20:00 Lingfield

Thursday 20 June 2019

All17:5018:2519:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

Racing Welfare Handicap

Off time: 20:02 | Winning time: 1m 37.59s

(11)

Daniel Dravot^h¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Callum Shepherd| T: M J Attwater| OR: 55

25/1

Modest form overall including in handicaps failing to improve for a break when running below-par in two Brighton handicaps (wore first-time hood last time). First time in a handicap on the AW but fails to set the pulse racing.

Form: 9560-36

(9)

Mitigator^b⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: B Doyle| T: Mrs L Pearce| OR: 55

8/1

Hinted that there might be better to come when returning to turf at Yarmouth last time (1m) in first-time blinkers. Given his overall profile not sure to build on this but has a much-reduced mark to help plus a return to the AW; fair chance.

Form: 8-80804

(10)

Hanbury Dreams^p1²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: L Morris| T: Tom Clover| OR: 55

25/1

Has one standout effort on her curriculum vitae which came on her last run prior to going into handicaps (7f, Chelmsford). Failed to make any sort of progress in handicaps so far (career-low mark now); cheekpieces now tried (first time).

Form: 96-3996

(3)

Ocean Rouge²⁹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: David Probert| T: A W Carroll| OR: 55

16/1

Offered little in five starts as a two-year -old (finished last on final two outings) and has left David Evans. Now makes his debut for a new yard but hard to make a case for him on the evidence so even off a reduced mark.

Form: 79500-

(8)

Dark Poet⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 55

7/2

Looks capable of winning a handicap and there is the possibility that events have conspired against him so far. Raced to close to an overly strong pace (penultimate start), failed to settle last time; visor now left off returning to the AW.

Form: 00-9538

(6)

Smith^p¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 55| BF

12/1

Failed to improve for the switch to handicaps (wore cheekpieces on debut in this sphere) and the headgear now returns. Beaten favourite when last seen but hard to call him a solid proposition making his AW debut.

Form: 48-065

(1)

Yes Can Do³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: R Havlin| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 53

33/1

As yet has failed to make any impact in handicaps even with a hood on; again ran poorly last time without any headgear. Marks falls again as she steps up in trip but plenty to find even in this grade on what she accomplished so far.

Form: 609-99

(2)

Luna Princess^p1⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Jane Elliott⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 52

10/1

Improved for a step away from artificial surfaces last time when back on turf at Carlisle last time running third to two useful types for the grade. Cheekpieces (first-time) now fitted for her AW return; doubts remain about the surface.

Form: 66773

(4)

Crazy Spin^p²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: S De Sousa| T: I Furtado| OR: 52| D

7/4

One of four winners in the field his improvement may have been down to switching to Fibresand (that option closed now until August). Can't be ruled out (has the assistance of the champion jockey) but will find this harder on this surface and mark.

Form: 337412

(12)

Keep It Country Tv¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Paddy Bradley⁽³⁾| T: P Phelan| OR: 51| C

12/1

Hasn't shown anything like his winning form over 7f in three starts since, the latest coming after a break; yet to prove himself over this 1m trip. Slow away last time he's only 2lb higher than winning here before; trip doubts mean he's left alone.

Form: 8613-69

(5)

Poetic Motion²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Charlie Bennett| T: J R Boyle| OR: 51| D

7/1

Slightly fortunate to score making her handicap/turf debut at Bath over this trip on quick ground but failed to build on that last time (refused to settle). Back down in trip returned to the AW (first handicap on the surface); better expected.

Form: 009-410

(7)

Islay Mist^t¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R Winston| T: L Carter| OR: 51

25/1

Made her debut for this yard and ran one of his better races this year over 6f here last time having struggled for the most part when with Amy Murphy. His win came in claiming company and this will be his first try over 1m; others appeal more.

Form: 6-57877

Forecasts

Crazy Spin (7/4), Dark Poet (7/2), Poetic Motion (7/1), Mitigator (8/1), Luna Princess (10/1), Smith (12/1), Keep It Country Tv (12/1), Ocean Rouge (16/1), Islay Mist (25/1), Hanbury Dreams (25/1), Daniel Dravot (25/1), Yes Can Do (33/1)

Hard to say that there are any solid options in this with none of those that have so far won races offering an outstanding option. Best of that quartet would be Crazy Spin but she has to prove herself on this surface off a higher mark and the same remark could be levelled at Luna Princess who looked better on turf last time but AW doubts remain. It may well be dangerous to make too many excuses for DARK POET but despite some quirks he does look capable of winning a handicap if all the pieces of the jigsaw fall right for him. Smith and Mitigator are two others that should be considered in a trappy event.