14:00 Lingfield

Saturday 24 March 2018

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:55

32Red.com Handicap

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 1m 11.74s

(4)

Branscombe^b1¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 67

4/1

Ran a couple of really good races in 5f novice events last season, including when winning at Wolverhampton. Hasn't been able to build on that since and possibly better over shorter, but down another 5lb here with blinkers on.

Form: 1276-57

(7)

Mother of Dragons¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Nicola Currie⁽⁵⁾| T: P S McEntee| OR: 64

4/1

Hasn't been able to improve on her promising juvenile form from last season (was sixth in a valuable sales race which has produced Listed-level winners). Usually runs her race though and entitled to hit the frame.

Form: 232-433

(3)

Vodka Pigeon³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Shelley Birkett⁽³⁾| T: A West| OR: 64

5/1

Didn't seem to appreciate the step up to 7f at Chelmsford last time, so it's encouraging to see her dropping back down to this trip. Down a useful 2lb in the handicap and should run well.

Form: 383-739

(2)

Pranceabootthetoon¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Kerrie Raybould⁽⁷⁾| T: J M Bradley| OR: 63| D

8/1

A winner on debut last year but hasn't been able to improve on that level of form since. Beaten 6L over 5f here last time and difficult to see the step up to this trip bringing about the required improvement.

Form: 643-574

(1)

W G Grace^p1³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: M Dwyer| T: T D McCarthy| OR: 60| D

15/2

A winner on handicap debut last August (also over 6f on Polytrack), but couldn't recapture that level of form back down to the same mark on handicap debut last time out. Cheek pieces on.

Form: 39878-7

(6)

Expediate^p1²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: E J Walsh⁽³⁾| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 59

11/2

Makes his handicap debut here having shown signs of ability in four novice races, especially at Chelmsford last time out. An opening mark of 59 looks very fair, and first-time cheek pieces may encourage further improvement.

Form: 565-4

(8)

Dolydaydream¹⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: K T O'Neill| T: P Phelan| OR: 47

25/1

Showed little in three AW novice events last year and difficult to build a case for off the back of those efforts, even off this very low opening handicap mark.

Form: 080-

(5)

Following Breeze¹⁵⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Hollie Doyle| T: J R Boyle| OR: 45

9/2

Ran a promising race on handicap debut two starts back but not so good at Windsor latest. Back down to opening mark now but has a little to prove stepping back up in trip.

Form: 78628-

Forecasts

Branscombe (4/1), Mother of Dragons (4/1), Following Breeze (9/2), Vodka Pigeon (5/1), Expediate (11/2), W G Grace (15/2), Pranceabootthetoon (8/1), Dolydaydream (25/1)

Mother Of Dragons hasn't progressed as perhaps she might have done but is usually thereabouts in these races and should be on the premises, but preference is for EXPEDIATE. He has shown enough in his four races so far to suggest that he should be capable of capturing a handicap of this standard off his opening mark of 59, and his showing at Chelmsford last time was particularly pleasing. Back down in trip Vodka Pigeon is also considered.