Racecards
17:20 Lingfield Park
Sportingbet Supports Heros Handicap (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 1m
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- £5,000 added
- Winner: £3,238
- 2nd: £964
- 3rd: £482
- 4th: £240
- Form 120481
- Age 7
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer A J McCabe
- Jockey N Callan
held up in touch, effort well over 1f out, soon one pace
- Form 221462
- Age 5
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer P W D'Arcy
- Jockey Tony Culhane
held up in touch, headway over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, kept on well
- Form 85758-8
- Age 7
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 83
soon led, strongly challenged from well over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, faded closing stages
- Form 400-127
- Age 7
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer W J Knight
- Jockey Jim Crowley
steadied in rear, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, never able to challenge
- Form 252-412
- Age 5
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer Miss Jo Crowley
- Jockey I Mongan
raced keenly tracking leaders, every chance over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well
- Form 433631
- Age 5
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer J G Given
- Jockey P Mulrennan
prominent, ridden and every chance approaching final furlong, no extra close home
- Form 13-6267
- Age 7
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer J R Best
- Jockey S J Drowne
held up mid-division, weakened over 2f out, eased final furlong
- Form 55-1212
- Age 5
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer E Stanford
- Jockey William Carson
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, ran on
In depth
Verdict
The admirable FOLLOW THE FLAG racked up his eighth win on the all-weather when scoring over C&D last month. He'll need his best effort yet to follow-up here but it looks a distinct possibility given he beat today's rivals Wilfred Pickles, Buaiteoir, Den's Gift and Titan Triumph on his latest start. Veroon ended a long losing run at Wolverhampton last week but a 5lb rise in the weights could anchor him today, while The Happy Hammer may find this step up in class beyond him. Halsion Chancer has done most of his winning here but doesn't look the force of old these days.
Formwatch
Follow The Flag (IRE) 20-1 (9-6) In touch, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on to lead final strides, won at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb beating Wilfred Pickles (9-2) by hd, 12 ran.
Buaiteoir (FR) 4-1fav (9-5) Slowly away in rear, ridden and headway inside final furlong, ran on to go 2nd near finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Fanditha (9-2) at Lingfield 1m app hcp (0-85) (4yo+) (4) pol.
Den's Gift (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Led, clear halfway, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 10, 5l behind Big Bay (9-4) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Titan Triumph 4-1fav (9-6) Keen in rear, ridden 2f out, not troubled leaders, 7th of 12, 4l behind Follow The Flag (9-6) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Wilfred Pickles (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Held up, headway on inside over 1f out, ridden to lead well inside final furlong, headed final strides, 2nd of 12, hd behind Follow The Flag (9-6) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Feb.
Veroon (IRE) 10-1 (8-8) In touch, headway to chase leader 2f out, led inside fional furlong, ridden out, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Thunderstruck (9-4) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Halsion Chancer 9-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 7l behind Fanditha (9-2) at Lingfield 1m app hcp (0-85) (4yo+) (4) pol.
The Happy Hammer (IRE) 11-4fav (9-4) Switched left start, held up in touch, headway on outside over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ridden and stayed on until caught on line, 2nd of 9, ns behind Ivory Silk (9-13) at Lingfield 7f hacp 0-70 (5) pol.