Tag: Lingfield

Lingfield Saturday Preview

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Earlier in the week we previewed the Winter Derby at Lingfield and put our faith in our old friend Grandeur. Typically, he was promptly drawn 14 of 14, the worst possible stall.

Jeremy Noseda’s admirable grey suffered a similar fate at the Arlington Million last year and was always struggling to get into the race. Ryan Moore has the task of navigating his way through the field. That, combined with his first-time cheek pieces, certainly leaves him vulnerable but he is clearly the best horse in the race on form.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see bookies pushing him out to 2-1, in which case he would represent some value. Statistics suggest that a double-figure draw isn’t the end of the world over this distance at Lingfield with three previous winners of the race overcoming a wide berth. I would hope Moore will settle him in midfield rather than drop in behind because it can get messy on the home turn at Lingfield.

The other race on the card that looks worth a look is the Spring Cup. I’m very surprised to see William Haggas running his smart three-year-old Ertijaal here. The colt ran twice as a juvenile, running into none other than Toormore on his debut. That colt ended the season as top-rated two-year-old so it was a fine run to get within a quarter of a length of him. The pair of them drew seven lengths clear at Leicester over six furlongs.

He then broke his maiden over the same distance at Yarmouth, cruising clear of Exceeder to win by six lengths with Paul Hanagan easing him down inside the final furlong. There was nothing special about the form but he could do no more than win easily. I’m not sure why he did not race again after that but the fact that he still holds entries in the English and Irish 2000 Guineas suggests that he is highly regarded.

They say that lightning doesn’t strike in the same place twice but he too has been shunted out into the widest possible stall. With his limited racing experience, it is more likely to be an obstacle for him than to Grandeur. He is also yet to race on a turning track so Paul Hanagan will need to get him organised early on. There are some decent types up against him but it will be disappointing if he doesn’t win this. We’ll try a double and hope that Moore and Hanagan are on top form.

Ertijaal 3.15 Lingfield at 7-4 Coral

Grandeur 3.50 Lingfield at 7-4 Coral

+ win double

Winter Derby Trial Preview

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There is a full programme of racing this weekend for a change with good quality action on the flat and over jumps. Kempton and Newcastle take centre stage but the Winter Derby Trial at Lingfied is also worth a second look.

Jeremy Noseda’s Grandeur leaps out of the page as being in a different class to tomorrow’s rivals. His nine rivals have some decent all-weather form between them but Grandeur has shown himself more than capable in Grade 2 events worldwide and I’ll be disappointed if he is beaten tomorrow.

The son of Verglas was a very decent handicapper as a three-year-old, winning twice at Goodwood and progressing right through the summer. Noseda felt that he would prove ideally suited by racing in America and took him over to the States in the Autumn.

It proved to be an inspired move with victory at Santa Anita in the Grade 2 Twilight Stakes at the first time of asking. He went on from there to finish second in the Hollywood Derby behind Unbridled Comment and rounded off a very profitable stay in America by winning the Grade 2 Hollywood Cup.

Noseda was in no particular rush with him last summer but he showed that he was as good as ever when finishing strongly in second place behind Mukhadram in the Group 2 York Stakes in July. The winner had just come from a fine run in the Eclipse so that was top notch form. The Arlington Million was his next target but he could never get competitive from his wide draw and ran on into seventh place.

He then won easily at Goodwood in Listed company before being sent over to contest the Hong Kong Cup in December. Ryan Moore did not enjoy the best of runs that day but he was not beaten that far behind Akeed Mofeed.

I can’t see any form of that quality in the opposition on Saturday. Robin Hoods Bay was tried at this level after winning a Haydock handicap but struggled. He beat Captain Cat by a head when returning to handicap company while Modernstone has done well for William Knight. I thought she was unlucky to beaten by Castilo Del Diablo in a handicap before reversing the form in a conditions race last time.

Chookie Royale is tough and consistent but the Wolverhampton race he won by seven lengths was a long way short of anything Grandeur has contested. Hajras did finish second to Mull Of Killough at Newmarket two seasons ago but has obviously had problems since.

