14:20 Lingfield

Saturday 2 February 2019

All12:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:05

Betway Handicap

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 1m 10.71s

(3)

National Glory^p¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A Watson| OR: 77| D

11/2

Raced off this mark when caught close home under an enterprising ride by Simon Walker at Kempton (6f) on his penultimate start; interesting to see if similar tactics are employed (faces competition for the lead) from a handy draw in stall three.

Form: 4059-36

(4)

Zafaranah²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: S W Kelly| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 77

7/1

On a hat-trick following back-to-back Class 5 wins at Wolverhampton (7f); just 3lb above her last winning mark and has proved herself as being effective at this track previously; drop back in trip (to 6f) is the obvious negative.

Form: 29301-1

(7)

Little Palaver^p¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Amelia Glass⁽⁷⁾| T: C G Cox| OR: 75| CD

12/1

Recorded his second 'win' on the AW when dead-heating with today's rival Mont Kiara at Kempton (6f) last month; raised just 1lb since and 7lb claimer Amelia Glass retains the ride.

Form: 01365-1

(1)

Ballyquin²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Joshua Bryan⁽³⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 75| CD

3/1

Stamped his authority all over his rivals when justifying favouritism in a C&D novice event last month (beat Barritus by 2L); mark left untouched and that could underestimate his abilities; chance.

Form: 4/434-1

(6)

Highland Acclaim^h¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: D O'Meara| OR: 75| C| D

7/1

Finally broke his duck on the AW when dead-heating with Florencio over 7f here last month (reeled in on the line); theoretically a drop back in trip should assist, although he's likely to face competition for the lead today.

Form: 6272-21

(5)

Gold Hunter¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: Finley Marsh⁽³⁾| T: S Flook| OR: 74| D

25/1

Prominent racer who appears to be gradually getting into the groove for Steve Flook (ex-Adrian Wintle trained); 2lb lower than when beaten 1¼L by Doc Sportello at Kempton (6f); faces competition for the lead today.

Form: 3590-53

(2)

Inaam^h³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: A Kirby| T: P W D'Arcy| OR: 74| C

7/2

Has spent the vast majority of his racing career confined to the AW (6-30); now 7lb higher than when beating Dark Alliance by 1¼L at Wolverhampton (7f) latest (on debut for Paul D'Arcy); more required.

Form: 90064-1

(8)

Mont Kiara¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: L Morris| T: S Dow| OR: 73| D

14/1

Forced a dead-heat with today's rival Little Palaver at Kempton (6f) last month and has been given a subsequent token rise (1lb) in the weights; Luke Morris takes over from Adam Kirby (rides Inaam) in the saddle.

Form: 57838-1

(10)

Gold Stone⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Spencer| T: K A Ryan| OR: 72| C

10/1

Regularly competes over 5f; set plenty to do in a 5f Class 5 Lingfield handicap in December, but arrived late and wide to run down Angel Of The South by a neck; 3lb higher and unexposed on synthetics (1-2); chance.

Form: 420401-

(9)

The Establishment^h³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: E J Walsh| T: P D Evans| OR: 71| D

14/1

Beaten a short-head by the subsequent scorer Turanga Leela over 6f at Wolverhampton on his penultimate start; never involved at Chelmsford latest (detached early); feasibly weighted but could struggle with the demands of a fast and furious race.

Form: 07082-7

Forecasts

Ballyquin (3/1), Inaam (7/2), National Glory (11/2), Highland Acclaim (7/1), Zafaranah (7/1), Gold Stone (10/1), Little Palaver (12/1), The Establishment (14/1), Mont Kiara (14/1), Gold Hunter (25/1)

A very tricky contest with no fewer than seven of the ten runners being winners on their respective latest outings, therefore stakes should be kept at the minimum. Gold Stone remains unexposed on an artificial surface and could prove suited by the way in which this race will be run (arrives fast and late), although her rider Jamie Spencer will need to negotiate a smooth passage through the beaten horses. Therefore, we'll take a chance on a similarly progressive and lightly-raced horse, BALLYQUIN. His rider Joshua Bryan has been knocking in a few winners of late, and Andrew Balding's 4yo colt is a C&D winner (novice) who competes from a perfectly fair mark on handicap debut.