Horseracing: Alex Hammond preview and betting tips

Fresh from last weekend’s Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan we are concentrating on the Flat again this weekend with the culmination of the all-weather season taking place at Lingfield on Good Friday.

Charlie Appleby has dominated the all-weather this winter having concentrated a dedicated team to it and he goes into the day with some exceptional chances.

Let’s go through the races in order.

13.40 32Red.com All-Weather Fillies’ & Mares Championships

Having said that, the Godolphin trainer isn’t represented in the first race on the valuable card. Fresels is likely favourite for Swedish born, French based trainer, Pia Brandt. This horse made her all-weather debut at Lingfield in November when a good second to Intransigent over 6 furlongs in a fast track qualifier. She followed that up with a win on polytrack at Deauville, but disappointed last time out at Chantilly, again on the polytrack. Khatiba is trained in Newmarket by Roger Varian and has a good draw in two and comes here a fresh horse after a winter break.

Graham Lee maintains the successful partnership, although the filly is running at this track for the first time. She still showed signs of inexperience when last seen so there could be more to come. Don’t Be rattled up a sequence in a lower grade for Sir Mark Prescott this winter and is now rated 92. I like the look of Lamar and it’s worth bearing in mind that trainer James Tate seriously considered running her in the feature Easter Classic. He has taken the easier option, but it’s not all good news as she has a bad draw in 11 of 11 to overcome and she has been running over further of late. She was only just touched off by leading Easter Classic runner Grendisar, albeit over 10 furlongs, last time out and if anyone can overcome the draw, it’s Ryan Moore, so it must be worth taking a chance with her at the likely prices.

Selection: Lamar at 6/1 with Sky Bet

14.10 Unibet All-Weather Sprint Championships

You are going to need a horse that is drawn low over this 6 furlong trip, so that’s good news for hot favourite Pretend who comes out of gate two. It’s hard to find much to crab this Godolphin runner for and he looks the one to beat. The 4 year-old has been a revelation since going sprinting and was an easy winner over 5 furlongs from Alben Star at this track last time out. He’s not just a speed ball though as his form over 6 furlongs at Wolverhampton reflects. He’s a gorgeous horse and a progressive sprinter.

His only moderate run came at Chelsmford, but he has bounced back since then and he’s my strong selection. Chookie Royale represents Keith Dalgleish. The horse is a winner over this trip, but I feel he’s better over further. Last year’s winner Alben Star is back for another shot at the race with Ryan Moore in the saddle. Richard Fahey’s 7 year-old won’t be the big price he was last year though and he has the advantage of a good draw in 1. He looks vulnerable to the improving favourite but should run his race having recaptured some form behind Pretend last time out.

Selection: Pretend at 5/4 with Sky Bet

14.40 32Red All-Weather 3 year old Mile Championships

Just the 7 decs for this race and once again Godolphin have a strong hand with three of the seven runners carrying the royal blue silks. Charlie Appleby trains two of them, Emirates Skycargo and Four Seasons with retained jockey William Buick on the former and Adam Kirby, who has done so well for the outfit this winter on the latter. John Gosden’s Tempus Temporis is the other for the owner and James Doyle takes the ride in his new role as retained jockey for the team. Of the two Appleby runners, it’s Emirates Skycargo that appears to hold the best chance.

The horse has apparently improved for a gelding operation and his form reflects that with a course and distance maiden win, followed up by an impressive win at Chelmsford. According to his trainer Four Seasons isn’t best suited to Lingfield despite his success at the track, but it would be a surprise if he were to beat his stablemate. Tempus Temporis has improved for the application of blinkers and he is another horse on the up. I fancy him to come out on top from the Godolphin trio and he still holds an entry in the Dante. Lexington Times is the likely favourite for Richard Hannon. Richard Hughes made his win at this track last time out look impressive just getting up in the shadow of the post and standing up in his irons as he passed the post. Lexington Times deserves to be favourite as he steps up to the mile for the first time but it’s Tempus Temporis for me.

