15:05 Lingfield

Saturday 3 February 2018

All12:5013:2514:0014:3515:0515:4016:15

Betway Winter Derby Trial Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 15:08 | Winning time: 2m 2.23s

(4)

Petite Jack^b⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: L Morris| T: A Watson| OR: 102| CD

9/2

Had a very good 2017 season winning four times on the AW including three times on this course (once over C&D). Stays further but appears suited by this trip and got back to winning form last time over C&D when gaining a Listed success (his first) and suited by the emphasis on speed.

Form: 716421-

(1)

Battle Of Marathon²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: J Ryan| OR: 95

66/1

Managed to break a long losing run when taking a Wolverhampton handicap off a mark of 92 in early December over a slightly shorter trip than he faces today. Still looked in decent form last time but this is a bigger test for him and he'll do well to get involved.

Form: 50316-4

(6)

Fire Fighting^b¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 102| D

33/1

Tough handicapper who wasn't seen that much last year and his season was curtailed from May. Recently came back from that long absence in a handicap over 1m4f here and ran too free to do himself justice; more needed to get involved now.

Form: 25738-5

(7)

Intern⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Fran Berry| T: D M Simcock| OR: 102

10/1

Hard to say that he's been seen to the best effect on his two runs so far for this yard both over today's C&D. Travelled well last time out but was forced wider than ideal; looks capable at this level but does need to show a little more progress to win something like this.

Form: 13/2034-

(2)

Red Label^p1⁶⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: M Botti| OR: 106

8/1

Trainer has won this three times in the last six years and he saddles an interesting sort here who has run in Group races in Italy on his last two starts. Now makes his debut on a surface such as this and is an unknown quantity who should be respected given his connections.

Form: 158235-

(5)

Utmost⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 100

5/1

Lightly raced colt who only has a maiden win to his name from his debut at Leicester in 2016 (7f). Raced exclusively on the AW since then he looked to get right back on track last time out when taking third behind Petite Jack over C&D; could do with a sound gallop to aim at.

Form: 1/3483-

(8)

Victory Bond²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: W J Haggas| OR: 105| D

11/10

Smart performer who is likely to start a short price here but possibly should have won more than he has on turf. His one previous run here saw him struggle to get a clear run behind Master Of The World and he benefitted from a drop in grade to win emphatically at Wolverhampton last time.

Form: 48912-1

(3)

Elbereth¹²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 107| D

14/1

Consistent and smart performer at this level and a little higher her last win came on Polytrack at Dundalk over this sort of trip. Has run well enough around here before although there is a question mark as to whether it suits her ideally; not written off as she returns from a break.

Form: 240629-

(9)

Mia Tesoro^h⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: S Donohoe| T: C Fellowes| OR: 92| D

20/1

Hasn't won since this trainer reeled off a four-timer with her on her first four starts for the yard. However she has run way above expectations of late finishing 432 in her last three races (all Listed grade at this track); would be a surprise winner but hard to totally rule out.

Form: 638432-

Forecasts

Victory Bond (11/10), Petite Jack (9/2), Utmost (5/1), Red Label (8/1), Intern (10/1), Elbereth (14/1), Mia Tesoro (20/1), Fire Fighting (33/1), Battle Of Marathon (66/1)

Quite rightly Victory Bond is likely to start a short price for this race and given how well he won last time out he’s entitled to but it’s a fairly deep field and there might be some value looking further down the market. Elbereth certainly comes into the mix but there’s a nagging doubt that she might just be better on a more galloping course. Red Label for Marco Botti is worthy of a second glance with the trainer having had such a good record in the race and Intern could well win something like this. A chance is taken with the Gosden runner UTMOST he’s only lightly raced and may still have some progress in him all that can be hoped is that he gets a strong pace to run at.