CHEVALLIER TO STAGE A REPEAT
THERE is a sense of deja vu at Lingfield this afternoon.
The two feature handicaps could go to trainers and jockeys that have won them before.
CHEVALLIER (2.00, nb) was given a peach of a ride by Luke Morris when he won the Play Slots At sunbets.co.uk Handicap 12 months ago.
Up until that point the six-year-old had been consistent in his time with Archie Watson. The trainer said: “He’s run eight times for me and been rated between 86 and 88 and been second or third seven times.”
He gained a second course success off a mark of 89 a month later but has not figured in a finish since. Now that he is back on 88, Chevallier could be the answer to a difficult race.
Finish
Alfred Hutchinson has won five times at Lingfield and is well drawn. Back in April 2014 he fought out the finish to the All-Weather Mile Championship with Captain Cat. Both will have their supporters, as will Chester Street who ran so well last time.
Charlie Appleby and Adam Kirby took the Betway Handicap in 2015 with Gold Trail, rated 92 on the day and now 107.
Today they have CELESTIAL SPHERES (3.10), a four-year-old that is similarly on the up.
Placed second three times in his first four races he has gone on to win three of his next five. The latest success came over today’s course and distance on New Year’s Eve.
Nothing else in today’s race won last time out, so it is easy to see why he is a short price to follow up. Appleby and Kirby part company in the next.
Kirby was due to ride Paradise Lake, which Ed Walker has withdrawn, while Appleby has booked Tom Marquand for COSMIC GLOW (3.45).
The youngster has won on four of his seven rides in Godolphin’s colours this month so his mount, who is related to some smart all-weather winners, gets the vote.
Gary Moore uses Kirby to good effect. In midweek they scored with Deebaj and at the tail end of December PRIDE OF ANGELS (4.15) found an extra gear to beat Strategic Heights, Fareeq and Bridge Builder. As those three are drawn out wide in the closing sprint, the selection should make the best of her way home from stall one.
Ryan Moore rides TRADE TALKS (1.25) for Jeremy Noseda in the opening race for three-year-olds. The trainer has his newcomers ready to run for their lives when he books top jocks like Dettori and Moore so I would expect this one – owned and bred by Doreen Swinburn, Walter’s mum – to go close.
INCH PINCHER (2.35, nap) has had the three runs needed to qualify for handicaps. She has yet to finish nearer first than last but you sense there is some latent ability there and she can come up with the goods today.
Takeonefortheteam and Agent Error were both beaten around a length on their handicap debuts this month and are likely to be involved in the finish again.