19:15 Lingfield

Saturday 21 May 2022

All17:1017:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

Read Kevin Blake On attheraces.com Handicap

Off time: 19:19 | Winning time: 1m 23.69s

(3)

Otago²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Charlie Bennett| T: J R Boyle| OR: 66| D

11/1

Landed back-to-back Epsom handicaps (7f) last summer. Merely ticked over subsequently, fifth of 8 in handicap at Brighton (7f, good, 11/2) 25 days ago, steady progress 2f out but never better than midfield. Still, this drop in grade rates a plus.

Form: 1665-65

(11)

Latent Heat³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: George Downing| T: A W Carroll| OR: 66| D

16/1

Temperamental sort who ended lengthy losing run here (1m, AW) in February. However, hasn't convinced recently, only sixth of 10 in handicap at Bath (1m, good to soft) 37 days ago.

Form: 2-21566

(5)

Ajrad¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: W J Knight| OR: 65

3/1

Unlucky not to win on the AW here on return and quickly dispelled a lesser effort when close-up fifth of 6 in a C&D handicap (good) 14 days ago. Should give another good account.

Form: 369-375

(8)

Gherkin^b²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: D C Costello| T: W S Kittow| OR: 62

17/2

Dual 6f winner at Kempton in the autumn and he ran well when runner-up on return at Windsor (6f) in April. Not in quite the same form when fifth at Wolverhampton 3 weeks ago but certainly no forlorn hope in an open-looking affair.

Form: 6121-25

(12)

Galactic Glow^b1¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Charles Bishop| T: L A Dace| OR: 61

9/2

Remains a maiden after 24 Flat runs. 5/1, sixth of 9 in handicap at Wolverhampton (8.6f) 12 days ago, headed over 1f out and no extra. Blinkers may have a positive effect now.

Form: 240-046

(1)

Basharat²⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Liam Browne⁽⁷⁾| T: J R Jenkins| OR: 60

66/1

Belatedly off the mark in a small-field Catterick novice (6f) back in September but not in same form at Hamilton (6f) later that month. Absent since but reappears with yard in good order so not ruled out.

Form: 244910-

(10)

Mr Fayez^p,t⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Josephine Gordon| T: Dylan Cunha| OR: 59

8/1

Tongue strap on for 1st time, respectable fourth of 11 in handicap at Brighton (7f, good, 12/1) 4 days ago. Each-way possibilities.

Form: 7/747-54

(6)

Bonus³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: P Cosgrave| T: J R Boyle| OR: 59| CD

3/1

C&D winner. 8/1, respectable fifth of 10 in handicap here (1m, AW) 35 days ago, headed and no extra final 1f. Steadily easing in the weights and return to this trip a plus. Possibilities.

Form: 35940-5

(9)

Fire In The Rain¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: K T O'Neill| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 58

14/1

Maiden who has yet to figure in 3 starts for present stable but did catch the eye to an extent at Beverley (8.5f) on penultimate start in April. Arrives here operating from career-low mark and she could be worth a second look.

Form: 080-880

(7)

Tessy Lad⁹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: George Rooke⁽³⁾| T: R Hughes| OR: 64

25/1

Thrice-raced maiden. 50/1, eighth of 12 in maiden at Kempton (7f) in February, left behind over 1f out. Goes handicapping in an ordinary affair and better showing anticipated.

Form: 858

(4)

Essme¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: William Carson| T: J J Bridger| OR: 45

16/1

Below form seventh of 12 in handicap (12/1) at Lingfield (6f, AW) 11 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 3027-77

(2)

Vice Royal⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Christian Howarth⁽⁷⁾| T: J J Bridger| OR: 45

100/1

125/1, eleventh of 12 in handicap at Kempton (7f) 73 days ago. Others preferred.

Form: 00-9080

Forecasts

Bonus (3/1), Ajrad (3/1), Galactic Glow (9/2), Mr Fayez (8/1), Gherkin (17/2), Otago (11/1), Fire In The Rain (14/1), Essme (16/1), Latent Heat (16/1), Tessy Lad (25/1), Basharat (66/1), Vice Royal (100/1)

This looks decidedly trappy but AJRAD at least arrives having run with credit on 2 of his last 3 starts at this venue, latterly in a stronger contest, and he could be worth chancing to come out on top. The class-dropping Otago could also feature, whilst Fire In The Rain at likely longer odds is also worth a second look from a career-low mark.