17:00 Lingfield

Wednesday 4 March 2020

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

Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap

Off time: 17:04 | Winning time: 3m 28.50s

(10)

Final Choice^p⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: J Mitchell| T: A West| OR: 60| D

12/1

Has become unreliable these days and that tendency didn't show signs of stopping when fifth of seven at Southwell (2m) In January. Has work to do and the cheekpieces are back on now.

Form: 67478-5

(4)

Heron¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: B R Johnson| OR: 59

5/1

Form tailed off towards the backend of last season but improved with each start this term, including C&D third when not ideally placed last time. No reason why he can't progress again and looks competitive.

Form: 3086-63

(7)

Stynes^t²⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-2| J: Rob Hornby| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 55| D

14/1

Good mixed-code performer in the past with last victory coming at Nottingham (1m6f) in June 2018. Returned from mammoth layoff when ninth at Kempton (2m) last month and entitled to strip fitter for this.

Form: 71411/9

(2)

Uncle Bernie^p³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Sullivan| T: Sarah Hollinshead| OR: 54| CD

14/1

Previous C&D winner but an unreliable sort. Regressed when only ninth of 13 in Wolverhampton handicap (1m6f) last time. Not the quickest out of the stalls either so is best watched.

Form: 5781-39

(1)

Ezzrah⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: David Probert| T: M J Attwater| OR: 57

20/1

Best piece of form came when second at Chelmsford in November. Badly regressed last three starts and finished stint with previous yard when sixth in 1m4f Wolverhampton claimer. First run for this yard.

Form: 0025-46

(5)

Banta Bay^p⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Josephine Gordon| T: J R Best| OR: 53

8/1

A winner three starts ago and generally holding the form well since. Creditable fourth at Chelmsford (1m6f) and holds solid each-way claims with the cheekpieces back on.

Form: 43144-4

(12)

Mr Fox²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: L Morris| T: M J Attwater| OR: 56

7/2

Generally in good form in three starts this year, including when good second of nine at Chelmsford (1m6f) at the beginning of February. Not penalised for that effort so is expected to go close again.

Form: 647-352

(9)

Black Prince^p1³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: F Norton| T: M Keighley| OR: 50| D

14/1

Form can be a bit wayward and certainly showed that tendency when 12th of 14 on debut start for this yard at Kempton (2m) last month. Cheekpieces turned to try and reignite a spark.

Form: 30314/0

(3)

Ramatuelle^p⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: William Carson| T: Mrs L J Mongan| OR: 53

33/1

Has become very unreliable recently despite winning at Brighton in September. Poor ninth at Kempton (1m3f) a week ago and turned out quickly with a drastic step up in trip. Little appeal.

Form: 198-569

(11)

Alramz¹¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Callum Shepherd| T: L Carter| OR: 52

16/1

Looked to be finding little on form recently but shaped with much more promise when fourth of 13 in 1m4f Kempton handicap in November. Not seen since then so expected to come on for this.

Form: 0/67504-

(14)

Lord Howard^v⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: George Bass⁽⁷⁾| T: M R Channon| OR: 52

20/1

Winner at Kempton in November but not as good since. Below form when seventh in 1m5f handicap at this track last time and despite some leniency in weights, others are more persuasive.

Form: 610-777

(6)

Vlannon⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: K T O'Neill| T: M Madgwick| OR: 48| D

12/1

Mixing the Flat with Jumps recently and last seen finishing modest ninth in 2m Kempton handicap when last on the level. Not offering much over jumps recently so major comeback is required.

Form: 449/289-

(13)

Percy's Prince³²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: J Fanning| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 51| D

7/2

Not winning of late but running with credit. Found the trip slightly too sharp when fifth of 11 over 1m5f here last time. Shaping as if more will come from him at this trip.

Form: 438-765

(8)

Monsieur Fox⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L Richards| OR: 45

33/1

Long-standing maiden after 16 starts and not showing much signs recently of that changing. Modest seventh at Chelmsford City (1m5f) on latest effort and must show major improvement from that.

Form: 0000-67

Forecasts

Mr Fox (7/2), Percy's Prince (7/2), Heron (5/1), Banta Bay (8/1), Vlannon (12/1), Final Choice (12/1), Stynes (14/1), Uncle Bernie (14/1), Black Prince (14/1), Alramz (16/1), Lord Howard (20/1), Ezzrah (20/1), Monsieur Fox (33/1), Ramatuelle (33/1)

Some horses seem to be coming into a run of form for this contest and MR FOX could be one of them who gets back to winning ways. His recent second sets the form standard and with leniency from the handicapper, he looks well placed to go well once again. Heron possesses a similar profile after his recent encouraging effort but will again need to find a bit of luck in running, while the likes of Percy’s Prince and Banta Bay have been upholding their form well and can be expected to run their usual races.