14:00 Lingfield

Saturday 23 March 2019

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:55

Betway Handicap

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 2m 31.3s

(6)

Rakematiz²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Callum Shepherd| T: B R Johnson| OR: 72| C

4/1

His form figures since September 2018 read an impressive 1,2,3,2,1,3,1; 3lb higher than when displaying a determined battling attitude to get back on top of Hackbridge over 1m2f here a month ago; longer trip a question mark.

Form: 2321-31

(10)

Ace Combat⁸⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Scott McCullagh⁽⁷⁾| T: M Madgwick| OR: 72WS

33/1

Joined this trainer for 16,000gns in October 2018 as a winner of a Roscommon maiden (1m2f+) for Joseph O'Brien; no joy so far, including over hurdles; first start post wind surgery; watching brief.

Form: 0/15400-

(5)

Coorg¹¹⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: L P Keniry| T: J Butler| OR: 70

20/1

Absent since winning three on the bounce at Chelmsford (1m5f-2m) in January 2016; impossible to know what to expect on debut for John Butler; consult the market for prospective clues.

Form: 613111/

(9)

Sauchiehall Street¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Rob Hornby| T: Noel Williams| OR: 71| CD

13/2

Largely consistent AW performer (4-16) - has a C&D success for Sylvester Kirk on his CV; still early days for this trainer (£19,000 purchase in December); handicap mark looks high enough on balance.

Form: 11752-5

(2)

The Jean Genie¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Hollie Doyle| T: W Stone| OR: 69

12/1

12-race maiden; not far off the pace since switched to the AW by her new trainer, finishing just over 4L fifth of 14 to The Night King over 1m2f at Chelmsford earlier this month; stays 1m4f.

Form: 4220-45

(1)

Outofthequestion³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: A King| OR: 67

7/2

Two-time Flat winner (1m3f-1m5f+ at Newbury); switched back from hurdling when finishing in the mid-division (never nearer) over 1m4f at Kempton last month; now 3lb lower; stable are flying on the jumps at present.

Form: 23116-7

(4)

Gendarme²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Rossa Ryan| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 66

12/1

Ten-race maiden; left Richard Hannon for 7,500gns in February; ran his best race in a while on debut for this trainer over C&D 29-days ago when finishing a nose second to today's rival Music Major; up 2lb.

Form: 858-752

(8)

Harbour Quay²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: K T O'Neill| T: R Brisland| OR: 64

11/2

Five-race maiden; knocking at the door since his return to action in 2019, mainly over this trip on the Fibresand at Southwell; needs to find more in order to bust open that barrier to success.

Form: 9/7323

(3)

Sotomayor²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 63| CD

6/1

Doesn't find winning at all easy (1-23 career), but has a solid record over this C&D (2,1,3); 1lb lower than when finishing a keeping on third to King's Advice over C&D three-weeks ago; foolish to dismiss readily.

Form: 87708-3

(7)

Music Major^p²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: L Morris| T: M J Attwater| OR: 59| CD

8/1

Three-time C&D winner; 3lb higher than when scrambling home by a nose from today's rival Gendarme over C&D 29-days ago; likely to run his usual solid race; definite short-list material.

Form: 752-441

Forecasts

Outofthequestion (7/2), Rakematiz (4/1), Harbour Quay (11/2), Sotomayor (6/1), Sauchiehall Street (13/2), Music Major (8/1), The Jean Genie (12/1), Gendarme (12/1), Coorg (20/1), Ace Combat (33/1)

There's precious little to choose between Music Major and the Alex Dunn-trained Gendarme based upon their recent C&D clash, but as a four-time Lingfield winner, the preferred option of that duo is the Michael Attwater-trained 6yo. Rakematiz has been the model of consistency here this winter, yet off top-weight he's worth taking on with something to prove over this longer trip. The back to form Sotomayor is a possible for Jane Chapple-Hyam, and the market should provide any relevant clues for the impossible to assess Coorg. However, we'll take aim at the feasibly handicapped OUTOFTHEQUESTION for a trainer in excellent form on the jumps at present.