15:40 Lingfield

Saturday 13 January 2018

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:40

Betway Handicap (Div 2)

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 2m 5.15s

(13)

The Gay Cavalier^t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: P J McDonald| T: J Ryan| OR: 56| CD

6/1

C&D winner including last summer, but form has dropped off since and it's difficult to see him returning to winning ways even off a career-low mark.

Form: 637670-

(9)

Betsalottie⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Mitch Godwin⁽³⁾| T: J J Bridger| OR: 55| C

4/1

Course winner over slightly shorter than this but certainly stays this far and could be on the premises based on the pick of his form.

Form: 51254-7

(12)

Taste The Salt²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 53

11/8

Two good efforts to finish third at Dundalk towards the end of last year. Represents a top Irish trainer on a rare British raid for a smaller race, but has the right jockey booked and is definitely one to consider albeit from an awkward draw.

Form: 380933-

(1)

Joyful Dream³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Danny Brock| T: J Butler| OR: 53

20/1

Remains a maiden after 19 starts but hasn't made the worst of beginnings for this new yard and has to be given some consideration.

Form: 458537-

(4)

Henry Grace^b⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: K T O'Neill| T: J C Fox| OR: 52

20/1

On a fair mark and has won more recently than some of these, but stamina has to be a concern given he's won both his races over 1m.

Form: 18680-8

(8)

Bennelong²⁷⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 9-5| J: Kieren Fox| T: D Steele| OR: 50| CD

66/1

Only two starts since October 2016 and last win was October 2015; plenty more needed now switched to a different yard.

Form: 87300/7-

(3)

Stringybark Creek²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: S Donohoe| T: D Steele| OR: 49| C

14/1

A winner at this course two starts ago off only 1lb lower but that was a lower level of competition than this and he has run a poor race at Southwell in the meantime.

Form: 565017-

(10)

Sexy Secret^p⁸⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Simon Pearce| T: Mrs L Pearce| OR: 46| D

14/1

Well-beaten in second at Yarmouth when last seen. No chance with winner there but has won off a higher mark than this in the past and has to be considered.

Form: 535552-

(6)

Nicky Baby^p²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: R Havlin| T: D K Ivory| OR: 46

8/1

13 race maiden who is yet to get off the mark over a variety of trips. Difficult to see him getting his head in front at the 14th time of asking.

Form: 400979-

(7)

Cloud Nine³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: A W Carroll| OR: 45

33/1

0/13 in his career and hasn't yet placed; tough to build a case for despite a tumbling mark and others hold more convincing claims.

Form: 547769-

(14)

Dawn Goddess²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: H Crouch⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 45

25/1

A step in the right direction when second over this trip at Chelmsford last time out. Clearly has the ability to go well on this surface and more open to progression compared to most of these.

Form: 620402-

Non-Runners

(5)

Idol Deputy³⁵

Weight: 9-11| Age: 12

T: J Bennett J: Non Runner

(11)

Ixelles Diamond²⁷

Weight: 9-5| Age: 7

T: L Carter J: Charlie Bennett

(2)

Outrath³⁹⁰

Weight: 9-0| Age: 8

T: J & S Best J: P Mulrennan

Forecasts

Taste The Salt (11/8), Betsalottie (4/1), The Gay Cavalier (6/1), Ixelles Diamond (7/1), Nicky Baby (8/1), Stringybark Creek (14/1), Sexy Secret (14/1), Idol Deputy (16/1), Henry Grace (20/1), Joyful Dream (20/1), Dawn Goddess (25/1), Outrath (25/1), Cloud Nine (33/1), Bennelong (66/1)

Taste The Salt is of obvious interest having been sent over by Joseph O'Brien, but preference is for SEXY SECRET. This gelding may well have 'bumped into one' at Yarmouth last time out and would have won by a wide margin there if it hadn't been for the runaway winner. With the previous form to go well at this level he looks the one to side with, ahead of the mare Ixelles Diamond.