16:10 Lingfield
Friday 5 May 2017
All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4517:20
Congratualtions On Your Engagement Eileen & JP Handicap
- 4YO plus  |  Class 5  |  1m 1y  |  Standard  |  7 Runners  |  Polytrack  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 16:10Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 1m 37.33s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Runner-up in maidens both here (7f) and Chelmsford (1m) in the summer, but lost form and gelded since. First run back over C&D saw him go close from today's mark, so if you can forgive his poor effort on turf last time he looks to have claims back on this surface.
Showed promise in a couple of maidens on turf in 2015 but then off the track until beaten 9L in a 1m maiden at Redcar last month. Switched to a handicap for the first time and also first AW run, but is related to plenty of AW success, including by his dam at this venue. Market check advised.
Yet to add to his Windsor debut success in 12 further attempts, but ran well over this trip at Salisbury in July from 3lb higher. Drops in grade here and has claimer up to lighten the load, so may be able to make an impact if handling surface on AW debut.
Another who did well in the early part of his career, winning back-to-back races in Ireland, but has been unable to go on from that in a further 14 starts. Now 29lb lower than his best Irish mark. Drop in trip here is interesting with headgear applied and a market check looks prudent.
Enjoyed a spell of three wins from four starts last spring/summer, all of turf over 7f-1m. 10lb higher than the best of them and returning from an absence, his CV suggests that we would probably be well served to take a watching brief back on AW.
Best he has done here was when runner-up over 1m2f last year beaten a neck from a mark of 72, though all six wins have come elsewhere. Trip of no concern, though his handicap mark is and he looks like finding one or two too good.
All four wins have been over 7f, including one here from 7lb lower in December. Has looked in the grip of the assessor over that trip, but only had one try over 1m and worth another go, even though pedigree suggests that it could be too far.
Non-Runners
6
(8)
Spiritual Star13
Weight: 9-5|Â Â Age: 8
T: L Carter  J: Joshua Bryan
NR
9
(6)
Sir Compton28
Weight: 8-7|Â Â Age: 4
T: W S Kittow  J: L Morris
NR
Forecasts
Handytalk (11/4), Thundering Blue (7/2), Fire Diamond (7/2), Spiritual Star (4/1), Berrahri (5/1), Bumptious (11/2), Archangel Raphael (12/1), Sir Compton (14/1), Frank Bridge (33/1)
There are stamina doubts over a few of these, but not so Spiritual Star, who should remain competitive now back in a handicap. Even so, he is vulnerable. Archangel Raphael is interesting and a market check is advised for he, Handytalk and Bumptious on a surface that should suit. They could all be in the mix here, though preference is for THUNDERING BLUE, who goes well enough here and if you can forgive him a flop on turf last time, he looks to have decent claims.
- Thundering Blue
- Bumptious
- Spiritual Star
Prize Money
1st: £2,911.002nd: £866.003rd: £433.004th: £216.00
MOST READ RACING
Follow & Track
Your favourite horses, jockeys and trainers with My StableLog in
Discover Sporting Life Plus benefits
