Flat Racing - 30th Dec

[fintron]

12.30 Lingfield Quite A Thing - found his stamina stretched over 7f at Wolves last time but drops back to 6f here which looks ideal. Course winner and could be perked up by first-time blinkers and stronger rider in the plate. 5/1 Hills 2.45 Lingfield Lockantanks - thriving and present and won as he liked last time in a stronger race than this. No surprise to see him turned out under a penalty and likely to stalk the leaders before pouncing entering the straight. 3/1 VC Bet 4.40 Wolverhampton Caldercruix - started year rated 87 and dropped down to 70 when scoring here last time. Has seemingly benefitted from dropping back to sprint trips. Open to bundles more improvement over them and, still possibly well treated under a penalty here, could feasibly notch a double. 7/1 Ladbrokes.

[cpo]

Re: Flat Racing - 30th Dec 4.40 Wolverhampton Tombi 2pts e/w 10/1 PaddyPower Well this race looks as competitive as it gets. Some bookies have this priced up with just 8pts separating all 13 runners. There looks as there could be some pace to the race with the likes of Titus Gent, Dasho and Red Cape all drawn low. Even my selection can race prominently but I don't think that is what they will do with the horse after his win last time out over CD. Tombi a couple of years ago was rated in the 100's on turf but ever since returning to action in May last year his rating has started to slide. His win last time out came off a mark of 75 but that came in a seller. This is obviously much tougher but there is every chance he can go well here now he has won again. That was his first win since 2008 so he is a horse that doesn't win very often but he is however unexposed on the all weather. He has only had 3 runs on the all weather and has improved with run. I think last time showed them how to ride this horse on the all weather as worked extremely well. He was held up right out the back by Jimmy Fortune and came through the pack with a strong run. That win looked quite comfortable and he may be well treated back in a handicap now he has regained the winning feeling. Everything in the field could be given a chance in this race but the main dangers look to be Dasho, Dorback and Caldercruix. Dasho is well drawn here and gets 5lbs off his back thanks to the jockeys claim. Dorback won last time out beating a couple of todays revils in the process. He would also benefit from a good pace which is hopefully what we will get. Caldercruix is the other interesting one but he is 6lbs higher here for winning over CD and the jockey doesn't claim 7lbs today. He could struggle as he is effectively 13lbs higher here. There are plenty of other dangers but I am not going to go through them all. Many of them have form that tie in with each other. Tombi is drawn in stall 1 which will definitely give jockey Franny Norton a dilemma. He is capable of going from the front as he has shown several times on turf and it would make sense to make use of the best stall. However he did so well coming from behind last time out that connections would probably want the horse ridden the same way for this. From that draw the jockey should be able to reign the horse back and get a good sit on the inside and just follow the pace. Will be interesting to see what the jockey chooses to do. Either way I think he has a great chance of following up.