Hi all,
Its Classic Trial Day at Lingfield. Sadly, the turf track is unraceable, so the card has been switched to the all-weather track. Whilst it’s not ideal it also happened in 2012 and the winners of that year’s trials ran well at Epsom.
Besides four races from Lingfield ITV are also covering three races from Ascot and one from Haydock.
Haydock provides the sole mixed card in the British racing calendar. The Haydock feature is the Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle (3:15) which has £56,950 on offer to the winner. The latter race is also the most valuable race across Britain & Ireland on Saturday.
The highlight of a seven race card at Ascot is the valuable Peroni Nastro Azzurro Victoria Cup (2:40). Twenty three were left in the race at final declarations, which makes it the most competitive race of the day.
Let’s begin with a look at three of the Lingfield races on ITV4.
Lingfield
2:25 – Fitzdares Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) – 7f
Earlier on the card we have the most valuable race on the card. It’s also a contest that pitches the 3-year-old’s with the older horses.
Sacred goes well fresh and is the highest rated mare in the field. Yet to race on the all-weather but the surface shouldn’t faze the 5-year-old. Of more concern would be the lack of much in the race. Her stablemate Queen Aminatu was disappointing on soft ground at the Curragh last time but she’s a good filly on the synthetics. All her five career wins have come on the all-weather and she’s 2-2 here at Lingfield. Can easily bounce back to her best here albeit she might be vulnerable in a slowly run race.
Sandrine beat Kinrossin the Group 2 Lennox Stakes at Goodwood last summer with Sacred 1 ¾ length back in fifth. She’s one from one on the polytrack and must be respected on her seasonal return as she’s likely to be better placed than Sacred.
White Moonlight has 5lb to find on OR’s with Sacred but she’s the one front runner in the field and has won on the polytrack in the past. Ran well on two starts in Meydan and her rivals can’t let her get her own way out in front.
3:00 – Fitzdares Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes (Listed Race) – 1m 4f
Sea of Roses had Be Happy ¾ lengths behind when they were 2nd and 3rd respectively in Group 3 at Saint Cloud 42 days ago. The first named is a non-runner which leaves Be Happy as the favourite Perfect Prophet looks the sort do better over middle distances as a 3-year-old. She ended last season with a solid enough effort when a 4 ½ length 3rd of 8 to Polly Pott in the Group 3 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster last September. Could get into the places in what doesn’t look the strongest of renewals on paper.
3:35 – Fitzdares Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes (Listed Race) – 1m 4f
Ten colts and geldings have been declared for what could be an informative Derby trial. No less than eight of the runners have got the Timeform p.
Military Order, a son of Frankel built on his racecourse debut promise when winning at Newmarket (1m) in October. A full brother to 2021 Derby winner Adayar the colt made all to make a winning seasonal reappearance in the 1m 2f novice at Newbury. As expected, the step up to 1m 2f and although he got the run of the race out in front that day, he showed a good change of pace to put the race to bed two furlongs out. A worthy favourite and a serious Derby contender if he wins here.
Circle Of Fire finished runner-up to one of Military Order’s stablemate’s at Newmarket 8-days ago. He should be fitter for that run and can improve further but I would be disappointed if Military Order can’t beat him.
Waipiro built on a promising racecourse debut at Kempton last December with a decisive success in a novice race over C&D last month. The son of Australia has clearly improved from his debut and looks an exciting middle distance colt for connections. He got the run of the race out in front last time but there was plenty to like about his professionalism.
Ascot
1:30 – Peroni Nastro Azzurro Handicap (Class 3) – 1m 4f
Nathanael Greene looks sure to be popular with punters here. He goes well on soft ground and there could be more to come from him as a 4-year-old. The lack of cheekpieces is a bit of a concern though. Preference though is for High Fibre. The 4-year-old hasn’t been seen since finishing a nose 2nd of 7 at Newmarket (1m 2f) last April. Now with Harry Fry he should stay 1m 4f and trainer & jockey combined to win yesterday’s Chester Cup.
2:05 – Peroni Nastro Azzurro EBF Fillies’ Handicap (Class 2) – 1m
Timeless Melody won a heavy ground novice at Leicester 29-days ago and shaped that day that a step up to a mile will suit on handicap debut. She looks capable of further improvement and is the one to beat. Beccara Rose shaped with promise on two juvenile starts last autumn and set to strong a pace at Newbury on her seasonal return over 1m 2f. Interesting to see the filly dropped back to a mile on her handicap debut but she’s another capable of better and has nice light weight off 8-2.
2:40 – Peroni Nastro Azzurro Victoria Cup (Heritage Handicap) – 7f
With 23 declared there are plenty in with a chance in what looks a deep looking renewal.
The George Boughey pair of Baradar & Totally Charming were heading the early bird betting on Friday afternoon. The former loves the mud and will be suited by the drop back to 7f as will Totally Charming who has the bonus of Billy Loughnane taking off a handy 3lb.
