14:20 Lingfield

Saturday 7 January 2023

All12:0012:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

BetUK Over 40,000 Live Streamed Races Handicap

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 2m 34.63s

(2)

Red Flyer⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: L Morris| T: K Jewell| OR: 85| CD

9/1

C&D winner. Three wins from 11 runs last year. Good second of 13 in handicap at Kempton (12f, 9/1) 81 days ago, staying on well inside final 1f. Not dismissed.

Form: 420482-

(5)

Aced It^t⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: K T O'Neill| T: C Poulton| OR: 85| D

14/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2021. Good second of 12 in handicap (16/1) at Kempton (12f) 50 days ago, ridden over 1f out and keeping on. Can give another good account for all he's never defied a mark this high.

Form: 27/8372-

(6)

Barenboim^h³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 85

11/4

Thrived upon joining present yard, making it 3 wins from 5 starts with a ready success at Kempton (11f) 31 days ago. Assessor applies further pressure but certainly not ruled out.

Form: 712161-

(3)

Pistoletto^p²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Darragh Keenan| T: J Ryan| OR: 81| CD

10/3

C&D winner. Thirteen runs since last win in 2022. Creditable third of 8 in handicap (3/1) at this course (10f, AW) 24 days ago, keeping on after no room briefly under 2f out. Thriving on his racing and should go well once again from this mark.

Form: 440063-

(4)

Sword Beach^p¹⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Rossa Ryan| T: A King| OR: 78

22/1

Failed to beat a rival on both starts on the level in September. Cheekpieces back on. Best to look elsewhere.

Form: 1165/08-

(7)

Marion's Boy^b³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: K Stott| T: R A Teal| OR: 74| C

4/1

4-time course winner. 10/3 and blinkered for 1st time, confirmed return to form when second of 8 in handicap at this C&D (AW) 31 days ago, running on when switched over 1f out. Can feature.

Form: 568052-

(1)

Obsidian Knight³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Rob Hornby| T: T Kent| OR: 72| CD

7/2

C&D winner who doubled his career tally over 10f here in October. Shaped well both starts since, second of 7 in handicap (10/3) at Wolverhampton (12.2f) 5 weeks ago, needing stronger gallop. Has to be taken seriously.

Form: 009142-

Forecasts

Barenboim (11/4), Pistoletto (10/3), Obsidian Knight (7/2), Marion's Boy (4/1), Red Flyer (9/1), Aced It (14/1), Sword Beach (22/1)

Cases can be made for most but preference is for bottom-weight OBSIDIAN KNIGHT, who has shaped well on both starts since scoring over 1¼m here in October and is clearly capable from this sort of mark. Barenboim has thrived upon joining his present yard so he's put forward as the main danger, with Pistoletto rounding off the shortlist.