Makaarim can make it two out of two at Lingfield

Makaarim must have every chance of winning back-to-back races when he is sent into battle in the feature race of the day at Lingfield.

With nearly all of his rivals badly out of form, Hughie Morrison’s three-year-old is unquestionably the standout name in the £11,500 handicap over seven furlongs. And such was the nature of his triumph at Wolverhampton last month, it would be a big surprise if he did not come out fighting once again.

Makaarim did reasonably well for Marco Botti in the summer, but a gelding operation and a transfer to Morrison’s East Ilsley stables clearly had a galvanising effect on the son of Tamayuz.

He only won by a neck at Wolverhampton but was well on top at the line in a truly-run encounter. Makaarim is now 4lb higher in the weights, but he has only had nine runs in his life and is, by quite some distance, the most unexposed horse in this line-up.

Fran Berry’s first-time appointment is hardly off-putting, either.

Keep close tabs on Attain, who runs in division two of the mileand-a-quarter handicap. Archie Watson’s eight-year-old is nicely treated on his best form and was not beaten far in a blanket finish at this track on 6 December.

The decision to drop back in trip to a distance at which he has done most of his winning should stand him in particularly good stead.

Viola Park is respected in a seven-furlong handicap beneath the Kempton floodlights.

Ron Harris’ three-year-old must have satisfied connections at Chelmsford earlier in the month when he got to within a length of Captain Pugwash in a moderate handicap.

That was his first start since October and he is entitled to be a little sharper for this assignment.

Sunblazer must surely be in his element back at two miles in the staying handicap on the card.

The seven-year-old grey has won his fair share of races over this trip, including at Newmarket last month.

He was also a proverbial eyecatcher at this track on 22 November when he stayed on sweetly to finish third behind the well-treated Entangling in a strong handicap over a mile and a half.