THE all-weather card at Lingfield on Saturday features some quality racing with an intriguing renewal of the Winter Oaks Fillies’ Handicap. In contrast, it always looked like it was going to be a challenge to have turf racing at Haydock, Taunton and Ascot, with discussions now in place to run the Clarence House Chase at a different course next weekend. In the meantime Lingfield has to survive a Saturday afternoon inspection for jump racing to go ahead on Sunday. There is an excellent card with the feature the Fleur De Lys Chase with L’Homme Presse Unibet 8/13 on, as the Brown Advisory 2022 winner returns to action after a 391 break and Protektorat Unibet 13/8 running well at Cheltenham last time out. This is primarily a race to watch, though in this six-runner field I will have a small each way play on Highland Hunter Unibet 28/1.
Let’s hope we get jump racing at Lingfield and Fakenham on Sunday and enjoy the all-weather action on Saturday.
Cheers!
The Wine Tipster
Saturday
2:00 Lingfield – Handicap (1m 1f)
Plantadream (nap) has come back after 819 days off the course with two really good efforts at Kempton, when on neither occasion looking like he had been put into the race in anger yet running on steadily from the back to finish within hailing distance of the winner on both occasions. For example, rewatching his last appearance two weeks ago he showed that as a nine-year-old he still retains plenty of ability and he ran a good fourth from off the pace on only his nineteeth career appearance.
He’s had four tries around Lingfield, resulting in a win and three runner-up spots, so clearly gets on well with the place, and now he’s achieving something like full fitness, looks ready to strike.
Unibet 8/1 each way
2:35 Lingfield – Handicap (5f)
Bedford Flyer is a classy performer on both the turf and all-weather but his record over 5f here simply cannot be ignored, reading 1121. He absolutely bolted in by an easy two lengths here in November and after a short break, came back to run second to Clarendon House in a good contest at Southwell at the end of last year. That ought to have set him up nicely for this, he has stall 1 to work from, is tactically flexible, and has a lot in his favour here.
Unibet 13/2 each way
3:10 Lingfield – Winter Oaks Fillies’ Handicap (1m 2f)
Behind The Scenes has to take on a worthy favourite Oh So Grand, who could be a tough nut to crack as she goes for the Lingfield hat-trick but Behind The Scenes might have been underestimated after her run in a Listed contest on the all-weather at Deauville last month when sixth beaten just under three lengths when ridden from off the pace.
That race has a good look about it with the winner Ardent looking a very useful filly for this year and second home, Roger Varian’s Sound Angela, is rated 99 by our handicapper and overall the form has a very solid look to it. Indeed, it makes Behind The Scenes look nicely treated off 87 today, as the handicapper could have easily given her another two or three pounds for that effort had he so wished.
Behind The Scenes has been steadily improving too and after winning at Wolverhampton in August she struggled to get a clear run until late on when second to Tyndrum Gold at Kempton in October when returning after a break.
Behind The Scenes is clearly highly thought of and she has been found a good opportunity to gain her third victory on the all-weather on her first run at Lingfield.
Unibet 7/1 each way
Sunday
1.50 Lingfield – Goldstone Handicap Chase (2m)
First Flow is a twelve-year-old who still retains his class, having finished second to Quel Destin at Chepstow last time out and his previous appearance was runner-up to the smart Boothill in a competitive handicap at Ascot. First Flow was briefly leading after two out and then didn’t get the last quite right. Although this race looks very competitive First Flow can record his first success since December 2021.
Unibet 11/2 win
2.25 Lingfield – Weatherbys Hamilton Handicap Hurdle (2m 7f)
Classic Concorde is a veteran in the form of his career with form figures since August of 114111 and he was marked up in my Unibet blog when winning at Chepstow on Welsh Grand National day.
On that occasion he beat J’ai Froid, who franked the form at Warwick last weekend when beating the smart Kyntara. Classic Concorde was raised to a mark of 119 from 112 for his Chepstow success and here he has 10st 3lbs with Tom Broughton claiming seven pounds. This is certainly competitive, yet there is no reason why he won’t run another big race again for the David Brace team.
Unibet 9/1 each way
3.35 Lingfield – Surrey National Handicap Chase (3m 5f)
Animal was entered for the Classic Chase last Saturday and was on my radar ahead of declarations having beaten my subsequent selection and winner My Silver Lining at Sandown on his penultimate start when keeping on well up the hill in soft going. On his latest appearance he was third in the Lincolnshire National at Market Rasen over 3m 3½f in one of the finishes of last year with four horses in line as they headed toward the finish. In actual fact Animal was ahead at one point and lost two places with 110 yds to go. This eight-year-old has lots of ability, is definitely improving and deserves his place near the front of the market.
Unibet 6/1 each way
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