16:55 Lingfield

Saturday 22 February 2020

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2516:55

Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Novice Stakes

Off time: 16:57 | Winning time: 1m 41.60s

(7)

Group One Power²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| D

4/5

Lope De Vega colt who cost 90,000 gns and made a winning start in 1m Kempton maiden last month (fifth won next time). Should go well again under the penalty.

Form: 1

(4)

Amsby³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: M Dwyer| T: J M P Eustace

7/1

Sir Percy gelding was doing his best work at the finish over C&D on debut last month (seventh); can build on that but will likely be suited by further in time.

Form: 7

(2)

Billhilly⁸⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton

20/1

Sea The Stars colt bought for 55,000 gns at the sales last autumn, pair of modest efforts in novice events at Kempton and Chelmsford in November and must improve after break since.

Form: 07-

(6)

Captain Claret

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Georgia Dobie⁽⁵⁾| T: Eve Johnson Houghton

33/1

First foal; dam 1m1½f AW winner, half-sister to 1m3½f-1m6f winner Peachez out of maiden half-sister to useful 1m2f-1m6f winner Saltrio. Market can guide on debut.

Form:

(8)

Hover¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Rob Hornby| T: M Meade

5/1

Lacked change of pace at a vital stage of the race when just failing to make the frame on debut at Kempton (1m; standard to slow) recently. That was still an encouraging effort in what looked a decent contest. Interesting sort.

Form: 4

(5)

Magic Lute

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Charlie Bennett| T: B R Millman

50/1

Brother to 1m/1m2f winner Mandocello; dam French 6f juvenile winner, sister to 6f Listed winner Silva; may come on for this experience.

Form:

(3)

La Poseur

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Darragh Keenan⁽³⁾| T: M Blanshard

100/1

First foal; dam well beaten 7f-1m4f, half-sister to 7f-1m winners George Cinq and Dance Teacher out of 6f AW winner, is granddaughter of 6f winning half-sister to 1m2f Group 3 winner Germano. Best watched on debut.

Form:

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 30p in the pound

Non-Runners

(1)

Behind The Wall⁷

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: A Watson J: K Shoemark

Forecasts

Group One Power (4/5), Behind The Wall (11/8), Hover (5/1), Amsby (7/1), Billhilly (20/1), Captain Claret (33/1), Magic Lute (50/1), La Poseur (100/1)

Group One Power made a winning start at Kempton late last month and is sure to go well again for an in-form stable but he's got a serious question posed here in conceding 7lb to BEHIND THE WALL. Archie Watson's runner bumped into the potentially smart Dublin Pharoah over C&D seven days ago and gave him a fright in the home straight before being reeled in. It won't be as easy to run him down giving weight and he's likely going to have benefitted from that experience, with any improvement giving him excellent claims. Hover showed some potential on debut and can make the frame if building on that now.