17:00 Lingfield

Friday 23 February 2018

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

Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 2m 30.98s

(2)

Sky Marshal²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: L P Keniry| T: E Walker| OR: 67| CD

9/4

A totally different horse since being upped in trip beyond 1m. Now unbeaten in three starts between 1m4f & 1m5f, and whilst 12lb higher overall, is just 4lb higher than when beating Bogardus by ½L at Kempton latest.

Form: 4991-11

(3)

Bertie Moon^p²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: M Appleby| OR: 64| CD

10/1

Has had his fair share of trainers over the years, but bounced back to form in a C&D seller in late December when making all to beat Ceyhan by 2¾L. More vulnerable in this grade as he's shown since, and held by Attain.

Form: 2441-43

(7)

Star Ascending^b¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: J Fanning| T: J Candlish| OR: 63| D

7/2

In excellent form on the Fibresand at Southwell since early December (1,2,2,1,1,1), but his handicap mark is steadily rising, and this promises to be a much different test. Respected, but yet to prove his worth on Polytrack.

Form: 122-111

(8)

Attain²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽⁷⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 63| CD

12/1

Broke a losing sequence when upped to this trip over C&D late last month, beating Ravenous (Bertie Moon held in third) by ½L. No forlorn hope of a double off just 4lb higher given the fine recent form of the Watson barn.

Form: 7336-31

(4)

Conkering Hero^v³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: A Kirby| T: J Tuite| OR: 65| CD

7/1

Won easily over C&D in the summer when making all having travelled well through his race off a mark of 61. On the premises the past twice, but that's probably not quite strong enough form in this race.

Form: 6490-24

(1)

New Street⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: R Winston| T: J & S Best| OR: 62

10/1

An AW maiden (0 from 9), and was never involved on his return from a 14 month absence over this C&D last week. Only noteworthy if the market vibes are positive.

Form: 09880/8

(5)

Pour L'Amour⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: R Kingscote| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 61| BF| D

6/1

A mare who has won just once in 20 starts (1m4f at Wolverhampton in May), but continues to hold her form relatively well. Placed, beaten approximately 1L in a similar contest over C&D last week won by Betsalottie.

Form: 357-333

(9)

Dolphin Village^h⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: D C Costello| T: S A Harris| OR: 61| CD

33/1

Slipping down the weights, but was well beaten over this C&D at the weekend, and is tough to fancy given his current run of 'form'.

Form: 6835-08

(10)

Mr Frankie⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: K Shoemark| T: R Brotherton| OR: 56

50/1

Has tasted success just once in 28 career starts, over the extended 1m1f trip at Wolverhampton in October 2016. Has left Adrian Wintle since his last start on Boxing Day, and is tricky to build a solid case for overall.

Form: 272957-

(6)

Threediamondrings^t,v⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Edward Greatrex| T: M D I Usher| OR: 50| CD

14/1

A winner over this C&D from a 9lb higher mark in November 2016 (for Brendan Powell), but doesn't appear to be the same horse nowadays. Slowly away latest, and that didn't help, but has a questionable attitude and that's the major concern.

Form: 8779-54

Forecasts

Sky Marshal (9/4), Star Ascending (7/2), Pour L'Amour (6/1), Conkering Hero (7/1), New Street (10/1), Bertie Moon (10/1), Attain (12/1), Threediamondrings (14/1), Dolphin Village (33/1), Mr Frankie (50/1)

Attain represents the ever respected Archie Watson, and should once more have enough in the locker to repel Bertie Moon, but both SKY MARSHAL (Ed Walker) and Star Ascending (Jennie Candlish) arrive seeking the four timer. The latter has developed into a Fibresand specialist, and whilst he was a most impressive winner just 10 days ago, he beat far from the most straight-forward of rivals (Picture Painter), and one should always be prepared to take on Southwell winners elsewhere. The selection has proved to be a totally transformed horse over this kind of trip, and he still looks to be on a relatively fair mark; just 4lb above his latest winning mark of 63.