15:45 Lingfield

Saturday 20 January 2024

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

BetUK. It's Where The UK Bets Handicap

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 3m 27.39s

(4)

Man Of Riddles⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Grace McEntee⁽³⁾| T: M Young| OR: 66| D

7/1

Took advantage of a drop in weights when winning 8-runner handicap at Chelmsford City (16f) 7 days ago, suited by way race developed. Isn't sure to be in the same form.

Form: 43/807-1

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(5)

Anisoptera³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Mr Oliver Timms⁽⁷⁾| T: B R Johnson| OR: 66| CD

50/1

C&D winner who wasn't seen to best effect when last of 7 in handicap at this C&D (AW) 31 days ago, unsuited by way race developed.

Form: 218257-

(1)

Two Past Eight^p³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Rossa Ryan| T: A King| OR: 70| D

7/2

Dual winner over hurdles. Well held on handicap debut at Doncaster (19.4f, good to soft) 36 days ago but ran well on most recent Flat outing and worthy of respect.

Form: 77/0523-

(2)

Smart Champion¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-9| J: Hayley Turner| T: D M Simcock| OR: 65| D

10/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2022 and ran a typical race in first-time cheekpieces when seventh of 11 in handicap at Wolverhampton (16.6f) 13 days ago, plugging on. Has dropped to a very handy mark.

Form: 63430-7

(8)

Havanazam¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Callum Shepherd| T: T Symonds| OR: 69

4/1

Career best when winning 8-runner handicap (25/1) at Wolverhampton (12.2f) 18 days ago, well ridden. Up in trip.

Form: 21/787-1

(10)

African Star^t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: R Havlin| T: S Kirk| OR: 69

4/1

Winner here in August and ran well when fourth of 11 in handicap at Southwell (14.1f, 13/2) 15 days ago, having every chance.

Form: 71584-4

(7)

Le Rouge Chinois^p¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 69

17/2

Creditable third of 11 in handicap (17/2) at Southwell (14.1f) 15 days ago. Player if seeing out this still longer trip.

Form: 53434-3

(9)

Smith^v³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: David Probert| T: Mrs L Richards| OR: 64| CD

12/1

6-time C&D winner who ran just respectably when fifth of 7 in handicap at this C&D (AW, 16/1) 31 days ago. Eased a further 2 lb and not ruled out.

Form: 150685-

(6)

Gordon Grey^p¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Harry Davies| T: B Brookhouse| OR: 67

14/1

Creditable third of 10 in handicap at Southwell (12.1f, 12/1) 11 days ago. Significantly up in trip for polytrack debut.

Form: 7467-93

(3)

Grain Of Hope⁶⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: H Crouch| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 63| D

14/1

Has shown modest form over hurdles, winning juvenile maiden at Ludlow in October and runner-up in 3 other starts. Fair on the Flat, suited by step up in trip when runner-up over 14f on latest outing in this sphere in July.

Form: 02852-

Forecasts

Two Past Eight (7/2), African Star (4/1), Havanazam (4/1), Man Of Riddles (7/1), Le Rouge Chinois (17/2), Smart Champion (10/1), Smith (12/1), Grain Of Hope (14/1), Gordon Grey (14/1), Anisoptera (50/1)

Dual hurdles winner TWO PAST EIGHT has run well on his last 2 starts in this code, so he's given the vote in a trappy event. Le Rouge Chinois is holding his form well and is sure to be in the thick of the action once again if seeing out the still longer trip, while Smart Champion has dropped to a mark where he's hard to ignore.