14:00 Lingfield

Friday 19 April 2019

All13:3014:0014:3015:0515:4016:1516:45

Betway All-Weather Marathon Championships Conditions Stakes

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 3m 21.74s

(5)

Amade^b⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: C Soumillon| T: A G Botti| OR: 109| D

4/6

Prolific in France and impressive on two Polytrack starts in UK, most recently when making up plenty of ground to score comfortably at Chelmsford. That form has been franked with the runner-up winning in Listed company; leading contender.

Form: 2111-11

(3)

Battle Of Marathon⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: B Doyle| T: J Ryan| OR: 84

66/1

Just one win from 14 on AW. Badly out of form in recent times and no obvious signs he's going to stay this sort of trip, his breeding also offering little encouragement. This demands something close to a career best and others hold stronger claims.

Form: 090-653

(6)

Fearsome³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: E J Walsh| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 90| C| D

50/1

Rattled off a four-timer around the turn of the year including three 1m4f course wins. However, handicapper eventually caught up with him and he's hard to fancy on these terms in a conditions race. Back up in trip.

Form: 1-11534

(11)

Higher Power⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 102| D

12/1

Northumberland Plate winner in 2017 but he's been on a losing streak since and looks unlikely to turn the form around with Amade who he was 5¾L behind at Chelmsford last month; plenty to prove at present.

Form: 0023-43

(9)

Lord George^p⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 102| D

33/1

Won over this trip at Kempton in first-time headgear in January 2018 but he's not won since and he produced a sluggish performance over C&D when last seen, seemingly without excuses; needs to bounce back but did finish runner-up in this last year.

Form: 543-034

(10)

Petite Jack²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: N B King| OR: 100| BF| C

16/1

Not consistent, as seen when failing to back up a course win when favourite under a penalty last time but he does have a good record around here (seven course wins). Step back up in trip not certain to suit though.

Form: 089-D16

(8)

Spark Plug^p⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: B J Meehan| OR: 99

9/1

Surprise winner of a 1m4f Listed race at Kempton two starts back when getting the better of Verdana Blue and showed he could have a future at 2m when only narrowly denied at Kempton last time by re-opposing Stamford Raffles; each-way claims.

Form: 72751-2

(1)

Stamford Raffles⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: R Kingscote| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 92| D

16/1

Put up a career best effort when winning at Kempton two starts back (Spark Plug runner-up) and not disgraced at Chelmsford subsequently when third of seven. Will do well to reverse the Kempton form off level weights but ideally drawn to lead again.

Form: 009-213

(7)

Watersmeet⁷⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 103| CD

7/1

Has placed in the last two renewals of this race and has a good record here with three wins (including C&D). Freshened up for this after a couple of below par efforts and has won off a break before so he's expected to make a bold bid from the front.

Form: 0414-32

(4)

Aircraft Carrier^p⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: S Donohoe| T: J Ryan| OR: 100

7/1

Too bad to be true when a long way behind Amade and Higher Power at Chelmsford last time but had looked progressive prior to that run and has fewer miles on the clock than many in here. Needs a career best but well bred sort who could run well.

Form: 9411-14

Non-Runners

(2)

Grey Britain⁴³

Weight: 9-5| Age: 5

T: J Ryan J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Amade (4/6), Watersmeet (7/1), Aircraft Carrier (7/1), Grey Britain (8/1), Spark Plug (9/1), Higher Power (12/1), Petite Jack (16/1), Stamford Raffles (16/1), Lord George (33/1), Fearsome (50/1), Battle Of Marathon (66/1)

Amade looks sure to be popular with punters and the form of his latest run at Chelmsford looks rock solid but this isn't the easiest venue to make up ground and he wouldn't want to give the likes of WATERSMEET too much rope on the front end. Mark Johnston's runner is taken to make it third time lucky in a race he's run well in before and his ability to act over C&D is a big positive here. Spark Plug could be one to watch at this sort of trip throughout the season while Aircraft Carrier could bounce back from a below-par effort last time out.