16:15 Lingfield

Friday 16 February 2018

All13:3014:0014:3515:1015:4016:1516:45

Betway Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 2m 31.74s

(10)

New Street^v⁴²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: T J Murphy| T: J & S Best| OR: 62

8/1

Winning dual purpose horse whose last success came three years ago. Form deteriorated when last seen in the latter half of 2016 and only a positive signal from the market would earn him consideration.

Form: 309880/

(7)

Pour L'Amour²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: R Kingscote| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 61| D

5/1

Dead-heated at Wolverhampton last year over this trip and has been knocking at the door since. Needs to come off a strong pace and there is no confirmed front-runner in this.

Form: 3357-33

(8)

Diamond Reflection^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Jason Watson⁽⁷⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 61| BF

7/1

Well beaten on both previous starts here but much improved since. Showed a good turn of foot to surge clear at Kempton (1m2f) and denied a clear run last time. Stays this far and equipped to deal with however the race is run.

Form: 90-0314

(6)

Betsalottie²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Mitch Godwin⁽³⁾| T: J J Bridger| OR: 60| C

8/1

On the right track and in the right grade but appears more effective off marks a few pounds lower than this.

Form: 254-716

(5)

Relevant^t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: S M Levey| T: S C Williams| OR: 60

6/1

11-race maiden has not been at her best of late, but worth another go at this trip having seen it out well at Newcastle last term.

Form: 2832-55

(2)

Bergholt^v⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 56

5/1

18-race maiden under both codes and connections go back to using the visor. Down to a career low mark and has each-way claims on the pick of last autumn's form.

Form: 6/98435-

(1)

Hold Hands^t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Fran Berry| T: B G Powell| OR: 55

9/1

15-race maiden but went close at Kempton last time. Her best efforts have come there and she has something to prove off a higher mark.

Form: 8533/9-2

(4)

Hallingham^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: H Crouch| T: K O Cunningham-Brown| OR: 55| D

16/1

Winner at Bath last season and has gone well here previously. However, well below his best lately and a 2-33 record shows he is an infrequent winner.

Form: 31350-7

(11)

Sanches³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Hollie Doyle| T: Dr J R J Naylor| OR: 54| CD

6/1

Landed a poor race at odds of 66/1 where his three closest rivals were a combined 0-50. Looked green that day and again next time in a more competitive race when ridden less prominently.

Form: 8961-4

(9)

Mrs Burbidge^p,t¹¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: J Fanning| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 49| D

16/1

In good form over jumps in 2016 and winning for the first time since when victorious over 2m at Worcester (good) in a handicap hurdle in September. Worth a check in the market on her return to the Flat.

Form: 33522/5-

Non-Runners

(3)

Garcon De Soleil²¹

Weight: 8-7| Age: 5

T: M Blanshard J: L Morris

Forecasts

Pour L'Amour (5/1), Bergholt (5/1), Relevant (6/1), Sanches (6/1), Diamond Reflection (7/1), Betsalottie (8/1), New Street (8/1), Hold Hands (9/1), Mrs Burbidge (16/1), Hallingham (16/1), Garcon De Soleil (20/1)

It is not easy to be bullish about many of these and Sanches can be considered a serious contender judged on his latest effort and given his scope to improve. Pour L'amour is rarely far away and she would appreciate a strong pace which cannot be guaranteed. DIAMOND REFLECTION has won over shorter but stays this far and that versatility, coupled with his recent progress, may be enough to earn another victory.