13:10 Lingfield

Wednesday 18 December 2019

All12:1012:4013:1013:4514:1514:5015:20

Betway Heed Your Hunch Handicap

Off time: 13:12 | Winning time: 1m 11.48s

(8)

Black Isle Boy¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: David Probert| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 60| D

8/1

Comes into this on a long losing run achieving very little on his last two starts following a below-par effort with an even worse one. Reverts to 6f; falls into a 0-60 for the first time which may help; leap of faith needed to support him.

Form: 079500

(7)

Catheadans Fury^t⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: George Wood| T: M R Bosley| OR: 60| D

7/1

Bounced back to some sort of form over this trip at Chelmsford last time that being the C&D that had seen her last victory. Up 3lb for that effort she needs to show that she can build on that run having not been consistent in the past.

Form: 4-P2062

(2)

Broughton Excels¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Rob Hornby| T: S C Williams| OR: 59| D

2/1

Consistent sort since winning over 6f at Chelmsford off a 9lb lower mark finishing runner up in three of his subsequent starts all over the same C&D. Run of good form halted on Tapeta at Newcastle last time; returns to his preferred surface.

Form: 512227

(6)

Perfect Symphony^p⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: L Morris| T: M Pattinson| OR: 58| D

9/1

Cheekpieces worn for his last win albeit that came back in May off a 3lb higher mark return in a bid to spark a revival. Has work to do on the basis of his recent starts but can't be ignored on a handicapping basis.

Form: 563750

(9)

Little Miss Lilly^v³⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 57

16/1

Needs to be ready to go after an absence but has shown some decent enough form at this level (runner up in this last year off 2lb higher). Leading AW rider replaces the usual apprentice rider and that may prove significant in the market.

Form: 917527-

(12)

Knockout Blow^p¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: H Crouch| T: J E Long| OR: 57| CD

6/1

Back down to his last winning mark when scoring over C&D last time (Porto Ferro, second), now up 4lb and not certainty to confirm that form. Wide draw won't help and he's yet to back up a win with a decent run; comes with risks attached.

Form: 408471

(10)

Bernie's Boy^p,t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Grace McEntee⁽⁷⁾| T: P S McEntee| OR: 56| CD

10/1

C&D winner who returns here on the back of a long losing run although he's hard to ignore on the back of his Chelmsford 6f effort last time. Made his effort earlier than ideal there but undeniably well handicapped if he can build on that outing.

Form: 078585

(4)

Mercers^b⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: George Rooke⁽⁷⁾| T: P Butler| OR: 55| C| D

20/1

Three-time course winner with all those victories coming over 5f but she is effective over 6f proving so last time in a strongly-run affair at Kempton. Helped by the race scenario there (held up off strong pace) she will need more of the same here.

Form: 794901

(1)

Porto Ferro^t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: K T O'Neill| T: J J Bridger| OR: 54| BF| CD

9/1

This previous C&D winner turned in her best run of the year last time out (second to Knockout Blow) although was off a career-low mark. Given another chance off that mark here and could go close again if she gets a better trip this time.

Form: 052802

(11)

Dreamboat Annie⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Isobel Francis⁽⁷⁾| T: M D I Usher| OR: 45| D

16/1

Produced one of her better efforts last time when second to Kodiline (runs in the 12.10) over 7f here last time. Now back to 6f she's alighted on a competitive contest for the grade, can't be discounted but others make more appeal.

Form: 880602

(5)

Celerity^p⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Gavin Ashton⁽⁷⁾| T: L Williamson| OR: 45

50/1

With a Flat record of 0-82 it's hard to imagine that there will be a rush to support her as she bids to break her maiden once again. Started at 100-1 on her last two starts and those odds just about sum up her chance in this.

Form: 503007

Non-Runners

(3)

Nautical Haven²⁷

Weight: 9-6| Age: 5

T: J & S Best J: D C Costello

Forecasts

Broughton Excels (2/1), Knockout Blow (6/1), Catheadans Fury (7/1), Black Isle Boy (8/1), Perfect Symphony (9/1), Porto Ferro (9/1), Bernie's Boy (10/1), Nautical Haven (10/1), Little Miss Lilly (16/1), Dreamboat Annie (16/1), Mercers (20/1), Celerity (50/1)

Luck in running could well play a part in this 6f handicap which isn’t an easy contest to unravel. Of those looking to go one better than their runner-up spot last time Porto Ferro would be the pick and it’s not hard to see her reversing the form with Knockout Blow who isn’t the most consistent. Mercers will need another strong pace to strike off and if she gets that scenario she appeals as one to go close while Broughtons Excels should be happier back on Polytrack. The well handicapped NAUTICAL HAVEN is hard to ignore though given his mark now and how he shaped over 5f last time and don’t ignore Bernie’s Boy who gave notice he was on his way back last time and is a dual course winner.