Racing Chat - Friday 29th March

[The Brigadier]

Lingfield 1.30

The first of eleven races covered by ITV cameras today on All-Weather Finals day is this sixteen runner BetUK All-Weather Vase Apprentice Handicap, a class 4 event run over 1M 4F. Many have chances but its the Brandon Wilkie ridden Siempre Arturo that catches my eye. Trained by one of my favourite training duos in Daniel & Claire Kubler, this lightly raced four year old has only had had four racecourse starts, winning two of them including last time out at Wolverhampton when defeating Sense Of Worth by a length. The 3rd and 4th from that race have both won since to frank the form and with just a 4lb rise to contend with and the extra 2 1/2F likely to be in his favour looks the value play in this tight knit handicap.

 

SIEMPRE ARTURO 1 point each way @ 10/1 bet365 1/5 12345

 

Newcastle 1.53

Thirteen go to post for the 2M 56 yard class 2 BetUK All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap. The Ralph J Smith trained Palace Boy looks a value play here. He started out for Smith at Wolverhampton following a 288 break in which he ran over hurdles for Fergal O’Brien when he actually ran in the 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. The seven year old ran out a very easy 6L winner off of what was obviously a very lenient handicap mark of just 68 and following another success at the midlands track and a good second to the re-opposing Spartan Army finds himself on a mark 18lb higher. Spartan Army looks a threat here but on 7lb better terms for a 1 1/4L defeat Palace Boy can turn the form around and run a big race under George Rooke, who’s been in the plate on all three starts so far for Smith.

 

PALACE BOY 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5 1234

 

Lingfield 2.05

A maximum field of fourteen go to post for this class 3 BetUK All-Weather Vase Middle Distance Handicap run over 1M 2F. Another open looking handicap although Karl Burke’s Bystander had Inspiritus a length and a half behind over course and distance last time and although 4lb worse off won a tad cosily that day despite drifting out to his right on the run to the line. Brandon Wilkie was on board that day and is again in the saddle and could provide the promising young jockey with a Lingfield brace with his mount Siempre Arturo holding a good chance in the opener. The Daniel & Claire Kubler trained Al Rufaa is well berthed in stall 5 and may prove to be the danger in this open handicap.

 

BYSTANDER 1 point each way @ 7/1 BetVictor 1/5 1234

 

Newcastle 2.25

The class 2 6F BetMGM All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships Handicap has attracted just eleven runners and like many of the races today has an open look about it. Bar a disappointing run at Lingfield on his penultimate run, Andrew Balding’s Fire Demon would be an even shorter price than he already is. A well related Juddmonte entire, he bounced back to form last time at Kempton when beating the re-opposing Media shooter by 1 1/4L and a 5lb rise may not be enough to stop him from following up here for Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy. That form has already taken a boost by the runner up and sixth winning since and he should be thereabouts.

 

FIRE DEMON 1 point win @ 7/1 bet365

 

Lingfield 2.40

A maximum field of twelve race for the class 3 BetMGM All-Weather Vase Mile Handicap. Dingle ran third in this last year and off of the same handicap mark can be competitive although the one to be with surely is the Gary Moore trained, Tom Queally ridden Cephalus. He comes here chasing a four timer having won under Queally at Kempton, Wolverhampton and Southwell. He was as impressive last time as in any of those victories and although he has to shoulder a 5lb penalty actually goes up 7lb in future handicaps so is effectively 2lb well in today. A draw of ten is not ideal but he may still be ahead of the handicap and is the bet here.

 

CEPHALUS 1 point win @ 5/2 bet365

 

Newcastle 3.00

Just nine have declared for the £150,000 guaranteed BetMGM Fillies’ And Mares’ Championships Handicap, a class 2 event run over 7F and 14 yards. Top weight Nine Tenths is a consistent four year old filly trained at Newmarket by William Haggas who appears to be the one they all have to beat here. Surprisingly left on the same handicap mark for a second and win on her last two starts in listed company she drops back into handicap company with the stable’s 7lb claiming apprentice Jack Enright taking over from William Buick. Enright has ridden five winners from 97 runners in Ireland and Britain over the past three seasons and was on board when Nine Tenths won at Wolverhampton back in December so knows the horse well enough. She may just be too classy for her eight rivals today.

