Tag: Lingfield

Lingfield Friday Preview

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The winter weather is slowly releasing its icy grip on racing in the UK but the pick of the action on Friday looks to be on the all-weather at Lingfield. The highlight is the £28,000 Ladbrokes Handicap and the class horse in the field is Richard Hannon’s Magic City.

The six-year-old is a real seven-furlong specialist who is particularly effective at Goodwood. He picked up three handicaps in quick succession in the summer of 2013 and his handicap mark shot up from 85 to 102 in the process.

He caught the eye on several occasions last season, particularly when flashing home in third behind Red Avenger in the Betfred Mile at his favourite track in August. That showed that he can get a mile on an easy track but seven furlongs is his optimum trip and he looks primed to run a big race on Friday. He picked up a Conditions race at Kempton in November and looks good each-way value at 8-1 with William Hill. His biggest threat may be Brigliadoro who beat subsequent winner History Book last time out over this trip and is only up 3lbs.

The Unibet Offer Handicap Stakes at 2.35 looks a tricky contest with three of the runners having won last time out. Interestingly, all three came from off the pace and I’m siding with Spray Turn to follow up her Wolverhampton victory. Luke Morris looks as if he is trying to take off at times but it is best not to be fooled by all of the arm-waving. Spray Tan is up 4lbs that win but could Morris could have had a bit more up his sleeve than it first appeared.

No doubt there will plenty of punters happy to combine Spray Turn with Burnt Cream in forecast bets and it wouldn’t be the biggest shock if they finish in that order. Burnt Cream is up just 3lbs while Swendab has gone up 6lbs for his Kempton victory over six furlongs.

The best bet of the day may prove to be Coursing for Sir Mark Prescott and Luke Morris in the 3.40 race. We’ve made a few bob out of Don’t Be in recent weeks for the same combination and Coursing looks like a rapidly improving filly. She showed very little in her first four races but blinkers worked the trick last time, storming home at Wolverhampton by three and a half lengths. She carries a 6lbs penalty here and is much preferred to Grosmont who has shown a tendency to hang under pressure.

Spray Tan 2.35 Lingfield @7-2 Bet365

Magic City 3.10 Lingfield @8-1 William Hill

Coursing 3.40 Lingfield @Evens Paddy Power

Godolphin can land across-the-card double

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Both of Wednesday’s National Hunt meetings are subject to early morning inspections but there is plenty of action on the all-weather with 14 races across Lingfield and Kempton.

The action gets under way at 12.50 at Lingfield with the feature race being the 32Red Conditions Stakes at 3.00. This promises to be a real stamina test over just short of two miles and Godolphin’s Anglophile attempts the distance for the first time.

The four-year-old gelding is a son of Dubawi out of a mare by Caerleon and certainly races as though he will stay. He was very progressive last season, winning a ten furlong handicap at Leicester in June before switching to the all-weather.

He got up late to beat Grendisar in December and followed up off a 5lbs higher mark when beating Mymatechris by a short-head over a mile and a half. He was expected to win here last weekend but could not quite peg back Noble Gift in a falsely-run race.

There were only three runners and the front two quickened up from the turn. He should get a more even pace here and may still have more improvement to come. The danger is Castilo Del Diablo who was only a length behind Anglophile here last month and is now 4lbs better off. You can forget his last run where he was badly hampered a quarter of a mile from home.

Franco’s Secret could defy top weight in the 3.35 after just failing to get up at Kempton last time out. He didn’t show anything until his third career start behind Nigel’s Destiny in October where he ran on late. He then produced a late surge to beat Rightway by a neck and was given a handicap mark of 72. He found seven furlongs a bit too sharp when third to Jungle Bay but improved when stepped up to a mile here on New Year’s Eve.

He overcame trouble in running to dead-heat with Bosstime. He looked unlucky not to follow up at Kempton last weekend when finishing fast behind Gracious George and should go well off the same mark here.

Godolphin can land an across-the-card double with Blue Aegean in the 32Redsport.com Handicap at 6.30. The filly was an easy three-length winner at Chelmsford City earlier this month and runs here under a 6lbs penalty.

She was thought good enough to contest the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer but lost her way after that. She wore a hood for the first time at Chelmsford and could be starting to fulfil her potential. The danger may be Harry Hurricane who beat subsequent winner Emirates Skycargo at Wolverhampton last time. He is dropping back a furlong but also ran at Ascot last summer and is also on the upgrade.

Franco’s Secret 3.35 Lingfield @9-4 William Hill

Anglophile 3.00 Lingfield @2-1 Bet365

Blue Aegean 6.30 Kempton @15-8 Betfair

Horse Racing Preview 17th January

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The attention of the horse racing world will be firmly on Sprinter Sacre as he is expected to make his long-awaited return to action in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

Trainer Nicky Henderson is understandably nervous about the prospect, just over a year after the horse was pulled up with a fibrillating heart at Kempton. He has been given the best possible veterinary care since and would not be risked unless everyone was happy with his condition. Even so, it will still be remarkable if he is able to bounce back with a win.

