15:05 Lingfield

Wednesday 9 January 2019

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

Betway Handicap

Off time: 15:06 | Winning time: 1m 11.73s

(3)

Deeds Not Words^p⁹^{(ex 6)}

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: J F Egan| T: M Wigham| OR: 63| CD

15/2

Has refound some form lately and comes here under a penalty for an easy win over C&D last time out, looking like he had a bit in hand at the finish. Obvious chances with a repeat but no guarantees of a similar good pace today.

Form: 415931-

(8)

Independence Day²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Joey Haynes| T: P Howling| OR: 67

5/1

Winner over 5f at Chelmsford last March and although recent efforts are far from dreadful, they do suggest he's not improving at the moment either. Hold-up tactics mean he's always going to be playing for luck late on. Risky.

Form: 0/10535-

(7)

Aguerooo^p,t¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: J Fanning| T: C Wallis| OR: 65| CD

11/2

Yet to score for this yard but well enough handicapped these days, and will do so at some point. Solid effort over 7f here last time out but another likely to be dropped out and space is going to be at a premium late on here.

Form: 662584-

(10)

Very Honest^v³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Rossa Ryan| T: B R Johnson| OR: 65| BF| CD

13/2

Good effort to finish second over C&D last time out and overall record at 6f here is pretty good. One that's less reliant on being held up and if she can get across from a moderate draw, might be able to take these along. Chances.

Form: 453042-

(2)

Picket Line^b²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: L P Keniry| T: G Deacon| OR: 64| D

17/2

Ran well over 6f at Kempton in November when ridden more prominently than is often the case. Last of 11 when slowly away and never in it last time but earlier effort puts him right in the firing line. Good draw to attack from and not ruled out.

Form: 909020-

(4)

Majorette³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Finley Marsh⁽³⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 64| CD

16/1

Very inconsistent, often follows up a good effort with a mediocre one and still 4lb higher than her last win, which came over this C&D in June. Hard to predict and overall profile suggests it's best to look elsewhere for the winner.

Form: 210620-

(5)

Fiery Breath¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: M Harley| T: R Eddery| OR: 64| C

4/1

Nothing wrong with this mark, being a pound lower than his last win here around this time last year, but tends to race at 7f these days and might find things happening a bit too quickly for him here. Needs to bounce back to best now.

Form: 170067-

(11)

Just An Idea⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: N Mackay| T: R Ingram| OR: 64| CD

40/1

First start for new yard here after leaving Harry Dunlop, C&D winner from a couple of seasons ago but form when last seen was poor and without any headgear here, is best watched after a break.

Form: 813800-

(12)

Flirtare²¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: R Havlin| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 63

16/1

Decent debut at Kempton last May but backwards steps since then and she's done no better for the step into handicaps. Not seen since last June and has plenty to prove now.

Form: 5/47680-

(6)

Spenny's Lass^p²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: S Donohoe| T: J Ryan| OR: 61| D

10/1

Tends to be thereabouts more often than not but finds getting her head in front tricky, as an overall record of 1-17 shows. Should run her race again but more than likely to find a few too good for her.

Form: 642644-

(1)

Indian Affair^b,t⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: R Winston| T: J M Bradley| OR: 58| CD

14/1

Rarely wins (just 9-127) but is refinding a bit of form and is definitely on a winning mark if it falls right. Robert Winston takes over from a 7lb apprentice and has the plot draw, so if ridden prominently, has e/w chances here at worst.

Form: 88409-6

(9)

First Link²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Toby Eley⁽⁷⁾| T: Jean-Rene Auvray| OR: 57

11/1

Only had the four starts, so open to improvement, and has demonstrated ability on a couple of her efforts so far. Might just lack the experience for this and already looks to need 7f, but cannot be ruled out with confidence.

Form: 4537-

Forecasts

Fiery Breath (4/1), Independence Day (5/1), Aguerooo (11/2), Very Honest (13/2), Deeds Not Words (15/2), Picket Line (17/2), Spenny's Lass (10/1), First Link (11/1), Indian Affair (14/1), Majorette (16/1), Flirtare (16/1), Just An Idea (40/1)

A race that needs treating with great caution, as there's a distinct lack of pace on and this could be run at a crawl. If that's the case, it's going to inconvenience the hold-up horses - the likes of Independence Day, Aguerooo and, to a lesser extent, Deeds Not Words - but trying to guess who it might suit is not easy. A chance is taken on old INDIAN AFFAIR, who has the draw if Robert Winston wishes to capitalise on it, and might be ridden more prominently here. Maybe he's the horse to get Milton Bradley off the cold list. Picket Line is well enough drawn if connections decide to crack on early too, and looks a danger.