14:05 Lingfield

Friday 7 April 2023

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

BetUK All-Weather Vase Marathon Handicap

Off time: 14:06 | Winning time: 3m 20.15s

(10)

Protected Guest²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: T P Queally| T: G G Margarson| OR: 87| C

50/1

Unreliable type. Course winner. 7/1, creditable third of 7 in handicap at Wolverhampton (12.2f) 20 days ago, carrying head awkwardly but keeping on. Finished runner-up in this race from 2 lb higher mark 12 months ago but likely he'll find a few too good here.

Form: 3-89233

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(13)

Halic⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Eddery| OR: 86| C

9/2

Low-mileage sort who is beginning to make up for lost time, off the mark over 12f here in January and career-best display when following up on yard debut at Chelmsford (13.3f) by 2½ lengths from Protected Guest 6 weeks ago. Can give another good account now tackling this even longer trip.

Form: 6/32-11

(7)

Ehteyat⁷⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: W Buick| T: G Boughey| OR: 88| BF

13/2

Latest win at Southwell in January. 11/8, very good neck second of 10 to First Emperor in handicap at this C&D (AW) 76 days ago, clear of rest. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 60-1512

(11)

Diamond Bay²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: T Ward| OR: 86| CD

14/1

C&D winner. 11/4, creditable third of 7 in handicap at Kempton (16f) 23 days ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 126-643

(1)

Danni California^b⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Hart| T: R Spencer| OR: 83| D

33/1

4/1 and blinkered for 1st time, career best when winning 6-runner handicap at Southwell (14.1f) 74 days ago, doing it readily having been produced to lead over 1f out. Blinkers again the headgear of choice having been given a short break ahead of this.

Form: 63550-1

(14)

Haku²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Billy Loughnane⁽⁵⁾| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 84

14/1

Three wins from 9 runs last year. Latest win at Wolverhampton in December. Creditable second of 11 in handicap at Kempton (12f, 8/1) 28 days ago, no match for winner. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 2111-32

(8)

Pons Aelius³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 83| D

20/1

Four wins from 16 runs last year, including London Stayers' Final at Kempton (2m) in December. Not seen to best effect in a muddling contest back at that venue last month and he's an each-way player on balance.

Form: 20341-7

(9)

First Emperor^t⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: L Morris| T: J Ryan| OR: 83| CD

28/1

C&D winner. Latest win at Kempton in January. 4/1, good second of 7 in handicap back at that venue (2m) 9 days ago, no extra only late on. Ought to give another good account.

Form: 112322

(2)

Mr Escobar⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: R L Moore| T: W P Mullins| OR: 80

7/4

Thrice-raced winner. Won 13-runner maiden (5/6) at Dundalk (12f) 79 days ago, headed briefly 1f out and finding extra. Shapes as if he'll stay further and he's a most intriguing handicap debutant having joined top Irish NH yard.

Form: 72-1

(3)

Silverscape⁷²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Connor Planas⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Teal| OR: 78| C

28/1

Course winner. Creditable 2¼ lengths second of 6 to First Emperor in handicap (5/2) at Kempton (16f) 72 days ago, running on. Stronger gallop to aim at will aid his cause here and he remains low-mileage at around 2m.

Form: 5235-72

(6)

Forge Valley Lad⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock| OR: 76| C

28/1

Course winner. Latest win here in February. 15/2, creditable third of 10 in handicap at Southwell (12.1f) 7 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 6-71123

(4)

Carzola^b³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 77| CD

9/1

Lightly-raced winner. 5/1, career best when winning 4-runner handicap at this C&D (AW) 35 days ago, drawing clear final 1f and well on top finish. That shouldn't prove her limit and she's in excellent hands. Well worth a second look.

Form: 44-321

(5)

Khadaash³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Benoit D L Sayette⁽³⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 74| D

20/1

Didn't kick on in bumpers but more like it switched to this code, building on his maiden exploits to land 2m Dundalk handicap (2m) 5 weeks ago, staying on to lead final 1f. Remains very low-mileage for a 6-y-o and shrewd stable no stranger to success on these shores.

Form: 331

(12)

Blow Your Horn²²

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: David Probert| T: Ian Williams| OR: 72

10/1

Seventeen runs since last win in 2021. Last of 6 in handicap at Chelmsford (10f, 11/1) 22 days ago, needing stiffer test. This rates more suitable from his much-reduced mark but he may just be vulnerable to less exposed sorts.

Form: 545-366

Forecasts

Mr Escobar (7/4), Halic (9/2), Ehteyat (13/2), Carzola (9/1), Blow Your Horn (10/1), Diamond Bay (14/1), Haku (14/1), Khadaash (20/1), Pons Aelius (20/1), First Emperor (28/1), Forge Valley Lad (28/1), Silverscape (28/1), Danni California (33/1), Protected Guest (50/1)

MR ESCOBAR has improved with each outing in maidens in Ireland, getting off the mark at the third attempt at Dundalk in January. Stepping up in trip on handicap debut, he's joined a leading NH outfit and it would be no surprise to see him make a bold bid with Ryan Moore in the plate. Carzola is going the right way and she's feared along with Ehteyat. Halic may also have more to offer now his stamina is drawn out further.