Racecards
15:05 Lingfield Park
Freebets.co.uk Online Free Bets Handicap (Class 5)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 7f
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- £4,250 added
- Form 500-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer P Morris
- Jockey J P Spencer
broke well, steadied and settled in rear, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, never dangerous
- Form 68-44
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey Michael Hills
pulled hard in rear, ridden over 2f out, no headway and soon weakened
- Form 222-144
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer E A L Dunlop
- Jockey J Fortune
steadied start, held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, stayed on to take 3rd inside final furlong, not troubled leading pair
- Form 27343-
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer J A Osborne
- Jockey C Catlin
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 0-32
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer D K Ivory
- Jockey Jim Crowley
slowly into stride, soon tracked leader on inside, chased leader over 1f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong to lead post
- Form 2-32412
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 64
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey M Geran
led, ridden 2f out, stayed on gamely under pressure inside final furlong, led post
- Form 734-43
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 63
- Trainer S A Callaghan
- Jockey P Cosgrave
tracked leader on outside, ridden and effort 2f out, lost 2nd over 1f out, soon weakened
- Form 39-0512
- Age 3
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer P S McEntee
- Jockey S J Drowne
started slowly, soon mid-division, ridden to chase leading pair over 1f out, no extra and lost 3rd inside final furlong
- Form 06510-2
- Age 3
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 59
- Trainer E J Creighton
- Jockey E Creighton
behind, ridden and wide bend well over 1f out, no impression on leaders
In depth
Verdict
Not a race for the fainthearted and IMPERIAL SKYLIGHT is a minimum stakes recommendation versus Romantic Queen and Bold Ring. Winning has proved far from easy for Mick Channon's charge but the horse has been consistent enough in defeat and the 5lb claim of his apprentice does seem somewhat appealing in the context of a tightly knit handicap. Romantic Queen has an eyecatching booking of Jimmy Fortune. Nevertheless, her last two visits to Lingfield have been moderate. Bold Ring has won in plating company though consistency, as can be evidenced by her last two races, would not be her strong suit. La Verte Rue gets this trip though she made hard work of it on her latest visit. Best Bidder was a very expensive purchase when trained by Richard Fahey but his form has never matched up with his lofty breeding. Josiah Bartlett would have to enter calculations in the event of a true run race. Joannaarc looks ordinary. Imperial Skylight has the most obvious claims in a race that will not be rivalling the Cheltenham Gold Cup for column inches.
Formwatch
Best Bidder (USA) 10-1 (8-12) With leader, led 4f out, headed 3f out, soon weakened, 10th of 13, 17l behind Cygnet (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 2yo mdn (5) gs in Oct.
Hatman Jack (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Chased leading pair, effort on inside 2f out, soon not quicken, no impression, 4th of 5, 3 1/2l behind Raimond Ridge (8-13) at Kempton 6f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Feb.
Romantic Queen 4-1 (9-4) Led after 1f, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, last of 4, 9l behind Quick Single (8-11) at Lingfield 6f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Feb.
La Verte Rue (USA) 4-1 (8-9) Broke well, soon steadied towards rear, pushed along halfway, ridden and stayed on to take 3rd final furlong, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Zim Ho (8-10) at Lingfield 7f 2yo mdn auc (6) pol in Dec.
Kiss A Prince 11-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, led inside final furlong, headed post, 2nd of 9, shd behind Bickersten (9-3) at Lingfield 7f 3yo mdn aut (6) pol in Feb.
Imperial Skylight 3-1 (9-0) Close up 2nd, ridden over 2f out, not pace to challenge and no impression over 1f out, 2nd of 4, 3l behind Itshim (8-1) at Lingfield 7f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Feb.
Joannadarc (USA) 8-1 (8-5) Tracked leaders, ran wide and lost 4 places bend entering final 2f, soon ridden and stayed on to regain 3rd inside final furlong, no chance with leading pair, 3rd of 10, 10l behind Set The Trend (9-3) at Lingfield 7f 3yo mdn (5) pol in Feb.
Josiah Bartlett (IRE) 5-1 (9-6) Steadied start, held up towards rear, headway 2f out, stayed on to take 2nd final strides, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Statute Book (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 3yo hcp (6) pol in Feb.
Bold Ring 28-1 (8-11) Held up in touch, improved 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on final furlong, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Green Agenda (8-10) at Lingfield 7f 3yo hcp (6) pol.