15:05 Lingfield

Tuesday 26 September 2017

All14:0014:3515:0515:4016:1516:4517:1517:45

Southern Testing 50th Anniversary Handicap

Off time: 15:07 | Winning time: 3m 27.93s

(1)

Archangel Raphael^v²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: P J Dobbs| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 65

20/1

Slipping down the weights and eased in grade as a result, but his recent form has offered little encouragement and he's not tasted success since July 2015 (for Aidan O'Brien).

Form: 397566

(2)

Fearless Lad³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: S De Sousa| T: J R Best| OR: 64| C

7/1

Lingfield regular who is a winner at this track on both turf and Polytrack. Lacks experience over this kind of trip, but won on his first try over 1m6f on turf here in September 2016, and should be sharper for last month's comeback effort.

Form: 64421-5

(7)

Night Generation^p⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: A Kirby| T: C Gordon| OR: 64| BF| CD

10/1

Not raced since June, but both career AW successes have come over this C&D, including in this contest in 2015 (for Sir Mark Prescott). Handicapped to run well; just 3lb higher than when beating Ascendant by 1½L here in May.

Form: 532123

(8)

Macksville^b⁵^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Joshua Bryan⁽⁵⁾| T: J M P Eustace| OR: 58

3/1

Made headway from the rear when running on late inside the final furlong to score by 1¼L at Chelmsford (1m6f) last week. Turned out quickly under a penalty, and must have every chance of following up now that he's found the winning groove.

Form: 533561

(3)

See And Be Seen^p²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Mitch Godwin⁽⁵⁾| T: S Kirk| OR: 58| CD

14/1

A nine time career winner who goes well over this C&D. Not at his best since finishing second of 14 to Golly Miss Molly at Kempton in June (2m), but has fallen in the weights and races from a competitive mark.

Form: 284479

(12)

Meetings Man^p²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: A Stronge| OR: 57| CD

20/1

Grand old campaigner for a number of trainers, and thrived initially after joining this trainer from Micky Hammond. Has proved himself over C&D in the past, and is another to be falling in the weights to a fair mark.

Form: 6365-75

(4)

Bumble Bay^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: L P Keniry| T: R Stephens| OR: 55| D

33/1

Uttoxeter bumper (May 2014) and Newton Abbot handicap hurdle (June 2016) winner, but yet to show much in three starts on the Flat in quick succession last month. Upped in trip for handicap debut and that needs to prove helpful.

Form: 627

(6)

St Andrews^p²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: S Donohoe| T: Ian Williams| OR: 51

20/1

16 race career maiden (0 from 5 on the AW) and yet to be fully tested stamina wise over this type of trip on the Flat. His recent Chepstow effort (1m4f) offered little encouragement, so readily opposed.

Form: 024258

(13)

Magnus Romeo^t⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: J P Fahy| T: J Farrelly| OR: 48

66/1

18 race career maiden; spread equally between the Flat and over hurdles. Back to the Flat for the first time since May, and no reason whatsoever to expect him to be on the premises.

Form: 00/986-9

(10)

Alternate Route^p⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 56

13/8

Lightly raced after just six career starts, and predictably has shown improvement since sent handicapping and upped in trip. Beaten 2½L by the Alan King trained Kozier at Chepstow last week (2m good to soft) and looks a major player in this contest.

Form: 087032

(11)

Tojosimbre^p,t⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Nicola Currie⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hughes| OR: 49

16/1

Successful from a 3lb lower mark in a seller at Brighton last month (1m4f good to firm) and has run respectably without building upon that since. Switches back to the AW for the first time since March, but lacks experience over 2m.

Form: 791763

(9)

Astroshadow²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-1| J: Joey Haynes| T: M H Tompkins| OR: 48

50/1

Lightly raced after just five starts thus far. Her shock Beverley second to Piedita (2m good to soft) on handicap debut is very much an outlier in her form figures, but it's feasible that she didn't enjoy the Fibresand at Southwell latest.

Form: 88020

(5)

Crystal Secret^b³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: K T O'Neill| T: J J Bridger| OR: 46

100/1

20 race maiden who has shown precious little since a fair run at Salisbury in July (1m2f), and has stamina to prove over this longer trip.

Form: 365866

Forecasts

Alternate Route (13/8), Macksville (3/1), Fearless Lad (7/1), Night Generation (10/1), See And Be Seen (14/1), Tojosimbre (16/1), St Andrews (20/1), Archangel Raphael (20/1), Meetings Man (20/1), Bumble Bay (33/1), Astroshadow (50/1), Magnus Romeo (66/1), Crystal Secret (100/1)

Macksville has found the winning groove, and commands respect turned out under a penalty following last week's 1m6f Chelmsford success, whilst Night Generation can prove competitive over a C&D which clearly suits if returning from a short break ready to do himself justice. However, it is ALTERNATE ROUTE who shines like a beacon as the likeliest winner. Whilst clearly no great shakes, he's predictably done far better since upped in trip and sent handicapping by Sir Mark Prescott, and there was no disgrace in going down by 2½L to Kozier at Chepstow last week. This improving three-year-old looks a confident pick to make it seventh time lucky this afternoon.