16:55 Lingfield

Monday 19 March 2018

All14:2014:5015:2515:5516:2516:5517:25

32Red Casino Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:03 | Winning time: 2m 5.22s

(8)

Hackbridge^v1²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Paddy Bradley⁽³⁾| T: P Phelan| OR: 61

16/1

Lightly-raced maiden who showed some ability in maidens before a low-key handicap debut last time out over a mile. Now stepped up another 2f with a visor on for the first time but hard to make a case for off a stiff looking mark.

Form: 96-55

(3)

Solid Man^b1⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Callum Shepherd| T: D M Simcock| OR: 60| BF

15/8

Showed up well on his AW/handicap debut over a mile here with inexperience looking to be his undoing; looking as though his mark underestimated him. Well backed switched to Tapeta but looked a hard ride; failed to shine on his second handicap start.

Form: 659-33

(2)

Four Fifty Three⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Aaron Jones| T: M H Tompkins| OR: 59

7/1

Nursery winner on his debut in that sphere off a 4lb lower mark over a mile his two runs back as a three-year-old have been creditable. Failed to get the run of the race last time (behind Miniature Daffodil) last time; better expected here.

Form: 4413-34

(6)

Gemologist⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Sharna Armstrong⁽⁷⁾| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 58

16/1

Bred to be a middle-distance type at this age but her form so fat trips like this has been underwhelming. Always possible that she can spring to life from a top stable and down another 4lb but unappealing on what she's shown.

Form: 3869-86

(4)

Dorian Gray^b1³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Charlie Bennett| T: H Morrison| OR: 53

12/1

Looked the type to improve for middle distances and handicaps but that hasn't proved to be the case so far. Supported last time upped to 1m4f but that looked a bridge too far; may do better yet but still has only one standout effort to his name.

Form: 0836-9

(1)

Miniature Daffodil⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Nicola Currie⁽³⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 51| D

3/1

Had shown some promise on his handicap debut over a mile on his first run for this yard and showed that to be true when taking a 1m2f handicap last time off a low mark. Not the finished article; capable of more off 4lb higher under a good apprentice.

Form: 00-051

(5)

Dragon Tattoo^p⁵⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: William Cox⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L C Jewell| OR: 50

11/2

Still only has one standout effort to her name and her handicap efforts for the most part have been modest. Now makes her first start for a new yard (sold from Hugo Palmer for 6,000 guineas in February) trying a new trip.

Form: 9490-74

(7)

Ahfad^t1³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Rossa Ryan⁽³⁾| T: S C Williams| OR: 49

10/1

Like a few in this field he has one decent effort to his name and was well below form in his last run over 1m2f at Chelmsford having been off for 10 weeks. Respected from this yard but has to show more before he can be supported.

Form: 08837-7

Forecasts

Solid Man (15/8), Miniature Daffodil (3/1), Dragon Tattoo (11/2), Four Fifty Three (7/1), Ahfad (10/1), Dorian Gray (12/1), Hackbridge (16/1), Gemologist (16/1)

Three-year-old handicaps always involve a certain amount of guesswork and a few of these may be capable of stepping up on what they have shown. Solid Man has been popular in the betting n his last two starts and has in a way shaped with some promise but he has looked a hard ride and the blinkers now go on for the first time back on the Polytrack. MINIATURE DAFFODIL looks far from the finished article but has scope in his handicap mark having only been raised 4lb for his last win and looks sure to go close again. Four Fifty Three may do better this time around but has work to do with the selection with Dorian Gray and Dragon Tattoo open to a little improvement.