Selection: Tempus Temporis at 11/4 with Sky Bet

15.15 Ladbrokes All-Weather Mile Championships

Sovereign Debt is fancied for this race for Dandy and Adrian Nicholls. Connections decided to stay at home with this horse rather than travel out to race in Dubai and he has the chance to pick up some good money for their trouble. He has just had the three runs on the all weather this winter and won over 7 furlongs at Wolverhampton last time out. His new owner forked out 145,000 guineas for the horse in February 2014 out of Michael Bell’s stable and then had to wait until this February to see him on a racecourse.

It looks like their patience has paid off though and he will take some beating in this mile contest. This is a horse that was good enough to finish 4 lengths second in the Group One Lockinge in May 2013 and he looks an exciting recruit to the Nicholls yard. Lunar Deity beat a horse I like, Big Baz, last time out and the latter is better off at the weights on Friday. He shoud be better off for that outing and could run into a place.

Selection: Sovereign Debt at 3/1 with Sky Bet (NAP)

15.45 Coral Easter Classic All-Weather Middle Distance Championships

Now to the big race and Winter Derby winner Tryster is hot favourite for Charlie Appleby. He didn’t get the clearest of runs that day, but had the class to overcome it, staying on strongly at the finish under Adam Kirby. He has William Buick on board on Friday who comes here on a high after his win in the World Cup last weekend.  Tryster beat Grendisar in that Winter Derby and is a horse with tonnes of class. We’ll be hearing much more of him beyond this weekend and looks another banker for team Appleby.

Selection: Tryster at 4/6 with Sky Bet

16.15 The Unibet 3 year old Sprint All-Weather Championships

Can team Appleby win another race on the card? Well, he saddles both Portamento (William Buick) and Blue Aegean (James Doyle). Portamento won his fast track qualifier in December at Wolverhampton over this minimum trip. He has been given a break since then to keep him fresh and holds a favourite's chance. He’s also a winner at this track and has a 100% record on artificial surfaces; plenty going for him. I’d like to give Primrose Valley a shout, but her draw in 10 from 11 makes life very tough despite her great recent form.

Ed Vaughan’s filly has won her last four since the end of the turf season and clearly likes the all-weather. She beat Merdon Castle on her penultimate start and Harry Hurricane last time, but both those horses have better draws on Friday and may be able to turn the form around. Merdon Castle is from a classy sprinting family and has Ryan Moore in the plate and it might be worth chancing that there is more improvement to come from this David Elsworth trained colt to foil the boys in blue.

Selection: Merdon Castle at 8/1 with Sky Bet

16.45 32Red All-Weather Marathon Championships

This is another race dominated by Godolphin owned horses with the Charlie Appleby trained Anglophile heading the market. He’s a progressive horse and is top rated. He seems a versatile performer having won over trips ranging from 11 furlongs to 2 miles this winter on the all-weather. He’s not necessarily bred to stay these types of trips, but he does and looks the type to make an impact on the turf too. He’s highest rated in the field and will be very popular, particularly if the stable have a good day in the run up to the finale.

Dubai World Cup winning trainer Saeed bin Suroor has just the one runner on final’s day, that’s Hidden Gold in this closing contest. Another blue blooded horse whose dam is a half sister to Sea The Stars and Galileo, she has done nothing but improve and is already a Listed winner. She comes here having had a winter break and ticks lots of boxes. The Nicky Henderson trained Hurricane Higgins gets a mention thanks to his narrow win on his return to action over this course and distance just over a month ago after almost 2 ½ years off the track. He’s had time to get over that to hopefully avoid the bounce factor and that is decent form with Charlie Appleby’s Gold Trail in second and John Reel in third. He’s got loads of class and was smart for Mark Johnston, if he has come out of that well he’s a danger to the selection, Hidden Gold.

Selection: Hidden Gold at 11/4 with Sky Bet