15:50 Lingfield

Friday 23 February 2018

All14:1014:4515:2015:5016:2517:00

Play Starburst Slot At sunbets.co.uk/vegas Handicap

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 1m 23.2s

(14)

Eljaddaaf^h¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: R Winston| T: D K Ivory| OR: 92| D

8/1

Boasts an excellent AW record (7 from 22), and dead-heated with Nautical Haven over 6f at Chelmsford earlier this month. However, he's up 4lb in the weights, and more worryingly is drawn out in the car park in stall 14.

Form: 590-221

(5)

Silent Echo^h¹⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Charles Bishop| T: P Hedger| OR: 91| CD

14/1

Sold for 120,000 gns in November, out of the Roger Charlton yard after finishing 2L second to Nobly Born at Ascot the previous month (6f). Lightly raced, and has plenty more to offer, also boasting a C&D maiden victory on his CV (1/1 on AW).

Form: 7/11642-

(7)

Alfred Hutchinson^p²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: D O'Meara| OR: 90| CD

12/1

Runner up over 1m here on New Years Eve, but hasn't ran quite so well since and hasn't won for over 13 months. Reasonably handicapped nowadays in accordance with his advancing years.

Form: 4072-77

(6)

Bobby Wheeler²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Amelia Glass⁽⁷⁾| T: C G Cox| OR: 90| D

13/2

Made the most of a drop in grade and a very fair mark to score unchallenged for this rider over 7f at Kempton just over three weeks ago. Up 8lb in a much stronger contest and previously disappointing at Lingfield.

Form: 00/00-41

(4)

Gossiping²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: S W Kelly| T: G & J Moore| OR: 87| D

33/1

Lost his way since recording back-to-back Goodwood successes in May (7f). His three AW victories have all come over 1m or further, and whilst his mark is falling steadily, that's simply not quite enough.

Form: 70000-8

(8)

Mickey^v1¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 87| D

9/2

We've seen precious little of this horse since 2016, and it's surely up for debate as to whether or not he's good enough for a Class 3 handicap. That said, he did run well at Wolverhampton recently (fourth to Hayadh), and the visor is added.

Form: 0227/0-4

(2)

Sword Exceed³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: I Furtado| OR: 86| CD

7/2

Has progressed through the grades at this track (6f to 7f), with his course career record reading, 1,3,1,1. Up 4lb for his latest C&D success, beat Exchequer by a ready ¾L, and now races from a career high mark.

Form: 74410-1

(12)

Mr Bossy Boots^b1,t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Joey Haynes| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 85| CD

25/1

A six time AW winner from 26 career starts, and is now handicapped to win more races. No match for Bobby Wheeler at Kempton latest, but is 7lb better off today. Fine over both 7f and 1m, and is now fitted with blinkers.

Form: 099-342

(11)

Shyron²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Jane Elliott⁽⁵⁾| T: G G Margarson| OR: 85| CD

8/1

Has a strong C&D record, and was a winner here in a Class 3 event in mid December, beating Right Touch by ½L. This is tougher off a 3lb higher mark, and he's been done no favours by the draw.

Form: 3891-43

(1)

Exchequer¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: K Shoemark| T: D O'Meara| OR: 83| CD

6/1

Poor latest, but prior to that was beaten ¾L over this C&D by Sword Exceed, and now enjoys a 5lb pull in the weights. Handily drawn, but far from certain he's truly capable in this grade (runner up in a C&D claimer in 2016).

Form: 2/03-320

(9)

Pearl Spectre³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Josephine Gordon| T: P S McEntee| OR: 83| CD

25/1

Races from a mark 2lb lower than he was successful off at Chelmsford in November (7f), but he's raced on no fewer than eight occasions since. Will race handily as doing so when beating Shyron by 1L for this rider in a similar C&D contest last March.

Form: 345-546

(13)

Outer Space^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: J L Flint| OR: 82| CD

33/1

Arrives on a hat-trick following victories in a couple of 7f claimers since the turn of the year (Wolverhampton and Lingfield). Clearly suited by the combination of cheek-pieces and an ease in grade, but this looks tough from a very wide berth.

Form: 563-411

(3)

Pour La Victoire^v¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 8-7| J: E J Walsh⁽³⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 75| CD

16/1

A 2L winner of this contest in 2016, and won back-to-back turf races in May 2016 (6f) but has remained fallow since; albeit often placed. Shaped as if a return to 7f would do him good latest, so not totally dismissed.

Form: 707-223

(10)

Tavener^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: A Mullen| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 73| CD

66/1

Races from a mark which is 5lb above his last winning one, and that came in a much lesser grade (Class 5) at Wolverhampton in early January. Versatile between 6f and 7f.

Form: 82-6105

Forecasts

Sword Exceed (7/2), Mickey (9/2), Exchequer (6/1), Bobby Wheeler (13/2), Eljaddaaf (8/1), Shyron (8/1), Alfred Hutchinson (12/1), Silent Echo (14/1), Pour La Victoire (16/1), Pearl Spectre (25/1), Mr Bossy Boots (25/1), Outer Space (33/1), Gossiping (33/1), Tavener (66/1)

A competitive 7f handicap as one would expect for the grade, and without doubt the clear highlight on today's six race Lingfield card. A number of horses come into the race as last time out winners, and these include Eljaddaaf, Bobby Wheeler, SWORD EXCEED and Outer Space. Bobby Wheeler scored decisively from an 8lb lower mark at Kempton (7f), comfortably accounting for today's rival Mr Bossy Boots in the process, but his previous couple of Lingfield efforts weren't the sharpest, and that's a minor worry. Outer Space has a tough task from a wide draw upped markedly in grade, whilst the even wider still drawn Dean Ivory trained runner has been dealt a duff hand. Pearl Spectre should be competitive at his best (and goes well for female handling), whilst Silent Echo is an interesting but costly (120,000 gns) new recruit for Peter Hedger. However, solely on the strength of his excellent career record at Lingfield Park, we'll take the chance that Sword Exceed can score once more despite racing from a career high mark.