13:00 Lingfield

Friday 16 March 2018

All13:0013:4014:2015:0015:4016:2017:00

32Red.com Fillies' Handicap

Off time: 13:03 | Winning time: 1m 37.20s

(10)

Narjes²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: Mrs L J Mongan| OR: 70

6/1

Maiden after 12 starts but finished in the first three on her first three outings after joining this yard. Took a step backwards when only 8th last time, though that was probably due to not staying 1m2f. Respected back over 1m.

Form: 2362-38

(3)

Shankara²¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Josephine Gordon| T: N R Mitchell| OR: 70

8/1

Had started to look unreliable for David Simcock and underlined that point last time out when refusing to race at Yarmouth in the summer. Clearly one to be rather wary of on her reappearance for a new yard.

Form: 2355R-

(8)

Highway One¹⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Liam Keniry| T: George Baker| OR: 70

10/1

Showed signs of promise on more than one occasion on turf last season up to 1m, most notably when third over an extended 7f here on her penultimate start. US pedigree suggests polytrack shouldn't be a problem if fit enough.

Form: 287737-

(1)

Secret Return³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Rhiain Ingram⁽⁵⁾| T: Karen George| OR: 68

7/1

Doesn't catch the eye on paper but has outperformed market expectations to finish placed in three successive Wolverhampton maidens over 7f. Opening handicap mark looks reasonable and may have improvement in her.

Form: 23-3

(6)

Andalusite^v¹⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: B A Curtis| T: J Gallagher| OR: 65| D

16/1

Registered her third victory (all at Brighton) when winning over 1m there in September but she's 0-9 on AW surfaces and was only mid-division over C&D on her final start last term. More needed on her return.

Form: 339107-

(4)

Accomplice⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Charles Bishop| T: M Blanshard| OR: 64| D

16/1

Inconsistent performer who landed Bath 1m soft ground handicap last August but generally hasn't looked a natural on artifical surfaces. Dismal effort here last time over 7f, so fair bit to prove.

Form: 1706-30

(7)

First Experience^p¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Oisin Murphy| T: L Carter| OR: 60| CD

7/1

Gained a first success in 18 months over C&D off a career low mark and when dropped in grade last month but was found wanting in similar company to this latest. Yard won this race last year.

Form: 957-616

(2)

Settle Petal²²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Sophie Ralston⁽⁷⁾| T: P Phelan| OR: 59

25/1

Filly showed some promise in maidens in late 2016 and early last year but no impact in trio of handicaps in the summer, including when tried over 1m4f here. Hard to get excited about after seven months off.

Form: 33/3996-

(5)

Sonnet Rose^b,t¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: R Havlin| T: C Allen| OR: 58| D

5/1

Only win came in a weak maiden handicap over 1m at Southwell in December but front-running tactics have seen her place in her last three, including twice over this C&D. Unlikely to be far away once again.

Form: 18-2233

(9)

Rocksette¹⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: L Morris| T: P Hide| OR: 53| BF

5/2

Looked to be going backwards until signing off last season with two narrow second-place efforts over 1m2f at Brighton. Positive jockey booking for her reappearance bodes well, though draw far from ideal.

Form: 524522-

Forecasts

Rocksette (5/2), Sonnet Rose (5/1), Narjes (6/1), Secret Return (7/1), First Experience (7/1), Shankara (8/1), Highway One (10/1), Accomplice (16/1), Andalusite (16/1), Settle Petal (25/1)

A modest opener and it's not hard to envisage another big run from the front-running Sonnet Rose, though she remains susceptible to anything with a finishing kick. The booking of Luke Morris points to a big run from Rocksette on her reappearance but it may pay to take a chance on NARJES making it 13th time lucky after she patently failed to stay 1m2f last time. Prior to that, Laura Mongan's filly had been knocking at the door in arguably stronger company and Adam Kirby will provide maximum assistance from the saddle.