15:15 Lingfield

Tuesday 12 December 2017

All11:3012:0012:3013:0013:3514:1014:4515:15

Betway Handicap

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 57.85s

(1)

Entertaining Ben^p²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: K Shoemark| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 70| CD

3/1

Arrives in cracking form and seeking a hat-trick after success over C&D and then, following a 5lb rise, at Chelmsford. Up a fair-looking 6lb further for that but couldn't rule him out from bridging the gap now in a good frame of mind.

Form: 455911

(9)

Don't Blame Me²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 69

3/1

Both wins have been over 6f at Kempton, the latter from this mark 15 months ago. Beaten just ½L from 5lb higher here in March, returned to better form last time and could see him running a big race again.

Form: 290063

(5)

Powerful Dream^v1¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: L Morris| T: R Harris| OR: 68| CD

7/1

Won over C&D from 3lb lower last year and has won three this year at marks up to 71. Not beaten far on her last two starts in cheekpieces and possibilities again today from 1lb lower/decent draw with visor now tried.

Form: 274836

(10)

Sandfrankskipsgo⁸⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: S W Kelly| T: P Crate| OR: 68| CD

20/1

Dual C&D scorer, though not as good now as second of those in 2014 from 13lb higher. Winless in 2017 and mark on the slide as a result. Now looking well handicapped (beaten just 1½L here from 9lb higher in May) if better for three-month break.

Form: 234448

(3)

Dreams Of Glory²⁹²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: S J Drowne| T: R J Hodges| OR: 67| CD

25/1

Won over C&D three years ago when just 1lb lower and sole win this year was from just 2lb lower than today, so this is very much the sort of mark from which he can run a big race and he has run well when fresh in the past.

Form: 642-157

(7)

Mossgo^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Josephine Gordon| T: J R Best| OR: 65| CD

25/1

Loves it here with six C&D wins to his name, the latest being from 1lb higher in February. Can probably put a line through his first run for five months at Chelmsford last time and he could do much better now back here from this mark.

Form: 134779

(6)

Red Invader²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: L P Keniry| T: J Butler| OR: 64| CD

10/1

Dual C&D winner this year and his career-best was the second of those in June, which came from today's mark and in a marginally inferior grade. Clearly needs a little more in this field, but could do better than recent runs now back at this venue.

Form: 017890

(2)

Shackled N Drawn^b1¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Charles Bishop| T: P Hedger| OR: 62| CD

7/1

Won a C&D maiden in 2014 and added a handicap at Kempton after that, though only win since was last year on turf. 13lb lower than that now after 12-race barren spell. Cheekpieces swapped for blinkers now but little encouragement from recent efforts.

Form: 367550

(4)

Roundabout Magic²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: N Mackay| T: S Dow| OR: 60| CD

9/2

All three of his wins have been over C&D, the most recent from 4lb higher in March. Largely consistent at his own level of ability and if you can forgive him a lapse at Chelmsford last time then he has claims back here from a handy mark.

Form: 494458

(8)

Temple Road^b,t²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 8-11| J: Tom Marquand| T: J M Bradley| OR: 60| CD

16/1

Has been a standing dish here over the past five years, winning seven times including four over C&D. Won this from 6lb higher in 2015 and scored from today's mark almost a year ago. Had recent pipe opener after a break and enters calculations.

Form: 434789

Forecasts

Entertaining Ben (3/1), Don't Blame Me (3/1), Roundabout Magic (9/2), Shackled N Drawn (7/1), Powerful Dream (7/1), Red Invader (10/1), Temple Road (16/1), Sandfrankskipsgo (20/1), Dreams Of Glory (25/1), Mossgo (25/1)

A nightmare contest for punters with a real conundrum to solve and few of the field that you could confidently rule out. Sandfrankskipsgo looks well handicapped if ready to give anything like his best, while hat-trick seeking Entertaining Man has to be respected in trying to defy another 6lb ride from the inside berth. Don't Blame Me has a tough draw but the form to make a big impact, while Powerful Dream, Dreams Of Glory, Mossgo, Red Invader and prolific course winner Temple Road could all have persuasive cases made for them. However, ROUNDABOUT MAGIC also goes well here, is well handicapped, nicely drawn and from a stable in decent nick and he is the suggestion.