Not since my 33-1 bet on Yahoo was denied by Desert Orchid have I been happy to see my horse finish second but I am going to oppose Sprinter Sacre on Saturday. I felt that Dodging Bullets put up a first class display to win the Tingle Creek and is over-priced at 3-1. He is probably not in the same league as the favourite but there must be a big doubt about Sprinter Sacre’s fitness.

Whatever happens with his stable star, Henderson should be in the winner’s enclosure at the start and the finish of the card. I was impressed with Top Notch on his debut and he looks to have an easy task in the first. He will undoubtedly be shortened for the Triumph Hurdle if he does win so I’m going to have a small each-way ante-post investment.

Likewise, Out Sam should underline his festival claims in the last. He only won a four-horse race at Newbury last time but all of his three rivals that day have come out and won since. They include last weekend’s embarrassingly easy Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle winner Tea For Two. It will be a major shock if Out Sam is beaten on Saturday and the Neptune looks likely to be his festival target.

Haydock has to survive an 8am inspection with frost and snow threatening the meeting. The New One is expected to take another step towards the Champion Hurdle in a weak trial so the main betting interest is in the Peter Marsh Chase. Broadway Buffalo easily beat Toby Lerone here in the Tommy Whittle but I was disappointed with him at Wetherby last time. The ground cannot get too heavy for Toby Lerone so he is the each-way selection.

They are racing on the all-weather at Lingfield and Godolphin can land a quick double with Emirates Skycargo and History Book. The latter is trying her hand at sprinting after being edged out over a mile and seven furlongs. She has bags of early speed and is worth a chance at around 9-2. Andrew Balding’s Melvin The Grate can land the featured Ladbrokes Handicap at 2.35 after coming from last to first on his most recent start.

Top Notch 12.40 Ascot @4-7 Bet365

Emirates Skycargo 1.25 Lingfield @4-5 Betfair

History Book 2.0 Lingfield @9-2 Coral

Melvin The Grate 2.35 Lingfield @7-4 Coral

Dodging Bullets 3.00 Ascot @3-1 Coral

Toby Lerone 3.15 Haydock @10-1 Skybet

Out Sam 3.35 Ascot @4-6 Bet365

*Ante-post

*Top Notch – Triumph Hurdle @20-1 William Hill

*Out Sam – Neptune Hurdle @16-1 William Hill

Hawkesbury the star attraction at Kempton

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There is plenty of racing in the UK for punters on Wednesday with jump meetings at Newbury and Newcastle and all-weather action at Lingfield and Kempton.

Both Newbury and Newcastle must pass early morning inspections but are expected to go ahead. That does at least tell us to expect very testing conditions which may be partly responsible for a disappointing turnout for Newbury’s 1.45 race.

I have been a fan of Far West over the past couple of seasons following his exciting juvenile campaign which ended in defeat in the Triumph Hurdle. He laboured under a stiff handicap mark last season as a result and is gradually getting the hang of things over fences. He looked to be in trouble here at the last meeting, losing ground at most of the fences before rallying on the flat. In the end, his flat speed proved too much for Seventh Sky.

Tomorrow he faces a really progressive chaser in Top Gamble, trained by Richard Lee. Strangely for a horse that fell in his last two races over hurdles, the gelding jumps like a stag and has been very impressive at Wetherby and Warwick. If Jamie Moore is positive on him from the start, I can see Far West struggling to keep in touch. Nicky Henderson should chalk up another couple of winners in the novice events but the odds are likely to be prohibitive.

John Gosden sends a couple to Lingfield and should be on the mark with Nancy Astor at 2.25. She ran a couple of nice races here, notably when chasing home stable companion Falling Petals last month. She is entered in a couple of Tattersalls sales races at Newmarket in April so will need to win a race like this if she is to follow that route.

You don’t get too many horses rated in the 100’s on the all-weather at this time of year but Godolphin send Hawkesbury to Kempton for a Conditions race at 6.40. The grey son of Shamardal looked pretty smart when winning by seven lengths at Doncaster in June but was beaten on both of his last two starts.

He hung badly at Newbury behind Belardo and pulled hard before weakening at Newmarket. He is clearly very talented but his ungainly style of racing is a concern. Even so, he should outclass his three opponents before connections map out a plan for the season.

My only other bet on the Kempton card is Thomas Blossom in the 5.40. He laughed at his rivals last time out and it is no surprise that Patrick Charmings has decided to run him quickly under a 6lbs penalty. David Probert should be able to settle him in this big field and come with a late run.

Top Gamble 1.45 Newbury @7-4 Paddy Power

Nancy Astor 2.25 Lingfield

Thomas Blossom 5.40 Kempton @11-10 Paddy Power

Hawkesbury 6.40 @4-5 Betfair

Horse Racing Preview January 10th

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A nice double on the all-weather at Lingfield on Friday (Don’t Be and Sabre Rock, both tipped at 9-4) paid over 10-1 to set us up nicely for the weekend.

