15:10 Lingfield

Friday 17 January 2020

All12:0012:3013:0013:3514:0514:4015:1015:40

Betway Handicap

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 2m 5.38s

(2)

Mr Scaramanga¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen⁽⁵⁾| T: S Dow| OR: 86| C| D

4/1

Useful performer in his time and still capable of producing decent form. Fair third over C&D penultimate start off 1lb higher but disappointed latest over 1m. Return to this trip looks a positive and decent apprentice claims valuable 5lb.

Form: 173535-

(7)

Berrahri¹¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: Joey Haynes| T: J R Best| OR: 85| C| D

16/1

Winner of 15 starts so far at between 1m-1m6f. Landed Epsom 1m2f h'cap in September and fair fourth 1m6f last time at Chelmsford in October. All roads likely to lead back to snow surface at St Moritz where won feature race last February.

Form: 116214-

(1)

Zeyzoun^h³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: R Havlin| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 83

33/1

Handles very soft ground on turf and has won twice in testing conditions, including Epsom 7f h'cap in September off 4lb lower. Relatively unexposed on AW but is unproven over this far.

Form: 027108-

(4)

My Target³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: Charles Bishop| T: M Wigham| OR: 80| C

7/1

Went close to gaining 1th success when solid second over C&D last time, just outpaced by winner last 75 yards. Raised 1lb and has yet to win beyond 1m so may again find one or two too good if they go a fair gallop.

Form: 501532-

(8)

Normal Norman¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Darragh Keenan⁽³⁾| T: J Ryan| OR: 79| C

3/1

Fair dual purpose performer, but pulled after after never travelling in Musselburgh h'cap hurdle on New Year's Day. Previously won 1m Kempton h'cap off 3lb lower mark so not out of it if hurdles disappointment is behind him.

Form: 36/2521-

(5)

Torochica³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: K T O'Neill| T: J R Best| OR: 79

8/1

Stable companion of Berrahri. Newmarket 7f novice stakes winner last July and good second in Chelmsford 1m2f h'cap in November off 1lb higher. Solid third after that and probably didn't see out 1m3f last time. Decent claims on previous two efforts.

Form: 120238-

(3)

Starfighter⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Hollie Doyle| T: E Walker| OR: 78| D

2/1

Won one (1m2f h'cap) and placed seven times from 12 starts on turf. Makes AW bow here for yard in good form at present (30% strike rate) and is interesting if ready to roll after 98-day absence.

Form: 222160-

(6)

Nawar^t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: F Norton| T: M R Bosley| OR: 73| C

16/1

Only win to date came in 1m h'cap here in July off 3lb lower and wasn't disgraced on third start back from break when sixth here last time. Steps up 2f and has stamina to prove, but dam was Listed winner at this trip.

Form: 301586-

Forecasts

Starfighter (2/1), Normal Norman (3/1), Mr Scaramanga (4/1), My Target (7/1), Torochica (8/1), Nawar (16/1), Berrahri (16/1), Zeyzoun (33/1)

Hard to rule anything out here, but TOROCHICA probably didn't quite see it out over 1m3f last time. Back at this trip and having run well on her two previous starts she may well just come out on top. Normal Norman ran a shocker over hurdles last time but had won on AW previously and has a shout on that effort, while Mr Scaramanga has a chance on his third place effort here in November off 1lb higher. If Nawar stays then he could give them all something to think about, while AW debutante Star Fighter is the type who may improve for this surface.