All Fresh’s three career wins on turf have come here including two over C&D last autumn and he’s likely to give his running.
Kingdom Come has returned from a 486-day absence to win three times at Kempton since the turn of the year. Must prove he’s as good on turf, no reason pedigree why he won’t be, but whether this is ideal ground is a big unknown. That said he’s open to more improvement and looks nicely treated. Stablemate River Nymph won this in 2021on soft ground and was a 2 ¼ length 3rd of 27 in this race last year. Ended last season with two more cracking efforts over C&D. He looks set for another big run in conditions that suit.
Admiral D gets the genuinely soft ground I think he needs but must prove he stays 7f. There’s a race like this in him when it all clicks.
Rhoscolyn is on a losing run that goes back to the summer of 2021 but he’s run plenty of good races in handicaps like this. He goes well on an easy surface and reproduction of his short neck 3rd of 11 at Goodwood last August, from 4lb higher would see him go close.
Ropey Guest is another on a losing run that goes back to 2021. However, some of the 6-year-old’s best run have come here on the straight course most notably when 2 ¼ length 6th of 27 in this race in 2021, from 8lb higher.
Rebel Territory bounced back to winning ways at Newmarket last month. The drop back to 7f seemed to suit him well that day. He’s just 2lb higher and unexposed over the distance.
Haydock
The valuable Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle is the sole race from Haydock on ITV this afternoon, but the opening handicap hurdle is worth a second look and I think ITV would have been better showing this race rather than the first race from Ascot.
1:35 – Pertemps Network Long Distance Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) – 3m ½ f
Willaston produced a good turn of foot to win going away at Cheltenham (2m 4 ½ f) 24-days ago. He’s up 3lb but the step up in distance should suit. Bold Endeavour was ¾ length behind in second in that Cheltenham race and gets a 2lb pull in the weights, but I think the winner can confirm form here.
Tiger Jet produced a career best when winning a C&D handicap hurdle last month. He’s got a 7lb rise in the weights to contend with and it won’t be as quick as was last time but provided, they don’t go too hard up front could be better positioned than most.
Gentleman At Arms hasn’t had the best of seasons which means he’s become nicely treated. The 6-year-old bounced back to form when a 1 ¾ lengths 4th of 10 at Warwick 16-days ago. He’s a real stayer and shouldn’t be far away.
Pounding Poet has just had two starts since October and the 7-year-old bounced back to his very best in the first time cheekpieces when a 5 lengths 2nd of 22 to West Balboa at Aintree last month. He’s 2-2 in May, will like the ground and although he’s been nudged up 2lb for latest effort should go well.
3:15 – Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) – 1m 7 ½ f
A maximum field of 17 for the most valuable race of the day and there are plenty on my shortlist as you would expect given the competitive look of the race.
Brentford Hope ahigh class soft ground performer on the flat when with Richard Hughes. The 6-year-old made it 2 from 2 over hurdles since joining Harry Derham when winning a Huntingdon novice last month. Capable of better on handicap debut if suited to the big field set up.
Washington bounced back to form in the first time cheekpieces when a 9 ¾ length 3rd of 20 at Aintree last month. He comes into the race fresher than most and shouldn’t be far away. Yard won this in 2021.
Parisencore is a previous C&D winner is another who comes into the race fresh for the time of year. Ran well from 3lb out of the weights when 7 ¾ lengths fourth of 10 in last month’s Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr.
Irish challenger Byker, a winner of Naas maiden hurdle in January posted a career best when a neck 2nd of 21 to Jazzy Matty in Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last time. A 4lb rise makes life tougher for the juvenile but he’s only had four hurdle starts and could be capable of better.
Nibiru posted a career best over hurdle when a 3 ¾ length 2nd of 17 to the smart Gaelic Warrior at the Dublin Racing Festival two starts back. His inconsistency was in evidence though when he ran no sort of race at Aintree last time. Hopes are pinned on the returning cheekpieces left off last time.
Homme Public doesn’t lack consistency and can normally be relied on to give his running. He ran well for a long way but failed to stay the extended 2m 4 ½ f when a 9 ¼ lengths 10th of 13 to Willaston at Cheltenham last time.
Black Poppy looked better than ever when producing a strong finish to beat 12 rivals at Cheltenham (2m 1f) 24 days ago. No issues with the ground but today’s track may not suit him as well as Cheltenham. Up 5lb and in a deeper race but should be competitive once again.
Lunar Sovereign was a useful novice two seasons back when with Fergal O’Brien. He’s clearly not been the easiest to keep sound, but he shaped with encouragement when a 4 ½ length 6th of 9 at Chepstow 15 days ago. That was his first run for 329-days and first run for Dan Skelton. Handicapper has dropped him 3lb and if builds on last time can go close.
Betting Advice:
To give you a good chance to digest Saturday’s preview I’m sending it out ahead of my race selections and betting advice which will be with you on Saturday morning so watch your inboxes.
Cheers
John