein and are represented here by Kilimanjaro, a colt by High Chaparral out of a Dalakhani mare. He looked very ordinary on his first two starts at Gowran but was an easy winner at Dundalk in April. He was fitted with a hood for the first time there and the grey is currently 50-1 for Epsom. Christophermarlowe is well ahead on official ratings and can provide Dettori with another big race winner.

Whatever the fate of Kilimanjaro, O’Brien and Moore will probably collect in the Oaks Trial at 2.20 with Wedding Vow. She has been beaten by smart fillies in her last two races. She failed by half a length to hold Zannda at Leopardstown and was then second to subsequent 1000 Guineas winner Legatissimo at Gowran Park. She is a beautifully-bred daughter of Galileo and nothing in this field has comparable form.

There are some more classy fillies on show in the Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes at 4.05, a Group 3 race over seven furlongs. Lightning Thunder was runner-up in both the English and Irish Guineas last season for Olly Stevens but was a beaten favourite at Royal Ascot and Haydock. It is hard to explain her poor performances there but a lengthy break may have sweetened her up.

Kiyoshi is very smart on her day and Oisin Murphy rides her for Charles Hills while Al Thakhira is another with top class form in the book. The race will also provide some clues as to where the three-year-olds stand against their elders. New Providence ran a cracking race when just touched off in the Nell Gwyn at Newmarket and has Ryan Moore in the saddle on Saturday.

Wedding Vow 2.20 @5-6 Paddy Power

Christophermarlowe 2.55 @4-7 Bet365

Lightning Thunder 4.05 @7-2 Betfair

Lingfield All-Weather Championships Preview

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Lingfield stages the All-Weather Championship meeting on Friday with seven good quality races highlighted by the Coral Easter Classic.

It may not be Dubai World Cup night but the blue of Godolphin are very much in evidence once again and Tryster is likely to go off odds-on favourite. The four-year-old is on a winning streak of four after cutting down Grendisar to win the Winter Derby last time out.

I had tipped Grendisar each-way that day after a string of fine efforts but was hoping that Martin Harley would be able to hold him up a little longer. The horse only has one short burst of acceleration and practically pulls himself up in front so I knew what to expect when he led at the furlong pole. In fairness to Harley, it was a very slow early pace and he was probably frightened to get blocked off in his run.

Grendisar has now been in the first two in all of his last ten races and is again available at an each-way price. I’d rather take my chances on him that support Tryster at odds-on.

The All-Weather Mile has attracted a very competitive field including Mindurownbusiness and Sovereign Debt. We tipped both of them when successful at the last big meeting here so we are left with a tricky decision. Both Roger Varian and David Nicholls decided to bypass the Lincoln to wait for this and it is Sovereign Debt who is top on official figures. He is best held up so Joe Fanning will have to weave his way through a big field here.

There seems to be plenty of confidence behind Lexington Times in the three-year-old mile championship. He still holds a 2000 Guineas entry but has a tough rival in John Gosden’s Tempus Temporis. Blinkers seem to have been the making of the son of Dynaformer and he has run away with his last two races impressively.

James Tate has his stable in good form and I like the chances of Lamar in the Fillies’ And Mares’ at 1.40. She was just denied by Grendisar last time out and has most to fear from French raider Fresles. She was a close second to Intransigent here over six furlongs in November so will be familiar with the surface.

Lingfield Friday

Lamar 1.40 @7-1 Coral

Tempus Temporis 2.40 @3-1 Ladbrokes

Sovereign Debt 3.15 @7-2 Bet365

Grendisar 3.45 @6-1 Betfair (each-way)

Horse Racing Preview – Saturday 14th March

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It’s been a real test of stamina this week, for punters as well as the horses! Four days and 27 races at Cheltenham will have tested the reserves of many horse racing fans this week, even if the bookmakers insist on telling us otherwise. Of course, had Annie Power stood up on Tuesday things would have been a lot worse for them.

The show rolls on to Uttoxeter for the Midlands Grand National (previewed separately) with supporting cards at Kempton and on the all-weather at Lingfield. There is also the small matter of an estimated £600,000 scoop 6 jackpot.

Tony McCoy could not add to Uxizandre’s victory in the Ryanair Chase but he may not be finished for the week just yet as he has a major chance in Saturday’s feature race on Catching On. It could be a good day for the champ as he rides three with chances for Jonjo O’Neill and two for Rebecca Curtis.

