17:40 Lingfield

Saturday 14 April 2018

All13:5514:3015:0515:3516:1516:5017:40

Paul Stakim Handicap

Off time: 17:40 | Winning time: 2m 4.92s

(1)

Officer Drivel⁸⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Harry Burns⁽⁷⁾| T: J & S Best| OR: 67

14/1

Returning from a long absence when last of 10 at Kempton in January. Has been given time to recover and runs off 2lb lower, but needs to show he is back to his best before being considered a betting proposition.

Form: 24185/0

(5)

Zephyros¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Poppy Bridgwater⁽⁷⁾| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 67| D

7/2

Off the mark at the 13th attempt on the AW when winning a four-runner contest over this distance at Chelmsford last month. More to do in this better race off 3lb higher.

Form: 063-261

(4)

Hatem^p1,t²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Fran Berry| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 65

16/1

Very little encouragement in four starts for this trainer, including when down the field at Chelmsford last time. Hopes rest on first-time cheekpieces having a positive effect.

Form: 56274/9

(10)

Ready²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Kieren Fox| T: M Pattinson| OR: 63| C| D

5/1

Gradually coming to the boil as he underlined when a good second over 1m4f at this venue on his latest outing. Long time since he won, however, and he has to cope with a 1lb rise.

Form: 008-642

(7)

Oceanus³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Shelley Birkett⁽³⁾| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 62| D

9/1

Fair efforts at Chelmsford and Southwell on last four starts, but has failed to win in seven AW races. Handicap mark may need to drop a little more if he is to rectify that.

Form: 36-6353

(6)

Presence Process⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Paddy Bradley⁽⁵⁾| T: P Phelan| OR: 61| C

5/2

Won twice over 1m at this track in January/February, but was raised to this current mark and has been held, although running creditably, in two runs since. Steps up in trip, but seemed to stay the last time he tried it.

Form: 8-21153

(3)

Karam Albaari^v¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-1| J: Tom Marquand| T: J R Jenkins| OR: 59| CD

7/1

Approaching the veteran stage, but is a C&D winner who ran well to finish second of 10 in a 1m4f apprentice handicap at this track last time. Each-way claims off 1lb higher.

Form: 4-13082

(8)

Maraakib⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: K T O'Neill| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 53| D

14/1

On a huge losing streak which has continued on last five starts since switch to current trainer. Hard to see him reversing the trend despite his lenient handicap mark.

Form: 446790

(9)

Amadeus Rox²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: J P Fahy| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 52

25/1

Maiden after nine Flat starts and six hurdles outings for Alan King. First run for new trainer and this stable companion of Maraakib is best watched for any signs of improvement.

Form: 3435-79

(2)

Feel The Vibes¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: David Probert| T: M Blanshard| OR: 50

12/1

Maiden after 14 starts, but has run with credit a couple of times over 1m at this venue. On a career-low handicap rating and is not without hope.

Form: 50-4456

Forecasts

Presence Process (5/2), Zephyros (7/2), Ready (5/1), Karam Albaari (7/1), Oceanus (9/1), Feel The Vibes (12/1), Officer Drivel (14/1), Maraakib (14/1), Hatem (16/1), Amadeus Rox (25/1)

Not many of these leap off the page and it would be no surprise to see the hugely-experienced KARAM ALBAARI notch another C&D success. He has strong claims following a good run at this venue last time and can hold off bottom-weight Feel The Vibes, who has slipped to a career-low mark and seems to appreciate this surface. Ready looks to be running into form, but has not won for a long time and may have to settle for a place, while Presence Process is not out of it stepped up in distance.