16:50 Lingfield

Friday 15 February 2019

All14:0014:3515:1015:4016:1516:50

Betway Handicap

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 2m 31.25s

(8)

Luna Magic⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Darragh Keenan⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs L Pearce| OR: 57| C

11/1

Scored here over 1m last winter, when 3lb higher. Respectable effort from that same mark here over C&D two starts ago, but that was rare recent encouragement. Bit to prove.

Form: 270074-

(9)

Music Major^p²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Callum Shepherd| T: M J Attwater| OR: 56| C

16/1

All five of his wins have been on Polytrack, with three coming here. Yet to win over this far, but went very close to doing so over C&D from this mark in December. Can probably put a line through his latest effort on Tapeta. Not ruled out.

Form: 78752-4

(2)

Iley Boy^p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Aaron Jones⁽³⁾| T: J Gallagher| OR: 55| D

10/1

Has shown his best form at Kempton and Wolverhampton, going well at the former track again last time. Well drawn here and on a competitive mark, so can't write him off, but previous efforts here have to be a concern.

Form: 0174-63

(4)

New Street^v²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Rob Hornby| T: J & S Best| OR: 55

25/1

Scored at Chelmsford (1m2f) last year, his sole AW win from 18 attempts. Has run well here, and is on a handy mark, but inconsistent and carries risks.

Form: 270-059

(6)

Tommys Geal⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Scott McCullagh⁽⁷⁾| T: M Madgwick| OR: 54| C

25/1

Course winner over 1m2f (stays 2m), and would have claims if able to reproduce her best efforts from early last year. Bit to prove on recent evidence, however.

Form: D/52200-

(5)

Apex Predator^b,t²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: L Morris| T: S Durack| OR: 56| D

15/2

Has been in good form this winter, scoring at both Wolverhampton and then last month at Kempton (both 1m4f). Beat everything but a well handicapped opponent last time, for which he has been dropped 1lb. Nagging doubt that handicapper has caught up.

Form: 5771-12

(7)

Sark⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: E J Walsh| T: P D Evans| OR: 53

14/1

0-2 here and his sole AW win was on Wolverhampton's Tapeta. Not in bad form of late, and a 2lb drop won't harm, but others make more compelling cases.

Form: 036/07-6

(13)

Tigerfish^p⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Hollie Doyle| T: W Stone| OR: 52| CD

4/1

Arrives seeking a hat-trick after wins over C&D in December and then at Kempton last time. Up another 2lb for that, but has won from higher in the past, so should make a bold bid.

Form: 22951-1

(1)

Top Rock Talula²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Edward Greatrex| T: W Greatrex| OR: 54| BF| D

7/2

Came good at Kempton (1m4f) on her penultimate start, and matched that here over 2m last time, when she didn't appear to stay that far. Nudged up another 2lb, so more needed, but unexposed over this trip and enters calculations.

Form: 058-416

(14)

Arlecchino's Arc^b²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: M D I Usher| OR: 53

16/1

0-14 on AW, where his best form has been at Kempton. Tries this venue for the first time. Inconsistent, but if he can put his latest run behind him and reproduce the time before's effort, he would have each-way claims.

Form: 2443-27

(3)

Tesorina^v²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: A Kirby| T: W J Knight| OR: 53

11/2

Ran well from this mark in a first-time visor at Kempton (1m2f) last time out. Acts here, but does have a bit to prove now stepped up to this trip for the first time, particularly after her sole try over 1m3f saw her well held.

Form: 2675-92

(12)

Willow Grace¹³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Nicola Currie| T: George Baker| OR: 53

16/1

Showed significant improvement on her first two runs when last seen on turf (1m2f, soft) in a Windsor claimer in October. Looks to have got in on a very fair mark for her handicap debut after a break and support for her would be interesting.

Form: 006-

(10)

Singer In The Sand³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Paddy Bradley⁽³⁾| T: P Phelan| OR: 52

33/1

Has shown little in three runs to date, and this mark looks tough on her handicap debut.

Form: 00/0

(15)

Murhib^h¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: David Probert| T: Mrs L Richards| OR: 46

16/1

Produced his best effort to date when beaten less than 1L at Kempton (1m4f) last month, from today's mark. Probably didn't quite see out 1m5½f at Chelmsford last time, and looks an each-way player back over this trip.

Form: 603-844

(11)

London Grammar²³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen⁽⁷⁾| T: R J Smith| OR: 45

50/1

Sole AW win in 11 starts was at Kempton in 2017. Not in great form here of late and is opposable from 1lb 'wrong'.

Form: 8645-40

Forecasts

Top Rock Talula (7/2), Tigerfish (4/1), Tesorina (11/2), Apex Predator (15/2), Iley Boy (10/1), Luna Magic (11/1), Sark (14/1), Arlecchino's Arc (16/1), Music Major (16/1), Willow Grace (16/1), Murhib (16/1), Tommys Geal (25/1), New Street (25/1), Singer In The Sand (33/1), London Grammar (50/1)

A tough race to call and if could be worth chancing TOP ROCK TALULA, who is unexposed over this trip and may be able to get back on track after failing to see out further last time. Tigerfish looks a very obvious danger, while Willow Grace could also be one and support for her may well be significant. Murhib>, Apex Predator, New Street and Music Major could all go close if at their best.