The feature race at Lingfield is the Winter Derby and this sets up an intriguing re-run of the recent Trial. On that occasion Grendisar got the better of Lamar by a short-head with Cloudscape and Grandeur close up. Jockey Martin Harley produced him at the furlong pole and he hit the front before trying to pull himself up.

He is clearly very talented but has to be ridden to put his nose in front as late as possible. He has not been out of the first two in his last nine races so he looks a good each-way bet. I have great respect for both Grandeur and Cloudscape and a thrilling finish is in prospect. Godolphin’s Tryster has been winning on a variety of surfaces and could also come into the equation.

Our old friend Dungannon could gain a first success at Listed level later on the card for Andrew Balding. He was desperately unlucky to be beaten in a photo finish at Southwell last time but acts well around here and many of his rivals are out of form or returning from a break.

Grendisar 3.05 Lingfield @6-1 Paddy Power

Catching On 3.50 Uttoxeter @4-1 Betfair

Dungannon 3.40 Lingfield @9-2 Ladbrokes

The scoop 6 races (all live on C4): 2.20 Kempton, 2.40 Uttoxeter, 3.05 Lingfield, 3.15 Uttoxeter, 3.30 Kempton, 3.50 Uttoxeter

Scoop6 could hit £400,000 on Saturday

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The Tote have forecast a massive £400,000 Scoop6 jackpot this Saturday. With the Cheltenham festival almost upon us, the quality of the racing this weekend is not the greatest and winners may be difficult to find.

This Saturday’s Scoop 6 covers action from Doncaster, Lingfield and Newbury and syndicates are bound to busy burning the midnight oil to find the winning combination. Five of the races are live on Channel 4 and here is our guide to this week’s Scoop6.

Totesport Scoop6

Leg 1: 1:45 Newbury

A tough introduction with a sixteen-runner handicap hurdle over two miles and five furlongs. Very few of these are at the top of their game at present but Bothy has run some fine races around here in his time. Brian Ellison’s nine-year-old has Jamie Moore in the saddle and could go close while Winning Spark should be in the money after a couple of decent runs for Jackie Du Plessis.

Bothy

Winning Spark

Leg 2: 2:15 Newbury

Things do not get any easier in the next with thirteen veteran chasers lining up over three and a quarter miles. Several of these are familiar stayers that have seen better days including West End Rocker, a one-time Grand National fancy for Alan King. Soll looks to have a major chance for David Pipe after winning at Exeter last time while Ballyoliver is likely to plug on up the home straight.

Soll

Ballyoliver

Leg 3: 2:50 Newbury

Yet another Newbury handicap makes up leg three with nine lining up over two miles. First Mohican has been disappointing over hurdles so far but this looks a good opportunity for the formerly useful flat performer. Kiama Bay has been keeping better company and also has claims in a modest contest.

First Mohican

Kiama Bay

Leg 4: 2:55 Lingfield

The action switches to the all-weather at Lingfield and the one-mile Ladbrokes Handicap. Holiday Magic is sure to be popular after finishing a slightly unlucky fifth behind Baddilini in a much stronger heat last weekend. Halation could be sharper for his recent run here and David Simcock’s runners are always noting at this venue.

Holiday Magic

Halation

Leg 5: 3:25 Newbury

Back to Newbury for another very tricky race, the two and half-mile Greatwood Gold Cup. Sound Investment is not out of it despite shouldering top weight while the danger could come from the opposite end of the handicap in Saint Raph.

Sound Investment

Saint Raph

Leg 6: 3:45 Doncaster

If we are still standing by this stage it will be a minor miracle but the final leg is no easier than the previous five. The Grimthorpe Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles has attracted twelve runners. Aachen only won a veterans race last time but this does not look that much better while Theatre Queen won’t mind the ground, providing she agrees to start!

Aachen

Theatre Queen

Lingfield Winter Derby Trial day preview

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It is Winter Derby Trial day at Lingfield on Saturday with a fine supporting card. The action starts at 1.15 with eight races including the valuable Ladbrokes Handicap and the Listed Cleves Stakes.

