15:30 Lingfield

Tuesday 25 February 2020

All14:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:00

Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 2m 45.27s

(5)

In Demand^b²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: A Kirby| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 57

5/4

Better performance at Kempton at the start of February but lacks consistency and has been unable to exploit a tumbling handicap mark. Nudged down a further 1lb so a good chance at the weights in this modest company but not one for maximum faith.

Form: 6/43-893

(2)

Genuine Approval^p,t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Darragh Keenan⁽³⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 57| C

6/1

Has a course win to his name (over 1m2f) but this is his first try over this trip; stays 1m4f but recent form suggests the final furlong might be a problem today.

Form: 12800-5

(8)

Sunshineandbubbles²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Gina Mangan⁽⁷⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 55| C

12/1

Best recent form has been posted on Tapeta at Wolverhampton but the mare does handle this surface and she has snippets of form that give her reasonable claims at this level. Debatable whether this trip will bring the best out of her, though.

Form: 0137-36

(12)

Harbour Quay^b¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: David Probert| T: P R Chamings| OR: 55

11/4

Still a maiden but is effective at this course, even though his best performances have taken place at Southwell; shapes as if worth a try over this trip but stamina to prove.

Form: 640-346

(11)

Wildomar²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 9-4| J: William Carson| T: J Gallagher| OR: 52| C

8/1

Dangerously well handicapped on old form and almost sprung a bit of surprise when beaten by the shortest of margins at Kempton (1m4f, standard to slow) in the first week of February. Good chance if able to repeat that effort here.

Form: 8156/82

(3)

Phoenix Dawn^b¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: L Morris| T: L Allan| OR: 52

20/1

Has generally been underwhelming since joining his current yard and it's almost four years since since he last won on the Flat. Jockey booking is a positive move but a big turnaround in form is needed.

Form: 777/0-36

(13)

Lord Howard^v²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: George Bass⁽⁷⁾| T: M R Channon| OR: 52

16/1

Won in selling grade on turf last October and managed to back that up with a win on Polytrack (at Kempton) a month later. Been out of sorts since but only 1lb higher in the weights and not unfeasible he can be a player in this low-key event.

Form: 1610-77

(1)

Royal Born^p1¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Rob Hornby| T: R J Price| OR: 49

33/1

Shown very little in four starts so far (just one for Mark Johnston before being moved on to his incumbent trainer). Cheekpieces now applied but a transformation in form is required.

Form: 77-0

(9)

Sweeping Rock^p²²

Age: 10| Weight: 8-12| J: J Mitchell| T: J L Spearing| OR: 45

66/1

The first of the bottom five who are set to race from out of the weights and the lack of reliable form on the Flat/AW forces the issue; probably safe to look elsewhere in search of the most likely winner.

Form: 60740/6

(6)

Saga Sprint¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: J R Jenkins| OR: 45

40/1

The mare's only career win up to press came in a weak claimer when trained in Ireland in 2016; it's been one-way traffic as far as her handicap mark has gone since then and she has a lot to find from her lowest rating to date.

Form: 6/948-58

(4)

Sir Dylan^h²⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 8-12| J: William Cox⁽³⁾| T: P Gundry| OR: 45

66/1

Considered more effective over Jumps and very little impression in two recent spins on Polytrack at Kempton; has another stiff test in front of him on these terms.

Form: 866/4-00

(10)

Munstead Moonshine²⁷³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Tyler Heard⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Tracey Barfoot-Saunt| OR: 45

66/1

Poor form posted in six starts for Andrew Balding and looks like an uphill task on debut for her new yard. Others much more likely to be in the mix.

Form: 0/68587-

Non-Runners

(7)

Dukes Meadow¹²

Weight: 8-12| Age: 9

T: R Ingram J: Rhiain Ingram

Forecasts

In Demand (5/4), Harbour Quay (11/4), Genuine Approval (6/1), Wildomar (8/1), Dukes Meadow (10/1), Sunshineandbubbles (12/1), Lord Howard (16/1), Phoenix Dawn (20/1), Royal Born (33/1), Saga Sprint (40/1), Munstead Moonshine (66/1), Sweeping Rock (66/1), Sir Dylan (66/1)

A weak race in which the bottom five on the racecard are set to run from out of the handicap; which helps pave the way for IN DEMAND to shine at this lowly level. He's not the most consistent, so the suggestion comes with an element of caution; but he has shown a bit more enthusiasm since joining his current yard and being tried over this sort of trip; all of which bolsters a strong case that he sets the standard this time. Widomar can give them all a good run for the money, while any support in the betting for Sunshineandbubbles or Lord Howard could also be considered as significant indicators.