Grandeur at 9-4 Coral

Lingfield Saturday Preview

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The weather is threatening to wash away the jump racing action in Britain this weekend with early morning inspections at all three courses. Given that the going is already described as heavy and the forecast is for heavy overnight rain, I fear the worst and think it would be a waste of time studying the form.

Fortunately the all-weather racing goes on regardless and I’ve managed to pick out a couple for a quick Saturday double. I expect Channel 4 will divert their cameras to leafy Lingfield if Sandown is abandoned so we may get some entertainment after all.

The ever-smiling George Margarson saddles Rebellious Guest tomorrow in an effort to follow up last week’s comfortable victory. I wouldn’t blame you if you are struggling to distinguish between one “guest” and another in the Margarson stable but this one was a useful two-year-old. He won two of his first three races but never really went on from there and has been toiling in handicaps on the turf.

He gained his first win for a couple of years last week when coming through sweetly under Jamie Spencer to win going away. That was over course and distance so we need have no fears about ground, trip etc. Tom Queally is on board tomorrow with Spencer riding market rival Apostle for David Simcock.

Apostle just about last home over seven furlongs last time and has gone up 4lbs for his win. A bigger concern is the fact that all of his wins have been over six and seven furlongs. With Rebellious Guest running off bottom weight, it would be disappointing if he cannot get past Apostle in the final furlong here. Margarson’s gelding is racing off just 86 and used to be rated 99 on the turf. Clearly there is room for him to improve from this rating.

Mark Johnston’s Blue Wave goes for a quick hat-trick in the coral.co.uk Handicap at 3.30. He is up 10lbs for his latest win at Southwell but he looked like he could go around again that day. He originally ran in the blue of Godolphin but eventually found his way to Johnston’s yard and ran some decent races on turf. Probably his best effort was when just caught by Van Percy at Haydock. Cathy Gannon managed to extricate her mount just in time to collar Blue Wave on the post.

He’s a son of Raven’s Pass and could still be improving enough to take this. He shapes like an out-and-out stayer so this mile and a half is barely enough to get him warmed up.

Lingfield 2.55 Rebellious Guest 7-2 Bet365

Lingfield 3.30 Blue Wave 11-4 888Sport, Unibet

Doncaster Wednesday Preview

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Lingfield’s all-weather surface provided the best of the entertainment at the weekend after Sandown and Wincanton were lost to the weather. We kicked off with an 11-4 winner but then suffered a bout of seconditis with our remaining three selections all finding one too good.

The weather situation has eased slightly and we should be in for some decent national hunt racing at Warwick and Kempton this coming Saturday. The Warwick Chase sometimes throws up a decent Grand National prospect whilst Kempton’s Lanzarote Hurdle looks wide open. I have not seen any confirmed running plans so I’m going to wait until nearer the day before risking any cash.

Doncaster’s Wednesday card is not the greatest in the world but at least it helps to get the show back on the road. Trainer Nicky Henderson had an up-and-down Christmas with the victory of Bobs Worth and the worry of Sprinter Sacre’s heart problems. He has a runner in each of the opening three races at Town Moor tomorrow and all have chances.

Nordic Quest runs in the opener after an encouraging debut at Huntingdon when third to Wadswick Court. Namibian, a Group 3 winner on the flat when trained by Mark Johnston, was a disappointing eighth in that race after being eased to a walk. Nordic Quest was rated some 30lbs inferior to Namibian on the level but a few flights of hurdles can make a surprising amount of difference.

Nesterenko carries the Henderson hopes in the second race and bids to follow up an impressive 9-length victory here last month. Mr Mitchell takes off 7lbs and this looks a competitive race but he’s worth a chance at the odds on offer.

Act Alone is the third of the Lambourn raiding party as he bids to get off the mark in the novice hurdle. He was beaten at odds-on by Lemon Ground in a photo finish at Fontwell but a repeat of that effort might be good enough.

Over at Lingfield, it is worth taking note of Miguel Grau in the handicap at 2.00. He is Roger Varian’s only runner on the card and won despite running a little too freely last time out. The four-year-old is still lightly raced and could be up to defying a penalty.