Ryan Moore is in attendance, mainly to ride Grandeur in the big race but he is also certain to have his supporters on Nigel’s Destiny in the opening race at 1.15. The lightly-raced four-year-old will be having only the seventh race of his career and could be one to follow this season. He is up against some in-form opponents here including Presumido and Until Midnight. They won last time out at Kempton and Chelmsford respectively but I am going to go for Franco’s Secret.

Peter Hedger’s gelding has improved steadily in recent months and showed an electric turn of foot to win here last time. Charles Bishop has ridden him in each of his starts to date and will be planning to arrive fast and late again here.

I am a big fan of Andrew Balding’s Intransigent who went from strength to strength last season. He seems equally effective at six and seven furlongs and starts his new campaign in the Listed race at 1.45. My only concern is that he seems a better horse in the autumn and winter and may not quite be at his peak at present. Foxtrot Romeo was runner-up in the Irish 2000 Guineas in 2012 and recorded his first win since at Wolverhampton in November. Marco Botti may have finally unlocked the key to the son of Danehill Dancer and he just gets the vote.

The Ladbrokes Handicap looks like a minefield for punters with various lines of form. The key to the race could be the form of Shyron’s recent victory when he beat Grey Mirage, Brave Echo, Brigliadoro, Related and Firmdecisions here. Having watched the re-run several times, I see no real reason to think that the placings should be any different here. I would expect Related to finish closer but Shyron can confirm the form.

Godolphin are mopping up the maiden races on the all-weather tracks and Chorus Of Lies could be another winner for them at 2.50. He showed plenty of potential on turf last winter and has only Balding’s Opera Lad to fear, a promising third on his racecourse debut.

In the Winter Derby Trial, I am reluctant to oppose Grandeur who has done us a few good turns in the past. He won this race last season but was beaten by the draw in the Winter Derby. He faces some useful opponents including course specialist Maverick Wave and the promising Cloudscape. The latter could be one to follow this season but I am siding with another Botti runner in Grendisar. He does not always find as much off the bridle as appears likely but he is ultra-consistent and could just take this if Grandeur is a little rusty.

Franco’s Secret 1.15 Lingfield @4-1 Betfair

Foxtrot Romeo 1.45 Lingfield @6-1 Bet365

Shyron 2.15 Lingfield @7-2 William Hill

Chorus Of Lies 2.50 Lingfield @11-4 Bet365

Grendisar 3.25 Lingfield @5-1 Betfair

Lingfield Friday Preview

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The winter weather has returned to the UK this week and Friday’s Chepstow card faces a 7.30am inspection to see if racing can go ahead. There are no problems at the all-weather track at Lingfield So I’ve picked out a couple of horses that could provide us with some stake money for the weekend.

My first selection is Singular Quest in the maiden race at 2.00. The colt is a son of Dalakhani out of a mare by Singspiel so is entitled to be useful. He is trained by Ralph Beckett who certainly knows the time of day at these all-weather meetings and will be ridden by Hayley Turner.

Singular Quest ran green on his debut here over a mile but was noted running on into fifth place behind Awesome Power. He was stepped up to ten furlongs last time and was tucked in on the rail for much of the race. His jockey found himself shuffled back when the leaders quickened approaching the home turn and had to switch to the outside, eventually finishing strongly to take second.

The race was won by Monein who has since gone in again in the blue of Godolphin. The biggest danger may come from Sheikh Mohammed’s outfit again here with Prussian Blue and Sparring in opposition. The latter shaped well at Wolverhampton on his debut while Mark Johnston’s Champagne Ransom could also improve for her debut at the same track.

Following handicap “good things” is often regarded as the quick way to the poor house but it is difficult to argue with the claims of Le Rouquin in the 3.45 race. The gelding was very impressive when beating Courier by six lengths at Kempton last week and turns out again quickly under a 6lbs penalty. Michael Bell will obviously be anticipating a much stiffer penalty once the horse has been reassessed. He had been tried in a visor previously but the headgear was left off last time and he could be named the winner with a quarter of a mile to race.

The big danger is course winner Vejovis, a son of Fastnet Rock trained by Sir Mark Prescott. The cigar-smoking Newmarket handler is a dab hand at running up a sequence with his handicappers and it would be no surprise to see this one improve again. He was less impressive when winning over seven furlongs by two and three-quarter lengths but you never know how much jockey Luke Morris has up his sleeve.

Singular Quest 2.00 Lingfield @6-4 Betfair

Le Rouquin 3.45 Lingfield @2-1 Bet365