Flat Racing 4th Jan

[chris34]

Really tough looking 2 AW cards today and little catches the eye. 12.50 Lingfield Satwa Laird looks very well handicapped on his best turf form 10lb below winning mark but has always struggled to find any winning form, was running respectably when last seen on turf but comes here with new trainer and spencer up but failed to beat too many on 3 AW runs to date and probably best watched. Lastkingofscotland won this race in the stewards room last year off a 7lb higher mark but hasnt been quite so well this time round and this race looks a strong one for the grade. With Ezra Church and Choral in the field this should be a truly run race which would suit Al Aqabah who has had excuses since winning at Kempton in October off just a 2lb lower mark, having been too keen in slowly run races after winning and then last time met trouble when staying on well from behind and the way she runs her races she is well suited to Lingfields sweeping bend and is 1 from 5 here and 1 from 1 over CD and for age she isnt perhaps fully exposed yet. The other that should be well suited to a truly run race is Wigrams Turn who had been suggesting his turn was coming before coming good last time out in comfortably style and since the 2nd has won well at Southwell since and 6th and 7th have also won since given the form a solid look for the grade. Up 6lb for that and back into class 5 handicap but is still dangerously well treated on very best form having won off a mark of 85 in his 4yr old campaign and would be dangerous to dismiss off this sort of mark if back to his best. 2pt win Wigrams Turn 4/1 vc 1pt win Al Aqabah 13/2 vc 6.00 Kempton Awful looking race and Spartilla is likely to go off favourite but looks well worth opposing, he won a seller over a mile at Southwell before Christmas but struggled in similar race carrying a penalty but didnt seem to quite get home at the weekend and had a hard race which is a concern stepping up in trip and a mark of 57 looks harsh enough on what he has achieved. Graylyn Olivaa is worth consideration on handicap debut off basement mark, sent off huge prices for 3 mile maidens on this surface and 1 on turf but pretty much failed to beat a rival, but now steps up in trip and breeding suggests that could be the key given the Dam won over 2mile on the flat and he is open to more improvement than most. The other that has to be considered is Meet Joe Black from the Evans yard and looks first string on jockey bookings, he ran his best race to date when 3rd on a claimer over 9f and Wolves last time out doing well on the terms, handicapper put him up 11lb for it but probably ran upto a mark of 62 if taking that form literally having beaten a 67 rated horse by a short head which makes him potentially well treated if building on it and seeing out this longer trip (which is far from assured on breeding, breeding would suggest he should be an out and out sprinter!!) 2pt win Meet Joe Black 5/2 bet365 1pt win Graylyn Olivaa 5/1 bet365

[Aidymac]

Re: Flat Racing 4th Jan *Thunderstruck - Lingfield 2:20* Scott Dixon is in great form with 3 winners from his last 8 runners, the last one being Evens Stevens. Thunderstruck is a course and distance winner and Ian Mongan has two seconds from 4 rides on the horse. Ran a decent race last time out when 6th of 12 @ 28/1 at Wolverhampton, has been dropped two pounds for that and is on a very workable mark now. Ian Mongan rode two starts back when 2nd at Wolverhampton off 1 pound higher. Is also 2 wins and 2 places from 7 runs at the trip. Focail Maith should be a big danger, i had word for it lto but it was pulled out and now runs tomorrow and is also attracting money with Fallon on board but Thunderstruck is a very nice price and is worth a go. *0.5 Points e/w @ 16/1 Ladbrokes BOG*