12:50 Lingfield

Wednesday 9 January 2019

All12:5013:2513:5514:3015:0515:40

Ladbrokes Home Of The Odds Boost Handicap

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 1m 25.23s

(7)

Black Medick²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Seamus Cronin⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 74

12/1

Best effort of four to date came at Kempton in October, narrowly denied after looking the winner in the final stages. Not so good back there latest run (too keen for own good) but early days and may yet do better.

Form: 0726-

(2)

Ballistic^p²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Raul Da Silva| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 74

3/1

Steadily improving and almost got off the mark at Southwell last time, looking very much in need of an extra furlong, so this trip may well suit. Yet to show this surface will suit but going the right way, and hard to discount.

Form: 55332-

(3)

Grandstand^p1³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 71

7/1

Went backwards after a promising start to career, with latest Kempton effort looking rather laboured. No surprise to see the headgear given a go here, and step back up in trip may help, but yard struggling for form and a bit to prove at present.

Form: 424665-

(5)

Axel Jacklin⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 68| BF| D

9/2

Winner over this trip at Wolverhampton last October but some mixed efforts since, although a change of tactics last time (led) seemed to produce a slightly better effort. May need a bit more here, but hard to totally discount.

Form: 85157-4

(6)

Temple of Wonder²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: R Winston| T: C Wallis| OR: 68

8/1

Has a bit of ground to make up on Ballistic on their Southwell running last time but is 3lb better off, so should close the gap, and looks ready for a crack at a seventh furlong. Chances in an open race.

Form: 74354-

(1)

So Hi Storm⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: J F Egan| T: K R Burke| OR: 68| D

9/4

Twice a winner at Chelmsford last October but found life harder once the handicapper had his say, and was seen off easily enough at Kempton last time (after leading). Drawn to attack, but that may not be enough.

Form: 351195-

(4)

Hypnos⁸⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: S Donohoe| T: D M Simcock| OR: 66

9/1

Nice looking sort but never really got going last year, although to be fair had a couple of stiffish tasks. Gelded since last seen, and has had a break, so you may well see a different horse today. Market may give a clue.

Form: 8487-

Forecasts

So Hi Storm (9/4), Ballistic (3/1), Axel Jacklin (9/2), Grandstand (7/1), Temple of Wonder (8/1), Hypnos (9/1), Black Medick (12/1)

A tricky opener. Ballistic looks the obvious one after a good effort at Southwell but does have a couple of small questions to answer regarding trip and surface, but they are only minor ones, so could easily overcome them. TEMPLE OF WONDER was behind Ballistic there but has a pull in the weights and was unlucky not to get a bit closer, so could turn the form around. Hypnos could leave his form behind now gelded, and any market support needs taking seriously.