Nordic Quest 12.10 Doncaster

Nesterenko 12.40 Doncaster 5-2 William Hill

Act Alone 1.10 Doncaster

Miguel Grau 2.00 Lingfield 9-4 Coral

Lingfield Saturday Preview

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The winter storms have been battering Britain over the New Year and Sandown’s Saturday card has been abandoned. Wincanton may suffer a similar fate and is subject to a 7am inspection leaving jumps action at Newcastle and all-weather turf racing from Lingfield.

I tend to lose track of the all-weather racing once the National Hunt season gets in to full swing but the quality of racing has definitely improved in recent seasons. Newmarket Trainer John Gosden is happy to support the all-weather through the winter months and has an impressive strike rate in recent weeks.

Gosden also shows a healthy profit to level stakes on the all-weather at the Sussex track and sends two maidens there tomorrow. Joyful Friend finished in midfield behind her stable companion Betimes here a couple of weeks ago and can improve on that effort. She is a daughter of Dubawi and was clearly unfancied on her debut, going off at 20-1 with the winner returned at 3-1.

Anglo Irish is a three-year-old colt by Dansili who showed plenty of promise on his debut at Kempton. He was staying on strongly in third after being briefly outpaced with two furlongs to run in the race won by Billy Blue. He shaped as though the extra quarter of a mile here will bring about significant improvement and his chance is obvious.

Rivellino was slightly disappointing on the turf last summer. He ran some encouraging races, notably when unlucky at Doncaster and York in highly competitive three-year-old sprints. His best run probably came at Town Moor where he was twice hampered before finishing a close fourth behind Moviesta. That horse went to win in Group company and could be competing for top sprinting honours again next turf season so it was a fair effort to get within a couple of lengths or so.

The son of Invincible Spirit got back on the winning trail under the lights at Wolverhampton recently, breaking well and taking up the running over a furlong out to win comfortably. He is up 7lbs for that victory but the opposition here does not look exceptional and he can go in again for Karl Burke’s stable.

The most valuable race on the card is the Coral.co.uk Handicap over a mile and a half and it may be worth siding with Modernstone despite being closely weighted with Grendisar. Modernstone got the verdict last time here after both horses came from behind but he still has room for improvement. A 13 stall is not ideal but he will be dropped in behind so it should not make that much difference.

Joyful Friend 12.20

Anglo Irish 12.50

Modernstone 2.35 @6-1 BetVictor, Paddy Power

Rivellino 3.10 @4-1 Paddy Power

Racing Preview Wednesday 20th November

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There is a fascinating clash between two very promising novice hurdlers on an otherwise moderate card at Warwick on Wednesday. Garde La Victoire and Gone Too Far are both on a hat-trick and have been impressive in their most recent outings.

Garde La Victoire was in front from the fifth flight at Aintree and held off subsequent Plumpton scorer Regal Encore by two and a quarter lengths. The runner-up was given a lot to do that day but Garde La Victoire kept pulling out extra on the run-in and is highly regarded by the Hobbs stable. He can keep the JP McManus colours at bay again here.

The all-weather flat racing continues in the background and I’m putting up Elysian Prince as tomorrow’s nap selection. Paul Cole’s juvenile was having only his second start when bolting up over course and distance in September.

That marked a considerable improvement on his debut when only ninth of twelve at Goodwood and he looks capable of defying top weight in the six-runner nursery at 1.00. I looked at Blessington in the 2.30 but his last run has left just too many question marks for my liking. Having finished second at Ascot on his belated seasonal debut, he flopped badly in heavy ground at Newbury in October. In all likelihood it was simply a case of his not being able to handle the surface but it is difficult to support a horse beaten 78 lengths on his most recent outing!

Graphic has done us proud with two victories and a place in the Cambridgeshire and I see no reason to desert this improving sort at Kempton tomorrow. He’s a course and distance winner and looked better than ever when sluicing through the mud to beat Breton Rock at Nottingham last time out.

His last victory came off a rating of 102 but the handicapper has now raised him to 110. That just about makes him the best horse in the field for this listed race ahead of Tullius (109), Sirius Prospect (105) and Bertiewhittle (102). Jamie Spencer takes the ride on Graphic tomorrow and he can be yet another for the prolific William Haggas.

Elysian Prince 1.00 Lingfield 6-4 Bet365

Garde La Victoire 2.50 Warwick

Graphic 6.30 Kempton 5-2 Bet365