15:30 Lingfield

Friday 22 February 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3016:0516:40

Betway Handicap

Off time: 15:31 | Winning time: 1m 11.76s

(6)

African Blessing²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Kieren Fox| T: J R Best| OR: 60| D

5/1

Started out well for this yard with a win and a second at Chelmsford over 7f but slightly lesser effort there next when eighth of 10. Back to 6f but not won over it since 2016 maiden so not confident it will suit.

Form: 009-128

(7)

Bond Street Beau⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: David Probert| T: P J McBride| OR: 59

7/1

Nine-race maiden but arrives here on the back of a decent reappearance fourth at Kempton and with a lowest handicap mark to date. Fitness should now be boosted and bold bid here more than likely.

Form: 65330-4

(3)

Tavener^p¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: D C Costello| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 59| CD

8/1

Past C&D winner on a good mark now if near best form but unplaced in all 13 races since April Chelmsford win so hard have any sort of confidence at present.

Form: 599-078

(2)

Holdenhurst²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J F Egan| T: W G M Turner| OR: 58| D

11/2

Kempton winner in December (6f) and ran well next with a 3lb higher mark when second at Chelmsford over the same trip. Unchanged handicap this time so fully expectant of a bold bid once more.

Form: 9065-12

(8)

Dark Magic^b1¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: A Kirby| T: D K Ivory| OR: 58

4/1

Lone win closing in on two years ago but ran well here two starts back when a close third before given plenty to do at Chelmsford latest. Top jockey and blinkers added so two major positives and now merits serious respect.

Form: 745-836

(5)

Brockey Rise^b²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Katherine Begley⁽⁵⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 57| CD

6/1

Won twice here this year already (7f and C&D) and far from disgraced at Wolverhampton latest when a running on fifth over 7f off revised mark. Handicap demands plenty but seems to be on the up so not ruled out.

Form: 00-6115

(1)

Spirit Of Zebedee^v⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 55| CD

5/1

Dual C&D winner ended last season in excellent form placing in his last five including two wins. Higher mark now but still well within range based on form earlier in career. Had a break but if arriving back in the same form he should go well.

Form: 812133-

(4)

Shackled N Drawn^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: J Fanning| T: P Hedger| OR: 55| C

12/1

32nd race today and this first ever crack at 6f. Not beaten far here into fifth latest but evidence that he will stay further limited.

Form: 322/94-5

(10)

Pharoh Jake²³

Age: 11| Weight: 8-10| J: Ellie Mackenzie⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Bridger| OR: 49| C| D

25/1

Admirable veteran gained 12th career success here in January over 5f. Second in both starts since over same C&D so clearly in great form but cautionary tale that he's only ever won once over 6f.

Form: 393-122

Non-Runners

(9)

Holy Tiber¹⁸

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: P Howling J: Joey Haynes

(11)

Golden Footsteps¹⁶

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: Mark Gillard J: Non Runner

(12)

Daring Guest²⁴

Weight: 9-3| Age: 5

T: Tom Clover J: L Morris

Forecasts

Dark Magic (4/1), Spirit Of Zebedee (5/1), African Blessing (5/1), Holdenhurst (11/2), Brockey Rise (6/1), Bond Street Beau (7/1), Daring Guest (7/1), Tavener (8/1), Holy Tiber (8/1), Shackled N Drawn (12/1), Pharoh Jake (25/1), Golden Footsteps (66/1)

A wide-open handicap this but a chance is taken on the combination of blinkers and Adam Kirby unlocking a bit extra from DARK MAGIC who hasn't won since July 2017 despite running several good races during that losing spell. Holy Tiber and Holdenhurst are both recent winners who finished second last time out and they rate big dangers.