12:30 Lingfield

Monday 9 December 2019

All12:0012:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:30

Bombardier 'March To Your Own Drum' Classified Stakes

Off time: 12:31 | Winning time: 1m 37.32s

(9)

Agent Of Fortune^p⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: H Crouch| T: G & J Moore| OR: 50

7/4

Three-time winner (including AW) for previous handler Christine Dunnett joined a yard with a good record of reviving new recruits. 14lb lower than at the start of the season but still top-rated here and a big danger now.

Form: 436957

(6)

Birthday Girl^t¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Hollie Doyle| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 45

20/1

Eight-race maiden getting no nearer in recent starts here or at Kempton and up against it at the weights today.

Form: 8-00769

(4)

Cat Royale^b¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Dylan Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 46| C

6/1

Losing streak dates back over a year now but put up better performances recently with handicap fifths at Kempton and Wolverhampton after second here over 1m2f. Would be better off in a handicap but still on the shortlist.

Form: 702555

(3)

Duke Of North¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Charlie Bennett| T: J R Boyle| OR: 48| C| D

12/1

Went close on a couple of occasions during the summer (1m-1m2f, turf); hasn't won on the AW since 2015. Fifth in back-to-back C&D handicaps coming into this give him a squeak and ratings wise he's only 2lb off top.

Form: 225755

(5)

Haraz⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: George Rooke⁽⁷⁾| T: P Butler| OR: 48| D

33/1

Poor strike-rate but win a Salisbury handicap off a mark of 50 back in August which is amongst the best 2019 form on offer. Well held subsequently in three AW starts but possibilities here.

Form: 014787

(2)

Juan Horsepower¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Darragh Keenan⁽³⁾| T: D P Quinn| OR: 46| C

66/1

Yet to feature in three starts and this seemingly regressive five-year-old is very hard to fancy in current form.

Form: 00-9000

(10)

Snooker Jim^p,t¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: J Mitchell| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 46

9/2

Placed 8-22 but yet to get his head in front where it matters most. Not disgraced when third at Newcastle on Tapeta latest and he is on the whole pretty adaptable and consistent. Always more an each-way prospect but respected here.

Form: 943533

(8)

Soaring Spirits^v⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-1| J: Sophie Ralston⁽⁵⁾| T: D K Ivory| OR: 49| CD

14/1

11-time winner has fallen to a good mark and his last run on unsuitable heavy ground can be ignored. Won four times at this course and given he's only 1lb off top-rated he has to be seriously considered today.

Form: 096786

(1)

Caesonia^p⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: David Probert| T: C Hills| OR: 45

33/1

Signs of life at last at Wolverhampton two starts back only to flop in finishing dead-last at Chelmsford next. Short break since so perhaps something came to light; career best needed.

Form: 66P040

(11)

Keep It Country Tv⁹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Paddy Bradley⁽³⁾| T: P Phelan| OR: 49| C

8/1

Lone win came here (7f) and although his turf form has been on the whole quite patchy he ran pretty well in fourth when last seen in a Brighton handicap over 1m in September. Claims after a layoff with the market a useful aid.

Form: 3-69984

(12)

Shaffire^h⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R Kingscote| T: H Whittington| OR: 49

25/1

Ten-race maiden whose only placing came in a five-runner maiden. Recent efforts poor so only real hope is that new yard can unlock well-hidden potential.

Form: 8-80889

(7)

Te Amo Te Amo^h⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: S Dow| OR: 48

8/1

Unplaced in 11 previous starts and although ratings wise he ought to be in the shake-up there are far more reliable options elsewhere.

Form: 490076

Forecasts

Agent Of Fortune (7/4), Snooker Jim (9/2), Cat Royale (6/1), Keep It Country Tv (8/1), Te Amo Te Amo (8/1), Duke Of North (12/1), Soaring Spirits (14/1), Birthday Girl (20/1), Shaffire (25/1), Haraz (33/1), Caesonia (33/1), Juan Horsepower (66/1)

A really trappy contest with the runners very closely bunched according to official ratings. A chance is taken on top-rated AGENT OF FORTUNE who was rated in the 70s earlier this season. Gary Moore has his string in decent order and his record with new recruits suggests a revival here distinctly possible. Course-specialist Soaring Spirits is sure to make a bold bid and he along with frustrating maiden Snooker Jim can make the frame.