The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)

Noble looks a gift for punters at Lingfield

Racing: Eight-year-old has shown excellent form over course and distance

- The Ferret

NOBLE GIFT should give a good account on his return to action in the Betway Live Casino Handicap at Lingfield.

The William Knight-trained eightyear-old has been off since October, but has gone well on the back of a break before and three previous course and distance runs have yielded a win and two places.

He has not been in action at Lingfield since 2015, but his powers did not look to have diminished last season and he is only 4lb higher than when he won here.

MERCER’S TROOP ought to take a deal of beating in the 32Red.com Novice Stakes.

Trained by rising star Archie Watson, the Canford Cliffs colt was unraced as a juvenile, but hopes will be high he can make hay in the months ahead after a winning start at Kempton in January.

Sent off an unconsider­ed 20-1 chance, he was guided into an early lead and after quickening up from the two pole, he showed a tremendous attitude to see off Native Arrow and Pilgrim Soul, having been momentaril­y headed, getting his head in front right on the line.

KINGLAMI can strike back at six furlongs for the Betway Handicap.

John O’Shea’s nine-year-old failed to make use of his draw in stall one here last time out over the minimum distance, being slowly away and chasing matters from the rear of the field.

Outpaced turning in, he fairly flew home once hitting top gear, but it was all too late and the front two had flown.

The handicappe­r has kindly dropped him 1lb for that and if things fall right he must go close.

SOMEWHERE TO BE can claim top honours in the Rosemary Appeal Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at Newbury. Martin Keighley’s charge saw off a fair sort in Bentelimar when scoring in first-time blinkers at Catterick in January and is capable of defying a rise in the weights.

BLACK ART is seen as a chaser in the making but is doing well over the smaller obstacles for now and can land a Sedgefield hat-trick in the Betfred “Supports Jack Berry House” Handicap Hurdle. SELECTIONS: LINGFIELD: 1.35 Violet’s Lads, 2.10 Kinglami, 2.40 It Must Be Faith, 3.15 Roy’s Legacy, 3.50 NOBLE GIFT (NAP), 4.20 Mercer’s Troop, 4.55 Harmonica.

NEWBURY: 2.00 Hunt Politics, 2.30 Church Hall, 3.05 Christmas In April, 3.40 Somewhere To Be, 4.10 Moabit, 4.45 Monetaire.

SEDGEFIELD: 1.45 Roxyfet, 2.20 Raised On Grazeon, 2.50 Oak Vintage, 3.25 Black Art, 4.00 Emerald Chieftan, 4.30 Kings Eclipse, 5.05 Broadway Belle.

DOUBLE: Noble Gift and Mercer’s Troop

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom