15:15 Lingfield

Saturday 23 February 2019

All13:3014:0514:3515:1515:5016:1016:2517:00

Betway Winter Derby Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 2m 1.28s

(5)

Big Country^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: L Morris| T: M Appleby| OR: 109| D

10/1

Placed in three C&D Listed events this winter already and hard to envisage him reversing the form with Wissahickon from his last couple of starts on worse terms with his rival; may have too much for the other runners though and he's consistent

Form: 13522-2

(2)

Chiefofchiefs^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: David Probert| T: C Fellowes| OR: 100| D

40/1

Class 3 Handicap winner at Kempton last month but finished fourth behind several of these last time when stepped up to Listed class for the first time, beaten 5L by Wissahickon. Needs a clear career best to have any chance of reversing that form.

Form: 6147-14

(4)

Court House²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 105| C

14/1

Two-time course winner who finished third behind stablemate Wissahickon in a C&D Listed event last time out. Second-string on jockey bookings but seemingly still progressing and not without each-way claims.

Form: 2224-13

(1)

Hathal¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kirby| T: J A Osborne| OR: 107| C

8/1

Group 3 winner for William Haggas and getting back to something like his best in recent starts for this yard with back to back wins at Wolverhampton. Won going away last time out and gives the impression the step back up in trip should suit.

Form: 2023-11

(6)

Master The World^p⁹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: S M Levey| T: D R C Elsworth| OR: 107| CD

16/1

Winner of this race last year (awarded in stewards' room) and set himself up for another tilt with an impressive C&D Listed win in November. Expect him to be doing all his best work in the finish and not out of this provided they go a decent gallop.

Form: 004601-

(7)

Pactolus^h,t³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: S C Williams| OR: 104| CD

40/1

Arrives bidding for a hat-trick after a 12th career AW success over C&D last time out. Well beaten on his only previous run at Pattern level though and has a bit to find on official ratings with the rest of the field; consistent at least.

Form: 81101-1

(3)

Wissahickon²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 117| CD

1/4

Cambridgeshire winner in the Autumn and has followed that up with two C&D Listed wins, most recently with three of these in behind. Won with a bit in hand that day and hard to beat at these weights.

Form: 18111-1

Forecasts

Wissahickon (1/4), Hathal (8/1), Big Country (10/1), Court House (14/1), Master The World (16/1), Pactolus (40/1), Chiefofchiefs (40/1)

WISSAHICKON has looked progressive on all-weather this winter and won cosily in a Listed event here last time out. That made it six wins from his last seven starts and he's hard to oppose having beaten several of these convincingly already. Stablemate Court House is still improving and can go well again while Big Country has been unlucky not to get his head in front this winter. Expect Master The World to come with his typical late effort in his bid for back-to-back renewals.