Flat Racing 22nd Dec

[chris34]

2.05 Lingfield Fantasy Gladiator had often shaped to me as if not quite genuine and also never looked a real stayer over 7f, but he has really got his act together especially last time out when faced with 1mile when he quickened clear in good style, it may just depend which mood he turns up in today as to whether he can overturn a 7lb rise in the weights and is probably not worth that risk. Final Drive is another in fine form at the moment but meets a lot higher grade of horse today than his usual class 5/6 type horses. Mafeking won in good style last time out and could easily get a soft lead in this race which makes him interestng again but his ability to bomb out is off putting especially around lingfield where front runners struggle. So that leads me to lowther who has returned to form since switched to polytrack and refitted with the eyeshield. He ran well last time out off new mark when he was forced to race wide and held up on day it didnt pay to be held up and the winner made all and the second tracked him so worth forgiving him that. My main concern is that this yard have a tendency to use apprentices until they think a horse is primed and then put a prof up to get the win but Im hoping theyre using this young lad to help lighten this load as this mark has proved beyond lowther before. 0.5pt e/w Lowther 7/1 corals 2.35 Lingfield Anne of kiev is the one to beat if getting the cuts when needed. She is clearly a talented sort but the way she races and has to be produced late cost her plenty of races over the summer. But right back to best when getting up late and always looking like she would at lingfield last time out. Rised 4lb for that effort which looks fair as she was winning going away and very easily and the form working out well from that race and if getting the cuts required she will be hard to beat so your not betting on ability your betting on the way the race unfolds in my opinion. 1pt win Anne of Kiev 11/4 vc 3.05 Lingfield Magic Of Rio looks an interesting runner for an inform Evans yard, she ran extremely well first time out for this yard yesterday and aslong as she can cope with a quick turnaround she could improve on that effort having been rated as high as 84 and winning off that mark too. Now dropped to bottom rating of 45 having been running for the awful trainer Peter Grayson who really struggles to find any form in his horses. She ran well for a long way yesterday and perhaps an easy 6f would suit having won over 6f before on the fibresand gives hope she will see the trip out. 0.25pt e/w magic of rio 11/2 vc 4.25 Kempton Breathless Kiss has gone very close last 2 starts and Fallon looks a strong booking but drop back to 5f looks a concern although her 2 wins came over this trip in younger days. Grudge looks a massice price at 10/1 having won last 2 starts on the polytrack at wolves before flopping of new mark at southwell last time out but worth forgetting about that run when he was never in the race when the surface is riding so slow and should be much more suited to a return to polytrack and only 2lb higher than last win which looks fair considering what he beat that day and winning by 1/2length. 0.5pt e/w Grudge 10/1 bet365 5.25 Kempton Kitty Wells looks a strong sort for this race. She improved for the step up in trip last time out on debut on the polytrack aswell and if that improvement continues into handicap company his opening mark of 68 doesnt exactly look overly harsh. She was heavily backed before supposed handicap debut and has been well backed again this morning to suggest she is handicapped to win races and Cumani runners rare this time of year. 2pt win Kitty Wells 11/8 bet365

[Falbrav]

Re: Flat Racing 22nd Dec BILLY RED 2.35 Lingfield. 1 point win. Needs to be at best, but I think this race will go his way. Trip and surface not a concern & should be able to run the race at his own pace. Good price, too.