12:00 Lingfield

Saturday 25 January 2020

All12:0012:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:05

Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 12:01 | Winning time: 2m 6.91s

(6)

Cottonopolis²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 67

4/1

Colt by Ruler Of The World, has shown definite promise in novice outings at Wolverhampton and here over a mile since switching to the AW; interesting to see if further improvement comes now upped in trip.

Form: 26-5

(4)

Itwouldberudenotto²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Connor Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 65| BF

10/3

Narrowly denied at Southwell over a mile this month on fifth AW start; winner has scored again since and should be a leading player if handling this longer trip with Connor Murtagh taking 3lb off.

Form: 84683-2

(9)

Prince Percy²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: L P Keniry| T: G & J Moore| OR: 63

9/2

Promise in all three starts so far in novice company, including here. Goes up in distance for this handicap debut and starts off in relatively calm waters. Can be competitive if improving.

Form: 75-6

(1)

Manap^b1¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 62

7/1

Showed a modicum of promise on debut at Lingfield (7f, good to soft) in July but failed to build on that since switched to AW in two runs since. Must improve in first-time blinkers now sent handicapping.

Form: 69-7

(8)

Sparkling Or Still^b1¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: S W Kelly| T: D R Lanigan| OR: 61

12/1

Has shown promise in novice company but will have to improve on Wolverhampton handicap debut (1m1½f) this month to score (hung left); blinkers added today.

Form: 094-5

(7)

Nikolayeva^p,h¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: L Morris| T: M Appleby| OR: 60

12/1

Steady improver for Sir Mark Prescott and duly off the mark on debut for this trainer at Wolverhampton (1m1½f) 10 days ago when suited by fast pace and finishing to good effect. 5lb higher now.

Form: 0063-1

(10)

I Hear Thunder²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: P J McDonald| T: J Tate| OR: 57

8/1

Not much to get excited about in three qualifying runs, goes handicapping upped in distance and with plenty improvement to find. Trainer/jockey team boast 28 per-cent strike rate (32-115) previous 12 months.

Form: 97-6

(3)

Arabescato^v1¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Callum Shepherd| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 54

6/1

Was 2L fourth in Wolverhampton race won by Nikolayeva 10 days ago, showing improvement. Visored now and 5lb better off with the winner.

Form: 9086-4

(2)

Xquisite^p¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Laura Coughlan⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Moore| OR: 45

33/1

Well held in all five starts thus far, including when sporting cheekpieces (retained) at Wolverhampton recently on step up to this sort of trip. Remains early days but improvement required.

Form: 0936-7

(5)

Dark Side Division¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Darragh Keenan⁽³⁾| T: J Ryan| OR: 45

50/1

More exposed than plenty of these rivals and wide-margin defeats very much the norm so far; hard to have confidence in a chance of fortune.

Form: 67600-5

Forecasts

Itwouldberudenotto (10/3), Cottonopolis (4/1), Prince Percy (9/2), Arabescato (6/1), Manap (7/1), I Hear Thunder (8/1), Nikolayeva (12/1), Sparkling Or Still (12/1), Xquisite (33/1), Dark Side Division (50/1)

He found only one too strong at Southwell last time and there's a good chance this longer trip will suit ITWOULDBERUDENOTTO. Most of the 4lb ratings-rise dished out is offset by Connor Murtagh's claim and they have leading prospects. The strike-rate of his trainer/jockey combo ensures that I Hear Thunder is a notable handicap debutant, while Prince Percy may also improve. Nikolayeva can confirm Wolverhampton form with Arabescato.