14:35 Lingfield

Wednesday 13 March 2019

All13:5514:3515:1515:5516:3517:15

Betway Best For Cheltenham Festival Betting Handicap

Off time: 14:36 | Winning time: 1m 10.56s

(1)

Holy Tiber⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Joey Haynes| T: P Howling| OR: 59| D

12/1

Just 2lb higher than last win at Chelmsford in December but best run since has come at the same track and was disappointing here last start. May be best waiting for a return to Chelmsford.

Form: 015-727

(10)

Royal Mezyan³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: B A Curtis| T: H Spiller| OR: 59| D

14/1

Infrequent winner and last success came back in November 2016. Not necessarily suited by step back up in trip on course debut.

Form: 5525-44

(7)

Billyoakes^v1³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: R Kingscote| T: C Wallis| OR: 58| CD

10/1

Now 1lb lower than C&D success in December but is proving inconsistent and needs to leave latest poor run behind in a first-time visor.

Form: 916-455

(9)

Cuban Spirit⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: H Candy| OR: 58| BF| D

8/1

Showed nice progress in building to his first success over 6f at Wolverhampton in December. Failed to build on that when slowly away and hanging left-handed over the same C&D next time. Not one to give up on yet.

Form: 06981-7

(6)

Tavener^p⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 58| CD

5/2

C&D winner who is now 20lb lower than last success in April 2018. Kept very busy and not beaten far last four starts. Suited by drop back to this trip and should go close again.

Form: 785642

(4)

Holdenhurst¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Seamus Cronin⁽⁵⁾| T: W G M Turner| OR: 58| D

12/1

Well drawn to race on the pace and on a consistent run of form. Place possibilities again but a bit to find with Spirit Of Zebedee from his latest defeat.

Form: 065-128

(11)

Little Miss Daisy¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: M Dwyer| T: W R Muir| OR: 57| C

25/1

Ended a poor run with a much better effort off a career-low mark over this trip at Kempton. Down a further 1lb but both wins came at 5f and shaped as though a return to that trip would suit.

Form: 89/5-873

(2)

Letmestopyouthere¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 57| D

7/1

Yet to win for current yard and plummeting in the weights. Suited by this C&D but needs to leave a poor run of form well behind.

Form: 78-7078

(5)

Spirit Of Zebedee^v¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 57| CD

7/1

Wind surgery has worked the oracle with three wins since August, including two over this C&D. Only up 2lb for latest success and remains well-treated. Likely to go close again.

Form: 12133-1

(12)

Knockout Blow^v1¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Charlie Bennett| T: J R Boyle| OR: 57

40/1

Sole win came in September 2017 for Mark Johnston and while shaping well when placed over this trip at Wolverhampton in January, he has been well below that the last twice. Others look more reliable.

Form: 7-34376

(8)

Falcao²⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: A Kirby| T: J Butler| OR: 57| DWS

3/1

Yet to add to sole Irish win and continues to plummet in the weights. Unseated on leaving the stalls when last seen in June last year and has shown no form fresh previously. Best watched following wind surgery.

Form: 960/54U-

(3)

Daring Guest^p,t1¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: L Morris| T: Tom Clover| OR: 55| CD

10/1

Had shown a consistent level of form in four decent efforts on joining this yard and on a good mark on that evidence, however disappointing over this C&D latest and may be better at 7f.

Form: 642-338

Forecasts

Tavener (5/2), Falcao (3/1), Spirit Of Zebedee (7/1), Letmestopyouthere (7/1), Cuban Spirit (8/1), Daring Guest (10/1), Billyoakes (10/1), Holdenhurst (12/1), Holy Tiber (12/1), Royal Mezyan (14/1), Little Miss Daisy (25/1), Knockout Blow (40/1)

SPIRIT OF ZEBEDEE remains well-handicapped following his latest win, is well drawn to race on the pace and is proving reliable at this level. Tavener deserves another win based on his recent runs and is another proving consistent while Cuban Spirit could easily leave his latest effort behind and is open to more progress than his rivals.