Channel 4 cameras are at Kempton and Warwick for some good quality National Hunt racing, although winners may be hard to find. Nicky Henderson made fools of ante-post punters by pulling Dawalan out of the Lanzarote Hurdle with Barry Geraghty now switching to Hammersly Lake. I have not seen any explanation in the media but I’ve gone back to the race for a second look and believe Saffron Wells could give us a run for our money.

He has got in here on a light weight after running a cracker at Newbury when trying to concede almost a stone to Polamco. That horse is an improving stayer and the pair were separated by the Paul Nicholls-trained Morito Du Berlais, a good yard stick in staying handicaps this season. Saffron Wells like to get his toe in and will have perfect conditions on Saturday.

I had considered supporting Heath Hunter but I see that Tom Scudamore has elected to ride Dell’ Arca instead. Heath Hunter showed up well for a long way at Haydock last time but the application of first time blinkers suggests that David Pipe thinks he has his own ideas about the game.

Kilcooley has been hammered by the handicapper for his 23-length win at Haydock and I have more regard for Tea For Two, the mount of Lizzie Kelly. The gelding won with plenty in hand at Towcester and does not look harshly treated for his handicap debut.

Shotgun Paddy was our midweek selection for the Warwick Classic Chase as he bids to repeat last year’s victory. He has to carry top weight of 11st 12lb so it is difficult to be confident in such a testing race.

This is a big year for Godolphin after a poor season in 2014. Charlie Appleby already has a number of his string in action on the all-weather and it could be worth noting his runners at Lingfield on Saturday. Magical Effect looks a ready-made winner in the 12.20 after finishing second at Wolverhampton in October.

The son of New Approach can get off the mark here while Turning Times should make it a double in the handicap at 3.10. The daughter of Pivotal is a bit of a rarity in that she is a roan racing in the Godolphin blue. She won her maiden here in August after a couple of decent efforts at Kempton.

Saffron Wells 2.40 Kempton @12-1 Paddy Power

Shotgun Paddy 3.35 Warwick @9-1

Each-way 1/4 odds, 1,2,3

Magical Effect 12.10 Lingfield

Turning Times 3.10 Lingfield @15-8 Paddy Power

Lingfield Friday Preview

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There are decent flat and jumps meetings in the UK on Friday including the reappearance of the smart Josses Hill at Doncaster. Nicky Henderson’s gelding was runner-up to Ptit Zig on his chasing bow at Ascot and meets nothing of that calibre at Town Moor. Anything other than a comfortable victory would be a surprise but he is likely to start a strong odds-on favourite.

Henderson has runners at Doncaster and Huntingdon with winning chances and will be looking to improve his strike rate after a slow start to the season. He should be among the winners but I am looking to the all-weather at Lingfield for my two bets of the day.

It will be interesting to see how Mick Channon’s Sgt Reckless gets on in the mile and a half maiden at 1.10. It isn’t that often that you see an eight-year-old start favourite first time out on the flat but the son of Imperial Dancer was a smart novice hurdler last season. He may find Ralph Beckett’s Belrog the main threat here, a lightly-raced son of New Approach.

My first wager is on Sir Mark Prescott’s Don’t Be who is trying to complete a four-timer in the 2.15 race. Prescott is a master at setting up a sequence with his handicappers and Don’t Be has worked her way up from a mark of 66 to 82. Much of the credit for her improvement must go to jockey Luke Morris who has ridden her to all three victories.

Morris would not win any medals for style but he knows how to get the best out of his mounts. She scored at Wolverhampton in November and followed up at Lingfield in December. She then completed her hat-trick by beating Brigliadoro by a short-head just before Christmas. The runner-up has won since so a 6lbs rise may not necessarily be enough to stop her on Friday. The weights give Zman Awal a good chance of reversing recent form with Bint Dandy and James Fanshawe’s four-year-old looks the main danger.

In the 3.25 I am siding with Shelley Birkett and Sabre Rock to complete a hat-trick for the Newmarket yard of Julia Feilden. Sabre Rock seems to have settled down since being taken down the start early and has won his last two starts over course and distance. After beating Turnbury by half a length he followed up in some style to beat Catching Zeds by two and three-quarter lengths. He could be called the winner a long way out that day and connections are keen to strike again before he is re-assessed.

The danger looks to be Top Set who is still a maiden after 13 attempts. He ran on from a long way back to finish second to Moulin Rouge last time under Hayley Turner. Seb Sanders has ridden the gelding before and takes over on Friday. I am just put off by the fact that he is yet to win and it is difficult to deliver a horse fast and late here in a big field.

Don’t Be 2.15 @9-4 Bet365

Sabre Rock 3.25 @9-4 Paddy Power