The Racing League continues on Thursday evening with Lingfield playing host to a highly-competitive seven-race card. Our expert editor has taken a closer look at the runners and riders and provided three selections to follow alongside an exclusive promotion courtesy of Sky Bet, who are offering up to £30 In Free Bets, when you sign up and place ANY bet.
Alablaq (17:10 Lingfield)
Team “Wales & The West” failed to get off the mark at last week’s opening fixture at Doncaster but will have high hopes of putting that right on Thursday, and could very well get off to a flyer courtesy of David Evans’ ALABLAQ.
The gelded son of Lope De Vega has proven to be a model of consistency in his latest outings and has performed particularly well on the synthetics. Off the mark over six furlongs at this track back in January, Alablaq was certainly unlucky not to double his tally on the all-weather when narrowly denied by a short head at Wolverhampton in April. Desperately unlucky on that occasion, Alablaq quickly got back on track and made amends for that agonising defeat just seven days later at Lingfield, staying on best of all in a blanket finish to land his second course and distance victory.
Switched to the turf in May, the four-year-old went down as an eye-catcher in defeat and was spotted making good late headway when finishing third in an Apprentice Handicap under jockey Gina Mangan. Stepped up to seven furlongs off the back of that encouraging effort, Alablaq went on to produce a career-best at Newbury off a mark of 74, stretching clear of his six toiling rivals inside the final furlong to win by a comfortable 3½ lengths.
Although an 8lb higher mark demands more of him in this competitive handicap, Alablaq should certainly have scope for improvement at this stage of his career and with David Evans’ yard ticking over nicely in recent weeks (7-29 24%), the four-year-old is difficult to rule out, especially with Adam Kirby taking over in the saddle.
Consensus De Vega (17:40 Lingfield)
Reversion caught the eye when finishing second in first-time cheekpieces last time out at Sandown and certainly looks ready to strike at some stage for Alan King. The three-year-old is entitled to plenty of respect here, however, two disappointing efforts on the all-weather in the past tempers enthusiasm and he could be bumping into a useful handicap debutante in the form of Roger Varian’s CONSENSUS DE VEGA.
The daughter of Lope De Vega caught the eye in defeat in her two juvenile starts last season at Newmarket and returned for her three-year-old campaign in April with another creditable effort, finishing fifth in a warm novice contest over a mile at Haydock behind subsequent dual Group 1 winner Nashwa.
Second on her penultimate start behind William Haggas’ progressive filly Sea Tsarina at Yarmouth in June, Consensus De Vega belatedly got off the mark on her first start on the all-weather at Lingfield last month, travelling powerfully throughout before quickly asserting under jockey Jack Mitchell to run out a cosy winner over the seven-furlong trip.
Making her handicap debut off 81 on Thursday, Roger Varian’s filly finds herself on the exact same mark for her latest course and distance success and whilst the draw hasn’t been kind to her, Census De Vega is clearly a three-year-old heading in the right direction and her current rating is unlikely to be the ceiling of her ability.
Tregony (19:10 Lingfield)
TREGONY enjoyed a productive three-year-old campaign for connections last season winning five of her last six starts, including when scoring under jockey Saffie Osborne in the Racing League fixture at Newcastle on her final outing in September. The pair team up once again on Thursday evening and will bid to land another valuable prize this time for team “Wales & The West”.
Whilst the New Bay filly is yet to add to her five career victories this term, Clive Cox’s four-year-old has certainly had her excuses in defeat back on the turf this year. Unlucky not to make a winning return when crossing the line with plenty of running left at Windsor in April, she was perhaps stretched by the step up to twelve furlongs for the first time in her subsequent starts at Newbury and Ascot despite finishing third and fourth respectively.
Dropped back to her optimum trip at Sandown last time out, Tregony perhaps got to the front too soon when making her challenge with still well over two furlongs to go. Although unable to match the finishing kick of William Knight’s well-backed winner Dual Identity in the closing stages, Tregony battled on tenaciously on the run to the line to finish second and would have certainly finished a lot closer to the eventual winner if ridden with a bit more restraint.
With the anticipated strong gallop in her favour on Thursday evening, Tregony should get a decent pace to aim at from her wide draw in stall twelve and it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise to see Clive Cox’s four-year-old bounce back to winning ways if timing her challenge better this time around.
Looking For More Racing Info? Check Out Our Racecards & Top Tips Sections
Bet £10 and Get £30 in Free Bets
See reviews Join today18+ only. New customers only. T&Cs Apply. gambleaware.org
Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses
See reviews Join today18+ only. New customers only. T&Cs Apply. gambleaware.org
Bet £10 Get £40 Free Bets
See reviews Join today18+ only. New customers only. T&Cs Apply. gambleaware.org