14:00 Lingfield

Saturday 12 November 2022

All11:4512:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

Spreadex Sports First Goalscorer Insurance Handicap

Off time: 14:01 | Winning time: 1m 36.61s

(4)

Tacarib Bay^b²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: W Buick| T: R Hannon| OR: 104

4/1

Smart sort who wasted no time getting back to form in first-time blinkers when excellent third of 20 in Balmoral Handicap (16/1) at Ascot (8f, good to soft) 28 days ago, faring best of those ridden prominently. Makes polytrack debut.

Form: 125253

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(9)

Montatham²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 101| D

2/1

Smart sort who shaped well when sixth of 20 in Balmoral Handicap at Ascot (8f, good to soft) 28 days ago, fading late. Merits strong consideration back in calmer waters.

Form: 0/3650-6

(3)

United Front⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Cieren Fallon| T: M Appleby| OR: 99| C| D

17/2

Course winner who ran creditably when sixth of 10 in handicap at Chelmsford City (10f) 4 days ago. More needed, though.

Form: 054686

(1)

Hafeet Alain²⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Saffie Osborne⁽³⁾| T: E Walker| OR: 97| CD

11/1

Showed a sharp turn of foot to overcome a positional bias over C&D in February. Not in same form at Wolverhampton on final outing but has gone well fresh before.

Form: 02-2319

(5)

What's The Story^p¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 94| D

11/2

Latest win at Ayr in August. Creditable fifth of 9 in handicap (11/2) at Southwell (8.1f) 15 days ago, well positioned. Should continue in form.

Form: 216255

(7)

Excel Power¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: L Morris| T: A Watson| OR: 93| C| D

9/1

Course winner who confirmed his return to form when sixth of 9 in handicap at Southwell (8.1f, 10/1) 15 days ago, though was better placed than most.

Form: 706726

(8)

Isola Rossa¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: David Egan| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 87| CD

8/1

C&D winner in May who was flying too high in listed company last time. Not taken lightly back in handicap company.

Form: 136577

(2)

Keyser Soze³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 8-8| J: Darragh Keenan| T: R Spencer| OR: 86| C| D

28/1

Course winner who offered little in a first-time tongue strap at Chelmsford City (8f) 30 days ago, slowly away.

Form: 6-33470

(6)

Young Fire^v⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: K T O'Neill| T: D O'Meara| OR: 81| D

25/1

Twenty three runs since last win in 2021. Respectable fourth of 9 in handicap at Doncaster (7f, heavy, 3/1) 7 days ago, never nearer. Not ruled out from 4 lb out of the weights.

Form: 838044

Forecasts

Montatham (2/1), Tacarib Bay (4/1), What's The Story (11/2), Isola Rossa (8/1), United Front (17/2), Excel Power (9/1), Hafeet Alain (11/1), Young Fire (25/1), Keyser Soze (28/1)

MONTATHAM shaped well after 12 months off when sixth in the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot 4 weeks ago and, with the run likely to have brought him on, he's put forward as the answer. Tacarib Bay is a consistent sort who seems highly likely to go well again, while Isola Rossa can't be taken lightly back in handicap company having faced a stiff task last time.