14:15 Lingfield

Wednesday 10 January 2018

All13:1013:4514:1514:5015:2515:55

Betway Stayers Handicap

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 3m 19.75s

(1)

Fitzwilly²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: Paddy Bradley⁽⁵⁾| T: M R Channon| OR: 69| D

7/1

Best effort (from six) on the AW came last month at Chelmsford (2m) when making good late progress through the field before settling for a narrow second in this grade. Raised 2lb for that effort, should be in the mix once more in repeating it.

Form: 175732-

(8)

Author's Dream^v³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: M Harley| T: W J Knight| OR: 67

11/4

Better than ever in two runs back from a break, going close at Kempton over this trip before routing 10 rivals over extended 2m at Wolverhampton last month. Handicapper has added 10lb but still a major player.

Form: 7/29431-

(7)

Bertie Moon^v¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: L Morris| T: M Appleby| OR: 67| C| D

8/1

Made all to win over 1m4f around here 13 days ago, stamina for this trip is proven on turf. Could do with settling a bit better but respected under Morris for yard in decent form.

Form: 772441-

(4)

Aristocles^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Nicola Currie⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 66

66/1

Badly out of form over jumps this year and was tailed off over C&D last month on return to Flat/AW. Hard to make any sort of case for a turnaround.

Form: 67146/7-

(2)

Bracken Brae^t1²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Joey Haynes| T: M H Tompkins| OR: 66| D

25/1

Mare has a record of 6-21 and certainly knows how to win on the AW. Latest success was over this sort of trip at Wolverhampton in April off a mark of 72, but she's run a succession of poor races since then and can only be watched at the moment.

Form: 145589-

(5)

Deebaj²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: H Crouch⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 63

20/1

Won a handicap hurdle over 2m6f at Ffos Las in June, so no stamina concerns. Never any sort of threat on return from a layoff over 1m4f here last month. Would have to see some money coming to inspire confidence.

Form: 7354/0-

(6)

Grey Waters¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 65| D

4/5

Filly didn't run badly on Grade 2 over hurdles at Leopardstown last month, previous AW outing was a winning one over 2m at Kempton in November in Class 6 contest (Author's Dream third). Merits plenty respect again.

Form: 235341-

(3)

Night Generation^p,t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: L P Keniry| T: C Gordon| OR: 59| CD

25/1

C&D winner in May off a mark of 61, won over hurdles at Huntingdon in November but trailed home last of seven over this C&D last month and others have more going for them now.

Form: 123887-

Forecasts

Grey Waters (4/5), Author's Dream (11/4), Fitzwilly (7/1), Bertie Moon (8/1), Deebaj (20/1), Bracken Brae (25/1), Night Generation (25/1), Aristocles (66/1)

Author's Dream delivered a much-improved effort when scoring with any amount in hand at Wolverhampton last time out and is respected despite a 10lb penalty. He was behind the filly GREY WATERS at Kempton prior to that however and, by virtue of that penalty, Joseph O'Brien's runner is now 4lb better off on these terms. She was well backed to score on that occasion and made no mistake under a no-nonsense ride from Oisin Murphy. Having run well in a Grade 2 over jumps at Christmas, she's likely to take the beating again. Fitzwilly improved on the AW recently at Chelmsford and joins Bertie Moon in heading the dangers to the likely market principles.