Lingfield 17/1/09

[fintron]

2.55 Lingfield 11 runners line up for this 0-100 handicap worth £11,657k to the winner and several inform horses take their place amongst the runners. It would be hugely suprising if bottom weight Wotavadun takes his chance though as he's so far out of the handicap its unreal and he is well and truly out of his depth with regards to class. Tamagin is interesting with an eyecatching jockey booking. Jamie Spencer has been in great form when riding for Kevin Ryan, they teamed up on Wotashirtful last night and this race looks a little easier than the Ayr Gold Cup and the Totesport Challenge Cup he's competed in on his last two starts. He's only 1 lb higher than his last winning mark, is a course and distance winner and can go well fresh, so he could be one to keep an eye on in the market returning from a 112-day break. Matsunosuke is in good nick and slammed the field when emerging the clear winning through the Great leighs fog last time out and he is evidently still improving. However, an 8 lb rise from his last win means he may be found out here against a stronger field. Internationaldebut is fluorishing and he comes into this race off the back of a hat-trick. He has finally fulfilled the promise that was evident earlier in the season now switched to the all-weather and he deserves his crack at this pot. He had the beating of The Game at this track in November although it must be noted that Tom Dascombe's horse was returning for a break that day and the distance that seperated them was minimal. A 5 lb rise from his last win means he cannot be ruled out though and he has course and distance winning form to his name. Ebraam is another CD winner who is only 3 lbs higher than his last winning mark, however, he has disappointed followers since as he's without a win in almost a year and this race looks tougher than his last, in which he had Matsunosuke behind. He does get a further 4 lb from that horse tomorrow though. Doubtful Sound kept most of his form to claimers for quite some time, but since being thrown back into handicaps he has responded in magnificent fashion, smashing the field on his second start for Reg Hollingshead and following up at this track for a quick double with another comfortable victory. He was raised 9 lb and flopped last time out but he was hampered at the start when beaten by The Game and Ebraam (did have Fyodor behind) and given his impressive course form 215112421511 you wouldn't past him sneaking a place here. A win may be possibly beyond him in this company, mind. Fyodor is one that has to be caught on a going day and although he won at great leighs back in November, he struggled off higher marks subsequently, flopping in a Lingfield claimer when he should have won with plenty in hand (suspicious betting patterns were noted that day!). He did win his last start in a Southwell claimer, but this is plenty more tougher and although he's only 1 lb higher than his last winning mark, he can't be guaranteed to give his running. Little Edward hacked up in a course and distance claimer last month but has failed to follow up in two subseuqnet tries in handicaps. He's knocking on now aged 11 but was a fair second last time out. He has been put up another 2 lbs here though which seems a tad harsh. Mr Lambros is well handicapped on the pick of his form as he's 4 lb lower than when making all to score at Wolv last January. However, its hard to make a case for him after comprehensive thrashings in recent starts, even if a 5 lb drop in the weights entitles him to improve. El Dececy looks like he has been deployed as a pacemaker by connections to set the race up for Internationaldebut. He's 2 lb lower than his last winning mark but has fitness to prove and it appears he is here merely in a supporting role. The Game arrives in tip-top shape and looks for the hat-trick under regular pilot Richard Kingscote. A pleasing second to internationaldebut on his reappearance was followed up with a course and distance win and he then defied a sharp rise in class to win a 0-100 race at GL last time out when smashing the track record. Verdict The presence of several front-runners means this race could be run at a furious pace between the likes of The Game, El Dececy and Tamagin and the race could be set up for a fast finisher. Doubtful Sound may track the leaders but may be a tad high in the handicap, the same of which can be said for Matsunosuke, who is likely to make his move late on. Another making a late dash will be Internationaldebut, and this son of High Chapparal may be the one to cash in on a potentially destructive battle for the lead set up by his stablemate. He was entered in the Racing Post Trophy as a juvenile so potentially has the class to take this. 7/2 Bet 365. EW

[fintron]

Re: Lingfield 17/1/09 4.00 Lingfield Atlantic Story is a standing dish around here and has won 5/7 starts, the latest off 103 in a 0-100 handicap two starts ago. He has been raised 5 lbs now but is unstoppable on the all-weather. He was 4th in a listed race last time out but up against the useful Duff, and there is no shame in finishing behind 104 and 107 rated runners up either. Red Somerset and Titan Triumph may be handicapped to fill the places, but they lack the class of Mick Easterby's gelding and I fancy him to win again.