14:10 Lingfield

Tuesday 21 November 2017

All12:4013:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:40

Betway Handicap

Off time: 14:11 | Winning time: 2m 4.24s

(2)

Middle Kingdom^t¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 94| BF| D

11/10

Winner of his first two starts including over this trip at Newmarket (good-to-firm) in April. Beaten favourite in a first time tongue tie (retained) over this trip at Chelmsford recently and one for the shortlist once more.

Form: 1-13

(1)

Brex Drago^b1⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: M Botti| OR: 90

33/1

Placed twice from four starts in Dubai earlier this year but disappointing since his return to this country and finished last of eight on his first outing since being gelded last time out. Wears blinkers for the first time.

Form: 630008

(9)

Believe It^p⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: S J Cummins⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hughes| OR: 89| C

50/1

In great form earlier this year wining four times over 7f and 1m at Kempton. Well beaten the last twice however and tackles this trip for just the second time today.

Form: 411200

(6)

Red Tea¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Fran Berry| T: P W Hiatt| OR: 89

33/1

Finished mid-division in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket in September and ran well when finishing third over 1m at the same course subsequently. Races off the same mark today and has placed here in the past.

Form: 924603

(11)

Vettori Rules⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Josephine Gordon| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 88| D

66/1

Well beaten in six starts since being gelded. Handicap mark has plummeted as a result and market support would be interesting today.

Form: 787778

(5)

Cape Peninsular^b1⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: L Morris| T: J Tate| OR: 87| BF

12/1

Wolverhampton maiden winner over 1m4f and beaten a short-head over an extended 1m4f at Newcastle last time out. Races off a 5lb higher mark today and has placed over this distance in the past.

Form: 313242

(7)

Fayez²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 90

10/1

Successful over 1m at Newcastle prior to finishing third in a 1m2f claiming contest at the same course last month. Races off a mark 9lb higher than for his latest success.

Form: 614513

(8)

Coillte Cailin³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: K Shoemark| T: D O'Meara| OR: 87| CD

40/1

Seven time winner from 36 AW starts including over C&D in January. Races off a 3lb lower mark than for that victory following some below par efforts of late.

Form: 756660

(10)

Emenem⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: S Dow| OR: 90| CD

8/1

C&D winner in January and running well in the main since. Finished a decent third off a 1lb higher mark at Epsom (heavy) last time out and races off a mark 13lb higher than when successful at that course in April.

Form: 239383

(13)

Celestial Spheres^p¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 87| D

11/2

Victorious twice on turf most recelty by a head over 1m2f at Newmarket (good-to-firm) earlier this month. Raised 2lb for that victory and is one for the shortlist for a stable with a 27% strike-rate (3/11) of late.

Form: 4221-51

(4)

Ay Ay⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Hollie Doyle⁽³⁾| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 86| C| D

9/1

Course winner over 7f as a two-year-old and winning for the first time since when victorious over this trip at Nottingham (good-to-soft) last month. Races off a 2lb higher mark today.

Form: 465581

(12)

Gothic Empire²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Ryan Tate| T: R Rowe| OR: 81

66/1

Successful three times so far most recently over 7f at Ascot (good) nearly 14 months ago. Debuts for a new yard and stepping up in trip today.

Form: 500504

(3)

Sir Titan¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: B A Curtis| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 84

20/1

Winner of his first two starts since being gelded but disappointed over 7f the last twice. Has a bit to prove including stamina on his first attempt at this trip.

Form: 6-11200

Non-Runners

(14)

First Flight¹³

Weight: 9-0| Age: 6

T: H Main J: Hollie Doyle

Forecasts

Middle Kingdom (11/10), Celestial Spheres (11/2), Emenem (8/1), Ay Ay (9/1), Fayez (10/1), Cape Peninsular (12/1), Sir Titan (20/1), First Flight (25/1), Brex Drago (33/1), Red Tea (33/1), Coillte Cailin (40/1), Believe It (50/1), Gothic Empire (66/1), Vettori Rules (66/1)

MIDDLE KINGDOM finished a decent third last time out and he can take his career record to three wins from four starts by defying top weight in this 1m2f handicap. The selection represents a leading stable and can take this at the chief expense of Celestial Spheres who was winning for the second time when victorious at Newmarket last time and makes his debut on this surface today. Of the remainder Cape Peninsular has run well over further in the past and can claim third on this occasion.