16:00 Lingfield

Friday 21 February 2020

All13:5014:2514:5515:3016:0016:3017:00

Betway Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 16:02 | Winning time: 1m 11.27s

(5)

Roundabout Magic¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Hollie Doyle| T: S Dow| OR: 62| C

10/1

Six-time course winner with his latest success here coming in December over 5f as all his course wins have. Not tried over 6f since last summer he's 0-8 at this trip; usually runs well here but this trip is sure to stretch his suspect stamina.

Form: 231-236

(3)

Chocco Star³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Joey Haynes| T: C Banham| OR: 61| CD

2/1

Showed improved form last time over C&D to record her first win despite being given a fair amount to do; went clear in the closing stages. Raised 7lb for that win, she looks ahead of her mark, will continue to mark her mark in this sphere.

Form: 58533-1

(1)

Man Of The Sea^b,t²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: S W Kelly| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 59

12/1

Took four extended 5f handicaps in Jersey last year (started favourite each time. Found the transition back to the mainland a bit tougher running no sort of race at Wolverhampton last time over 6f (finished tamely); hard to recommend.

Form: 11613-0

(2)

Sir Hector²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: William Carson| T: C Wallis| OR: 59| CD

5/2

Dual course winner with his one win at this trip coming on his most recent outing (Mercers second) continuing his good/consistent run of form in this sphere. Nudged up 2lb for that win he still looks reasonably weighted; should go well again.

Form: 59D22-1

(7)

Garth Rockett^p,t³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: M Murphy| OR: 59| C

3/1

Capable at this trip but all his wins have come over further (three time winner here over 7f) with the latest win here coming off a 2lb lower mark. Proved himself off this mark since, shaped better than finishing position last time; strong traveller.

Form: 61136-5

(10)

Englishman^b¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 9-4| J: David Probert| T: J M Bradley| OR: 57| CD

8/1

A light of former years he's shown something of his old zest of late winning back-to-back 6f handicaps, one around this course. Still well handicapped on his old form he should make a bold bid to complete a hat-trick despite an awkward draw.

Form: 24-8911

(6)

Mercers^v¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Grace McEntee⁽⁷⁾| T: P Butler| OR: 55| C| D

16/1

Three-time course winner all over 5f she stays 6f with her last victory coming over the trip last October (helped by a strongly-run race). Below form last time at Chelmsford (well beaten behind Englishman); hard to see her reversing that form.

Form: 185-528

(9)

Stopdworldnletmeof^b¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Darragh Keenan⁽³⁾| T: D Flood| OR: 45

66/1

A career record of 0-27 hardly inspires even at this modest level finishing well held after a year off the track on his last two starts. Hard to see him getting involved from 1lb out of the handicap and he's easily passed over.

Form: 2/688-89

(8)

Vino Rosso¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: J Fanning| T: M Blanshard| OR: 45

33/1

Remains a maiden after 17 starts with only some very modest form to her name over this trip. Finished last of 11 on her most recent start and hard to construct a case for her on the current evidence.

Form: 8006-40

Non-Runners

(12)

Impart³⁹¹

Weight: 9-7| Age: 6

T: Mrs L J Mongan J: H Crouch

(11)

Brockey Rise²⁸

Weight: 9-0| Age: 5

T: P D Evans J: K Shoemark

(4)

Alisia R³⁹

Weight: 8-7| Age: 4

T: J L Eyre J: Josephine Gordon

Forecasts

Chocco Star (2/1), Sir Hector (5/2), Garth Rockett (3/1), Englishman (8/1), Roundabout Magic (10/1), Brockey Rise (10/1), Man Of The Sea (12/1), Alisia R (14/1), Mercers (16/1), Impart (16/1), Vino Rosso (33/1), Stopdworldnletmeof (66/1)

The majority of these are not in the sort of form that would be considered good enough to win this but a trio of in-form performers make this a competitive contest. Sir Hector would be the first of that triumvirate he goes well here and still looks on a reasonable mark from a nice berth in stall 2. Englishman is approaching the veteran stage but has discovered some of his old zip of late and still looks well handicapped on his old form Sure to make a bold bid he’s chance could be undermined by a wide draw. That means that CHOCCO STAR takes centre stage, she looks the type that has more to come and is far less-exposed than the rest of the field a 7lb rise may not hinder her C&D follow up bid.