16:45 Lingfield

Tuesday 26 September 2017

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

Happy 80th Birthday Eddie Childs Handicap

Off time: 16:46 | Winning time: 1m 39.11s

(6)

Groor¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: David Probert| T: M Moubarak| OR: 75| D

10/1

Not easy to win with (2 from 29), but the bulk of his AW starts have come on dirt at Meydan. Has fallen to a mark which he should be able to compete from and is excused his latest misdemeanour (stumbled leaving stalls).

Form: 05695U

(3)

Bluff Crag^p1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: S J Cummins⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hughes| OR: 73| D

12/1

The drop back to this trip was the catalyst for last month's shock Kempton success, and he's just 4lb higher here with the first time cheek-pieces applied, so he has to come into the reckoning.

Form: 420015

(1)

Lacan⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: S De Sousa| T: B R Johnson| OR: 73| D

12/1

Won a 1m+ claimer for Ralph Beckett at Wolverhampton in March, but nowhere near that level of form since switched to this trainer. Falling sharply in the weights and this is his optimum trip, but others much preferred.

Form: 990969

(11)

First Experience^v¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Charlie Bennett⁽³⁾| T: L Carter| OR: 73| CD

66/1

Proved herself a reasonable AW performer for Rae Guest in her early career, and was a C&D winner of a fillies handicap for this trainer in May 2016, but her form has tailed off since a fair start to 2017. More needed.

Form: 644357

(12)

Spiritual Star⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Paddy Bradley⁽⁵⁾| T: L Carter| OR: 72| CD

25/1

Stablemate of First Experience, who like that mare is a C&D winner. Often breaks slowly and runs on late in the day, and has questions to answer after a couple of recent moderate efforts.

Form: 1222P0

(2)

Skidby Mill²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: P Cosgrave| T: Mrs L J Mongan| OR: 72| CD

50/1

Most effective over 1m, and loves this track, with her most recent C&D victory coming from a 1lb lower mark in January (beat Remember Me). Back from a near five month break recently and entitled to have needed that run at Kempton.

Form: 442400

(4)

Manangatang¹¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Spencer| T: L M Cumani| OR: 75| CD

5/2

C&D maiden winner in November who had the misfortune to meet Stradivarius on his next start at Beverley in April (third). That said, fairly dismal since and back on track for the first time since June having been gelded.

Form: 1-390

(10)

Choral Clan²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: B G Powell| OR: 70| CD

33/1

Yet to taste success on grass, but much better suited to synthetics being a five time winner from 25 starts (Kempton, Lingfield and Chelmsford). On his last winning mark and never nearer over a shorter trip at Chelmsford (7f) latest.

Form: 168777

(8)

Braztime²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 74| D

33/1

Broke her duck at the fifth attempt when winning over an extended mile at Nottingham in May (good), but the handicapper has cut her little slack since then and she's still 2lb above her last winning mark.

Form: 184677

(5)

Unified⁷⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 74| D

7/1

Yet to race on synthetics (runner up on turf over 7f here in June), but took advantage of a good opportunity to break her duck in a small field contest at Bath latest (just held on). Handicap debut.

Form: 2441

(7)

Warrior's Spirit²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 73

17/2

Neck winner of a 7f Newbury maiden in September 2016, beating the now 118 rated Gordon Stakes winner Crystal Ocean, but no show at all this year until marginal improvement on AW debut at Kempton latest (sixth of 11 to Tamayef).

Form: 1-74676

(9)

Easy Code¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: W J Haggas| OR: 69| BF

9/4

Successful from a 5lb lower mark at Wolverhampton in July (7f), and consistent since, beaten 1½L into third place behind Daring Guest at Kempton recently (7f standard). Appears to stay 1m and should be thereabouts.

Form: 344133

Forecasts

Easy Code (9/4), Manangatang (5/2), Unified (7/1), Warrior's Spirit (17/2), Groor (10/1), Bluff Crag (12/1), Lacan (12/1), Spiritual Star (25/1), Choral Clan (33/1), Braztime (33/1), Skidby Mill (50/1), First Experience (66/1)

No standout contender in a fairly open contest, although the in-form Easy Code appears almost certain to be on the premises after a couple of decent efforts since winning at Wolverhampton in July. Unified is open to improvement on her handicap debut, but her winning form at Bath doesn't appear to be overly strong with an odds-on stablemate of Easy Code (Nadia Promise) proving a disappointment. Manangatang has been gelded, whilst the mare Skidby Mill will almost certainly be tasting more C&D success in the months which lie ahead. However, WARRIOR'S SPIRIT is the rather speculative selection. He's not progressed since making a promising start as a juvenile, but he showed a glimmer on his AW debut at Kempton last month and looks potentially thrown in off a mark of 73 if his trainer can further somehow rekindle his enthusiasm for the game.