Lingfield rides to the rescue for racing and ITV this weekend. With the jumps action abandoned throughout the country, the all-weather action at Lingfield takes centre stage on terrestrial TV.
All of their action will be sponsored by BetUK & BetMGM, with seven races on the card, and four in front of the ITV cameras. Our editor Joe Napier has previewed every race, with tips for all of the live action.
You can follow and bet on Joe’s selections using BetMGM’s new customer offer worth £40 in Free Bets when you deposit and bet £10!
12:15 – Best Racing Odds Guaranteed At BetMGM Handicap
This is quite a deep field, but Dominic Ffrench Davis’ DAYMAN has been building back towards a big run in recent starts. His first two runs for the stable same off substantial breaks from the course and saw his mark tumble 5lb, but he was then a close third at Kempton at 33/1 over this trip of 7f when coming from well off the pace.
At this track and trip last time, he also finished strongly after some antics at the start, and if he can cut that out, he should be able to make his challenge from closer to the leaders off a mark of 76, which is very workable for this horse at his best.
12:50 – Boost Your Acca At BetMGM Handicap
While Fire Demon could be an obvious type to progress, he is not guaranteed to do so off this initial handicap mark, and preference instead is for PHOTOSYNTHESIS. The son of Aclaim won an 18-runner maiden at Navan when trained in Ireland last term, and while that form is nothing special, he was also fifth in Listed company at Doncaster on what was likely unsuitable heavy going.
Switched to Tom Clover, he was joint favourite to win on his first all-weather start at Newcastle, but was a close third behind Sports Coach and El Bufalo. Both of those have won since, so while the fourth somewhat stalled the form of that race in handicap company since, Photosynthesis looks capable of defying a first handicap mark of 80.
1:25 – Boost Your Acca-Fenwa With BetUK Handicap
None of Roger Varian’s runners in the last two weeks have finished outside of the first four, so it would be a fair surprise if AMAZING doesn’t go very close. She is bred to appreciate a middle distance trip, which she proved in good style at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day, scoring a first career success off a mark of 70.
She is 4lb higher here, but is easily the likeliest to be involved in the finish with further improvement on an artificial surface to come. Top weight Forge Valley Lad is back at his happy place of Lingfield, so could be one for each-way backers, while there have been far worse 50/1 shots than Let Her Loose so far this year.
2:00 – Bet £10 Get £40 At BetMGM Handicap
Ryan Moore’s strike rate at Lingfield in the last five years is outstanding, winning on 31% of his rides, while exactly half (52/104) have finished in the first two. That is the biggest boon to victory for TALIS EVOLVERE, who would have a very good chance regardless.
The four-year-old has progressed with every run in handicap company, winning by narrow margins at both Wolverhampton and Kempton since the start of December. He maybe had more up his sleeve than the bare margins suggest last time, so if Moore gets him in position, he can continue his improvement plan.
2:35 – Build Your Acca With BetUK Handicap
It’s been less than two years since ONE NIGHT STAND won at Listed level over this trip, and recent performances have suggested he retains a lot of his ability when running on the all-weather. He is officially 4lb out the handicap here, but prior to narrowly failing to see out 6f at this track last time, he had looked a much improved version once again over Christmas.
After winning here on the 23rd December, he was beaten a neck at Wolverhampton over the minimum distance, and was still leading inside the final 100 yards last time off his official mark of 80. He could well be involved given his trend of recent improvement, even in the face of Diomed Spirit (chasing a five-timer) and Bergerac (on a hat-trick).
3:10 – BetMGM Winter Oaks Fillies’ Handicap
Our esteemed GG tipster Andrew Mount regularly bemoans the curse of the inside rail at Lingfield, and taking inspiration from his wisdom, there’s a fair chance that the Gosdens’ QUEEN REGENT can overturn form with Oh So Grand in Lingfield’s showpiece. Her form on the all-weather entitles her to a lot of respect and with a 4lb swing, she has a very reasonable chance.
Queen Regent had to challenge up the inside in the trial for this race last month and, having surged to the lead, seemed to flounder compared to those challenging wide. One of those was Oh So Grand, who duly won with something in hand, but the runner-up did really well to hold off those more advantageously placed and Rab Havlin’s mount may find herself on a better racing line from stall eight.
3:45 – BetUK. It’s Where The UK Bets Handicap
Though the last-time-out winners in this field were 25/1 and 33/1 when scoring recently, they might still be the two to focus on. Namely, they are Man Of Riddles and HAVANAZAM, though Tom Symonds’ charge gets a further 5lb weight-for-age allowance having just turned four.
He is up 4lb for that victory, 1lb more than Man Of Riddles, but secured his victory in more clear-cut fashion. The step up to 2m is not guaranteed to suit, but he finished off his race over 1m4f well enough and was tried over hurdles on his stable debut. There is untapped potential for staying distances in his profile.
Lingfield Through-The-Card Tips
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