18:10 Lingfield

Saturday 3 June 2023

All17:3518:1018:4019:1019:4020:1020:45

Age UK Supporting Older People Handicap (AWT)

Off time: 18:10 | Winning time: 2m 28.57s

(1)

Open Champion³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: T P Queally| T: A King| OR: 81| CD

14/1

C&D winner when trained by Roger Varian last year. Seemed unsuited by conditions when ninth of 10 in handicap at Epsom (12f, heavy, 11/1) 39 days ago. Needs to get back on the up.

Form: 2165-69

(5)

Appier¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: A Kirby| T: S Woods| OR: 81| CD

5/1

C&D winner. 11/2, again ran well when third of 7 in handicap at Newmarket (12f, good) 16 days ago. Can give another good account.

Form: 154-313

(6)

Citizen General^v²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: N Callan| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 80| C| D

6/4

Visored for 1st time, proved better than ever when winning 10-runner handicap at this course (13f, AW, 8/1) 21 days ago. Leading contender.

Form: 211-721

(7)

Bright Start¹³²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: William Carver⁽³⁾| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 80

10/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2021. Dropped markedly in trip back on dirt, last of 10 in handicap at Meydan (1m, 4/1) in January. Headgear now discarded returned to this longer distance. Others more persuasive.

Form: 69099-0

(9)

Liseo^p1,t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Harry Burns⁽³⁾| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 79

20/1

After an encouraging return, didn't give his running when last of 7 on handicap debut at Newmarket (12f, good, 4/1) 16 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time and it still remains early days for him in handicaps.

Form: 3223-27

(2)

Nawras²⁰³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Dane O'Neill| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 74

9/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 10/3, disappointing when seventh of 11 in minor event at Wolverhampton (12.2f) in December. Off 6 months (gelded) ahead of his polytrack/handicap debut, so could leave his latest run behind.

Form: 8427-

(8)

Arcadian Friend²⁵⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 70| BF| CD

5/1

C&D winner. After 2 month-absence, didn't see his race out when sixth of 8 in handicap at Southwell (12.1f, 11/8) in September. Yard going well as he returns from further 8 months off.

Form: 889126-

(3)

Crimson King^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Frederick Larson⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 68| CD

40/1

C&D winner. Eleven runs since last success in 2022. After 3 months off, below form 10¾ lengths sixth of 10 to Citizen General in handicap at this course (13f, AW, 25/1) 21 days ago. Looks to be vulnerable once more.

Form: 3-57336

(4)

Night Eagle^p,t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: Billy Loughnane⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 66| C| D

7/1

Course winner. After 8 months off (had wind op), better for run when fifth of 7 in handicap at Windsor (10f, heavy, 20/1) 26 days ago. Interesting with cheekpieces reapplied and good-value claimer on board.

Form: 11267-5

Forecasts

Citizen General (6/4), Appier (5/1), Arcadian Friend (5/1), Night Eagle (7/1), Nawras (9/1), Bright Start (10/1), Open Champion (14/1), Liseo (20/1), Crimson King (40/1)

In a first-time visor, CITIZEN GENERAL proved better than ever when winning here 3 weeks ago and he can follow up with more to offer in the new headgear. Appier has also been running well of late and could be the main danger, ahead of Night Eagle who is now back down to his last winning mark.