Racecards
12:00 Lingfield Park
Betdirect.co.uk Maiden Stakes (Div 1) (Class 4)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 1m 2f
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- Form 2
- Age 2
- Weight 9-0
- Trainer J A Osborne
- Jockey E Ahern
tracked leaders, chased winner over 2f out, no impresion final furlong
- Form 0448
- Age 2
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 71
- Trainer K McAuliffe
- Jockey James Doyle
chased leaders for 8f
- Form 65
- Age 2
- Weight 9-0
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey K Darley
chased winner until weakened quickly over 2f out
Patoma (IRE)
33- Form 7
- Age 2
- Weight 9-0
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey M Fenton
keen hold in touch, ridden 2f out, soon weakened
- Form 9
- Age 2
- Weight 9-0
behind, rapid headway on outside over 3f out, chased leading pair 2f out, one pacedfinal furlong
- Age 2
- Weight 9-0
- Trainer D R C Elsworth
- Jockey L P Keniry
slowly away, behind, green and pushed along 3f out, headway 2f out, stayed on steadily final furlong
- Form 584240
- Age 2
- Weight 9-0
- Trainer C E Brittain
- Jockey Richard Hughes
led, shaken up over 1f out, soon clear comfortably
Zizou (IRE)
11- Form 960928
- Age 2
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 64
- Trainer P R Hedger
- Jockey Dane O'Neill
mid-division, weakened over 2f out
- Age 2
- Weight 8-9
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey R Havlin
chased leaders until weakened over 2f out
- Form 7522
- Age 2
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey J Fortune
towards rear until moderate headway on outside final furlong
In depth
Verdict
Opera Comica can make experience count over Bull Market, with Well Armed and Abstract Art just a couple more worth noting. All of these two-year-olds obviously have time on their side, and most, if not all, hail from top yards, so it may be a race to follow for future reference. John Gosden has two runners, with preference for Opera Comica, second on both of his last two starts over a mile on Turf. On breeding, the step up to 10 furlongs is just what he needs, and he is taken to come good. Bull Market was quite an expensive purchase and caught the eye when third on his debut here last month. That too was over a mile and he should improve, as should Abstract Art who makes his Polytrack debut. Well Armed disappointed back on Turf last time but produced one of his better efforts here when just touched off in a nursery. His ability to get the trip has to be questioned, and unless the market speaks kindly of any of the others, we prefer to side with Opera Comica.
Formwatch
Basiliko (USA) 16-1 (9-0) Took keen hold, tracked leader until ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Highlander (9-0) at Nottingham 1m 2yo mdn (5) sft in Oct.
Bull Market (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, held up, headway 3f out, ran on to take 2nd post, 2nd of 12, nk behind Salt Man (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2yo mdn (5) pol in Oct.
Grand Jour (IRE) 25-1 (8-11) Keen hold, held up in rear, never on terms, 8th of 11, 6l behind Natural Force (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
King's Fable (USA) 33-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, weakened well over 3f out, 5th of 10, 19l behind Dynacam (8-9) at Yarmouth 1m 2f 2yo mdn (5) hvy.
Snoqualmie Boy Montjeu colt, half-brother to 3 winners up to 1m2f.
Well Armed (USA) 16-1 (8-9) Always behind, 11th of 13, 13l behind Hurricane Cat (8-9) at Newbury 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) gs in Oct.
Christmas Player (USA) 14-1 (8-9) In touch, pushed along 3f out, soon lost place, 13th of 19, 12l behind With Interest (9-0) at Newbury 7f 2yo mdn (4) gf in Oct.
Opera Comica 7-1 (9-6) Prominent, ran on to lead over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra close home, 2nd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Prince of Love (8-11) at Pontefract 1m 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.