Racecards
16:30 Lingfield Park
Derek Taylor Birthday Celebration Rose Handicap (awt) (Class 4)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 1m
- Going: Standard (Turf - Good, Good to Firm in place)
- Surface: Polytrack
- Form 262317
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer J A Osborne
- Jockey S J Drowne
held up, headway over 1f out, kept on final furlong
- Form 512510
- Age 5
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 80
tracked leader, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed and no extra close home
- Form 568/25-4
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer H Candy
- Jockey Dane O'Neill
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 3004-00
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer C E Brittain
- Jockey Richard Hughes
held up, never dangerous
- Form 1-11173
- Age 4
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer M Blanshard
- Jockey F Norton
held up in touch, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, not reach leaders
- Form 33-1121
- Age 4
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer Miss Gay Kelleway
- Jockey L Dettori
soon in touch, chased leaders over 2f out, ran on to lead last strides
- Form 0-21350
- Age 5
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 75
soon led, ridden and headed inside final furlong, no extra
- Form 372/00-
- Age 5
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 75
held up, never on terms
In depth
Verdict
We switch back to the Polytrack for the final two races on the card, and this mile handicap can go to the in-form Fajr ahead of Merrymadcap, Glad Big and Trifti. Fajr obviously likes it here, as he remains unbeaten in three visits including last month when Frankie Dettori rode him for the first time. The pair burst through to land a class 5 handicap from off the pace, scoring a lot easier than the narrow margin indicates, and this step up in grade is well within his grasp off just a 6lb higher mark. Merrymadcap had been in good form at Wolverhampton over the winter, but has gone a bit off the boil lately, and looks held in any case by Glad Big, whom he was well behind at Kempton. The latter has since bombed out at Windsor when reportedly unsuited by the ground and will appreciate the return to this type of surface. Trifti was only just touched off in a similar race to this here in March and although inconsistent, is not to be ruled out entirely, while Dry Ice pays his first visit here after catching the eye at Kempton and will like the trip. All in all, there are plenty in with chances, but Fajr is undoubtedly the pick.
Formwatch
Trifti 10-1 (8-13) Slowly into stride, held up, some headway 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 11th of 14, 5l behind Hail The Chief (9-8) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Apr.
Glad Big (GER) 11-2co-fav (9-1) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, no impression on leaders, 7th of 14, 4l behind Wavertree Warrior (8-5) at Windsor 1m hcap (4) gd in Apr.
Star Magnitude (USA) 16-1 (8-13) Held up in rear, pushed along 4f out, never in contention, 11th of 15, 6l behind Prince Samos (9-2) at Newbury 1m 2f hcap (4) gd in Apr.
Dry Ice (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) In rear, ridden and headway on outside over 1f out, nearest finish, 4th of 14, 3l behind Into The Breeze (8-13) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Apr.
Asharon 33-1 (9-2) Always in rear, 12th of 14, 16l behind Into The Breeze (8-13) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Apr.
Merrymadcap (IRE) 10-1 (8-6) In touch, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, but no chance with winner, 3rd of 15, 6l behind Pride of Nation (8-12) at Bath 1m hcap (4) gd in Apr.
Fajr (IRE) 15-8fav (9-4) Held up mid-division, headway on inside over 1f out, led inside final furlong, pushed out, won at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Apr beating Cursum Perficio (9-4) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Farewell Gift 11-1 (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden when hampered on inside 2f out, weakened soon after, 10th of 15, 13l behind Pride of Nation (8-12) at Bath 1m hcap (4) gd in Apr.
Return In Style (IRE) (8-11) behind Millenium Mambo (8-11) at Longchamp 1m 4f stk gd in Jun, 12 ran.