16:20 Lingfield

Saturday 15 February 2020

All13:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:20

Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Handicap

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 2m 34.22s

(4)

Prince Percy^p1²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Liam Keniry| T: G & J Moore| OR: 64

3/1

One of a couple in this contest to have shown good initial progress for the switch to handicaps. Raised just 1lb for finishing third on debut in this sphere over 1m2f at this track last month. Should be involved once again on that evidence.

Form: 75-63

(8)

Sophar Sogood¹¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: R Havlin| T: P W D'Arcy| OR: 61| BF

9/2

Followed up winning handicap debut in September with a solid pair of second-placed efforts. 5lb higher mark to contend with, but he remains lightly raced and with one of the more attractive profiles on show.

Form: 059122-

(2)

Saracen Star²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: David Probert| T: J S Moore| OR: 56

12/1

Finished in front of a couple of rivals in this race when narrowly failing to make the frame over 1m2f here recently. May find more improvement for the step up to 1m4f, and she has solid place prospects.

Form: 0277-4

(6)

Bad Attitude³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: J Fanning| T: L McJannet| OR: 50

3/1

Turned out quickly again after showing drastic improvement on previous showings to finish second on handicap debut at Kempton (1m3f; standard to slow) on Wednesday. Extra furlong should suit, and every chance if building on that run.

Form: 960-2

(9)

Dazzling Darren⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: K T O'Neill| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 49

7/4

Irish trainer always afforded maximum respect when sending his runners to these shores, and this is his sole runner on the card. Made the trip over the Irish sea worth it when shedding his maiden tag at Chelmsford (1m2f; standard) last time.

Form: 0437-01

(10)

Sea Bright²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: A McCarthy| T: M J Attwater| OR: 45

33/1

Offered very little in a trio of maiden/novice races. That pattern was copied when he made his handicap debut but was eased down over 1m2f at this track. Yard not having winners and present. Impossible to fancy.

Form: 00-78

(5)

American Dreamer⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: Nicola Currie| T: J A Osborne| OR: 45

25/1

Upped considerably in trip on handicap debut from 6f to 1m2f and did show slightly more encouraging signs when sixth of 11 at Chelmsford (1m2f; standard) recently. Open to further improvement going up to 1m4f, but others have less to prove.

Form: 060-6

Non-Runners

(1)

Critique²¹

Weight: 9-1| Age: 3

T: E Walker J: H Crouch

(3)

Paint It Black³¹

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: S Kirk J: Josephine Gordon

(7)

Zero Limits¹⁵

Weight: 8-12| Age: 3

T: M Botti J: Stefano Cherchi

Forecasts

Dazzling Darren (7/4), Bad Attitude (3/1), Prince Percy (3/1), Sophar Sogood (9/2), Saracen Star (12/1), Zero Limits (12/1), Critique (12/1), Paint It Black (14/1), American Dreamer (25/1), Sea Bright (33/1)

An open looking finale. It may have only been a classified stakes race he won last time, but it speaks volumes that DAZZLING DARREN is the sole representative on this card for Irish trainer Gavin Cromwell who always does well with his runners when sending them to England. He can kick on now and record a quick-fire double. Bad Attitude is also of considerable interest given he only ran three days ago when bumping into the race-fit/well-fancied Kybosh on handicap debut at Kempton. Also in the mix is the consistent Sophar Sogood who hasn't finished out of the first two in three handicap starts over the past six months, and it seems likely he will do so again here.