15:25 Lingfield

Wednesday 20 December 2017

All11:4012:1012:4013:1013:4514:2014:5515:25

Betway Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 2m 33.50s

(6)

Zambeasy^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Sebastian Woods⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hide| OR: 72| CD

10/1

It's almost three years since he won over C&D and 20-months since his latest success, which was from 5lb higher. Could give him each-way claims on his Kempton run from last month from 4lb higher, but not easy to see him winning on recent form.

Form: 275737

(11)

Quebec⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Rhiain Ingram⁽³⁾| T: R Ingram| OR: 70

25/1

Stays 1m7f on the Flat, though recent years have been spent over obstacles, where he has been inconsistent. First Flat run since his last in France in 2014 and debut for this yard. Watching brief looks prudent.

Form: 4421/

(7)

Heron⁹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: William Cox⁽³⁾| T: B R Johnson| OR: 71

20/1

Went close in a Redcar maiden on debut (1m2f, good) in June, though not as good in two subsequent turf runs, one of them over this trip. Initial handicap mark looks tough enough and probably one to watch on AW/handicap debut.

Form: 283

(4)

Kath's Legacy²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: S J Cummins⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hughes| OR: 67

8/1

Back on the same mark as her only win, in May 2016 at Sandown (1m1f, good to firm). Put in a number of respectable efforts in defeat from a few pounds higher since. Never got going at Kempton last time, but couldn't rule out revival today.

Form: 4537P8

(2)

Nurse Nightingale^h³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Cameron Noble⁽³⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 71| BF

11/4

Maiden after nine starts but has been competitive and has also run well on both starts here. Last time was a case in point when she finished 1L runner-up in a C&D maiden. Needs to improve, but not by much, to break her duck.

Form: 542342

(1)

Deebaj¹⁸⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Watson⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 65

16/1

Sole success came over hurdles in June and he has only had four Flat runs, all on turf and none since September 2016. Sees out 1m4f and mark looks handy on her 2014/15 form, but market probably best guide on stable debut and first run since June.

Form: 735/4-

(10)

Bamako Du Chatelet^v³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Luke Catton⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 65| CD

20/1

Goes well here and has three C&D wins to his name, the latest this time last year from 2lb lower. Has since occasionally been competitive from several pounds higher and enters calculations under a claimer now back over this C&D.

Form: 446300

(9)

My Brother Mike¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Paddy Bradley| T: K Frost| OR: 69

9/2

Scored over 1m2f at Newcastle (AW) in September and went very close from just 1lb lower than today back at that venue in October. Yet to be fully convinced that he stays this far and latest run at Wolverhampton adds to that. Others preferred.

Form: 514206

(5)

Moneyoryourlife²⁰⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Rossa Ryan⁽³⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 68

4/1

Sole success was over 1m2f at Chelmsford in March from a mark of 58. Another over who both pedigree and two previous tries over this distance suggest that stamina is an issue. Perhaps best watched on return from a seven-month absence.

Form: 214324

(8)

Alternate Route^b1³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Gavin Ashton⁽⁷⁾| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 67| C

11/2

Enjoyed a good September, running well over 2m at both Kempton (AW) and Chepstow, before winning here from a mark of 56. Handicapper nabbed him for that and now claimer up, blinkers on and dropped in trip. Not ruled out.

Form: 032163

(3)

My Lord^p1¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 8-12| J: Poppy Bridgwater⁽⁷⁾| T: P Butler| OR: 52| D

50/1

All five of his All Weather wins have been at Wolverhampton (6f-1m4f) and the last of those was in March 2016. Has run well here too, but recent form has been poor and despite application of new headgear he is hard to fancy from 4lb 'wrong'.

Form: 803770

Forecasts

Nurse Nightingale (11/4), Moneyoryourlife (4/1), My Brother Mike (9/2), Alternate Route (11/2), Kath's Legacy (8/1), Zambeasy (10/1), Deebaj (16/1), Bamako Du Chatelet (20/1), Heron (20/1), Quebec (25/1), My Lord (50/1)

A race that does not look to have much strength-in-depth and the suggestion is BAMAKO DU CHATELET, who represents a stable in decent form, goes well here and is on a very competitive mark. Alternate Route is a probable danger if the blinkers work the oracle over this shorter trip, though he was held by the handicapper from similar marks on his last two starts. Nurse Nightingale would not be an undeserving winner given the near misses that she has recorded, while Kath's Legacy and Deebaj and ones to note in the market for any confidence ahead of this.