13:00 Lingfield

Thursday 31 December 2020

All12:2513:0013:3014:0014:3515:0515:35

Betway Handicap

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 2m 33.86s

(2)

Furzig¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Laura Pearson⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 97| CD

11/4

C&D winner. 10/1, creditable third of 8 in handicap at this C&D (AW) 12 days ago, nearest finish. One to consider.

Form: 066233

(4)

The Trader¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: R Kingscote| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 93| BF| D

3/1

3/1, 3¾ lengths fifth of 7 to Oslo in handicap at Chelmsford City (10f) 14 days ago. Has to be taken seriously.

Form: 133425

(3)

Protected Guest⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: T P Queally| T: G G Margarson| OR: 85

4/1

Temperamental sort. Eleven runs since last win in 2019. 4/1, creditable second of 9 in handicap at this C&D (AW) 9 days ago, outbattled. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 954742

(7)

Midnights Legacy⁶²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Megan Nicholls| T: A King| OR: 89| DWS

9/2

2 wins from 4 runs this year. 10/1, well-beaten last of 7 to Duffle Coat in Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle at Wetherby (16f, good to soft) 62 days ago, folding. Others more persuasive.

Form: 51-1197

(6)

Night Bear¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Callum Shepherd| T: A W Carroll| OR: 82

20/1

8/1, first run since leaving Ed Vaughan when tenth of 11 in juvenile hurdle at Newbury (16.3f, soft) on NH debut 15 days ago. Fairly useful on the Flat and of interesting returning to this sphere.

Form: 56-3126

(1)

Oslo¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: L Morris| T: M Appleby| OR: 81

11/2

8/1, career best when winning 7-runner handicap at Chelmsford City (10f) 14 days ago, well positioned. Should go close once again.

Form: 302441

(5)

Long Call^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: David Probert| T: A W Carroll| OR: 77| D

50/1

Bit below form third of 8 in handicap hurdle at Hereford (16.2f, heavy, 7/1) 14 days ago. Tongue strap back on. Fairly useful on the Flat, poor on last Flat outing. Must improve.

Form: 457419

Forecasts

Furzig (11/4), The Trader (3/1), Protected Guest (4/1), Midnights Legacy (9/2), Oslo (11/2), Night Bear (20/1), Long Call (50/1)

THE TRADER looks the answer to a difficult puzzle as he returns to this distance after disappointing over the shorter trip of 10f last time at Chelmsford. Night Bear looked like a progressive type over the summer for his previous yard and the return to the Flat may see him get competitive again. Furzig is a C&D winner who rarely runs a bad race on the all-weather and has to be considered too.