 

NINE TENTHS 2 points win @ 5/2 bet365

 

Lingfield 3.15

A stamina test awaits the maximum fourteen runners here in the class 3 2M BetUK All-Weather Vase Marathon Handicap. The race has a very open look about it and this is maybe a contest that can go to Ireland with the Denis Gerard Hogan trained Riyami. A Dundalk winner over 2M last month he went off a well backed 11/8 favourite at the same venue when, in a amateur riders handicap, was one of many jockeys that let the eventual winner get the best part of a furlong ahead before running on late to take second place some 15L behind. His jockey, along with eleven others was suspended for five days and that run can easily be forgotten. J M Sheridan is over to ride today and is maybe a bit of each way value.

 

RIYAMI 1/2 point each way @ 10/1 Coral 1/5 1234

 

Newcastle 3.35

Next up is the 6F BetUK All-Weather Sprint Handicap in which we have a maximum field of fourteen. Cover Up impressed me immensely last time and the step up to 6F may not hinder the Gosden runner although he has to deal with a very hefty 13lb rise in the weights and it may be worth looking elsewhere for the winner. One horse who does appear to be on a decent enough mark is Harry Charlton’s Batal Dubai. Owned by Middleham Park Racing he’s been placed in three decent class 2 6F handicaps this year and appeared not to really handle the track when third, coming wide around the bend, to the re-appearing Chipstead last time at Lingfield. 2lb better off now and with the long straight of Newcastle much more to his liking he can run a big race under Clifford Lee for a trainer who’s been amongst the winners recently.

 

BATAL DUBAI 1 point each way @ 5/1 1/5 1234

 

Lingfield 3.50

A maximum field of twelve declared for this class 3 6F BetUK All-weather Vase Sprint Handicap. This is a very open contest in which any of the participants could win. 5lb apprentice Brandon Wilkie could be in for a golden day and rides Hugo Palmer’s, Middleham Park Racing owned five year old How Impressive who has as good a chance as any. Nicely berthed in stall 5 he’s won three of his last four starts rising 13lb in the process and may appreciate dropping back to 6F having raced last time over 7F at Southwell.

 

HOW IMPRESSIVE 1/2 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5 1234

 

Newcastle 4.10

Another maximum field go to post for this 1M 2F 42 yard BetUK All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap, a class 2 race that has a purse of £200,000 plus. Irish raider and top weight Elegant Man is interesting with some future group entries and he may be the one to be with here despite carrying a big weight. It’s quite possible that he is the proverbial group horse in a handicap. Mick Appleby’s prolific winner Penzance and Simon & Ed Crisford’s four timer seeking Oh So Grand both have decent claims with slight preference for the latter who has the assistance once again of Jack Mitchell, who’s been on top for his last three wins. He’s risen 18lb for those success’s which has included a victory here as well as a brace at Lingfield. Four from five on the all-weather he can give the selection Elegant Man the most to do.

 

ELEGANT MAN 1 point each way @ 7/1 Coral 1/5 1234

 

Newcastle 4.40

The final race on the card is the 1M 5 yard BetMGM All-Weather Championships Mile Handicap, a class 2 event in which we have another maximum field of fourteen. Charlie Johnstone’s progressive Middleham Park owned top weight Dear My Friend has been a revelation this all-weather season and can complete a four timer here following success’s over course and distance and a brace of wins, including in listed company at Lingfield. He’s risen 16lb in the handicap for those wins and with Joe Fanning back in the saddle looks sure to be thereabouts.

 

DEAR MY FRIEND 1 point win @ 10/3 bet365

 

 

[richard-westwood]

240 ling

Baldermero 8.8 16/1 

Cephalus  8.6 5/2 

Darwell lion. 8.6 12/1 

Borgi.   8.4 8/1 

Cephalus sets the standard here and is the one they all have to beat but at 5/2 and up 5lb and wide draw there's absolutely no value in that so I'll go 2pt Ew baldermero and darwell lion as I'm much happier with those two as value bets