17:20 Lingfield

Friday 28 February 2025

All13:5514:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

BetMGM AWC Mile Trial Handicap

Off time: 17:21 | Winning time: 1m 37.9s

(1)

Witch Hunter¹³²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 109

9/1

Group 2 winner in 2023 who was consistent during a winless 2024, signing off with a very good third in Balmoral Handicap at Ascot (1m) in October. Will need a good pace to aim at if he's to defy a mark this high on return to action.

Form: 342363-

(8)

I Am Superman^t⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: Billy Loughnane| T: M O'Callaghan| OR: 99| D

17/2

9-y-o who shaped with encouragement after 4 months off when sixth of 11 in handicap at Dundalk (8f) 7 days ago, leading briefly over 1f out but unable to sustain effort. Should be sharper for that and booking of Billy Loughnane catches the eye.

Form: 62027-6

(2)

Talis Evolvere⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Joe Leavy⁽³⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 98| D

12/1

Landed a valuable AW handicap on Final's Day at Newcastle last March and gained first success since when taking 6-runner handicap at Chelmsford City (7f) in December. Tactically versatile sort and not out of things returning from a break under good claimer.

Form: 069501-

(3)

Fantastic Fox⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Aidan Keeley| T: R Varian| OR: 96| CD

5/1

C&D winner. Won 3 times on AW last winter and having caught the eye when fifth on return at Kempton in November, he again shaped well when second of 12 in handicap (6/1) at Newcastle (8f) 42 days ago, no match for winner. Enters calculations.

Form: 38595-2

(6)

Destructive³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Callum Shepherd| T: M L W Bell| OR: 91

4/1

Firmly back on track after 7 months off/having been gelded, supplementing his Wolverhampton maiden victory with a career-best effort to land 9-runner handicap back there (8.6f) 31 days ago. That may not prove his limit and he's worth considering.

Form: 4454-11

(7)

Blue Prince¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Hollie Doyle| T: P D Evans| OR: 90

9/2

Successful in big field Goodwood handicap (7f) last summer and dispelled a lesser run when third of 11 in handicap (16/1) at Southwell (7.1f) 14 days ago, seeing things out well behind a couple of progressive sorts. Present mark looks about right, however.

Form: 3045-73

(4)

Sterling Knight⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-5| J: A J Farragher| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 88| D

16/1

Three wins from 14 runs last year. Latest win at Chelmsford City in December. Creditable second of 9 in handicap (9/2) at Kempton (8f) 9 days ago, headed final 100 yds. Each-way possibilities.

Form: 9691-52

(5)

Kalamunda⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-3| J: L Morris| T: J Parr| OR: 86| CD

7/1

C&D winner who completed a quick-fire hat-trick at Kempton (1m) in October and in-the-frame all 3 starts since, second of 12 in handicap over C&D 6 weeks ago. Looks sure to give another good account.

Form: 11134-2

(9)

Cynosure^p1²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: J Fanning| T: A M Balding| OR: 85| CD

6/1

Lightly-raced 4-y-o who cemented the positives from his reappearance when again finding only one too good at Wolverhampton (8.6f) in January. Never saw things out upped to 9.5f at that track 4 weeks ago but this drop in trip a plus (sole win over C&D) and respected in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 2/172-27

Forecasts

Destructive (4/1), Blue Prince (9/2), Fantastic Fox (5/1), Cynosure (6/1), Kalamunda (7/1), I Am Superman (17/2), Witch Hunter (9/1), Talis Evolvere (12/1), Sterling Knight (16/1)

FANTASTIC FOX again shaped well on the back of another short break when runner-up over this trip at Newcastle 6 weeks ago and he looks a live player operating from a handy berth. The hat-trick seeking Destructive and Cynosure are others to consider, with Kalamunda completing the shortlist in the finale.