16:15 Lingfield

Saturday 8 April 2017

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:5017:40

Sunbets Handicap

Off time: 16:17 | Winning time: 1m 24.11s

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Selected odds by:

(4)

Viscount Barfield^h²¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 92

7/1

Improved from a mark of 69 up to 92 throughout last season. Has been gelded during the winter and needs to produce another career best to take this. Likes to come from off the pace and would be suited by a stiffer track or extended 7f.

Form: 4162-64

(2)

Grand Inquisitor²¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: S Donohoe| T: Ian Williams| OR: 92

18/1

Lost his way after finishing second at Windsor. Has been gelded since and moved to new trainer. A case can be made if you go back far enough in the form book. This trip around here could be a bit sharp and others would appear more likely.

Form: 2977-90

(1)

War Glory¹⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 90

9/2

Has a record on the AW of two wins and a second. Meets Viscount Barfield on 8lb better terms for the 1¾L he has to find on running at Chester last summer. Ran an even better race next time before finishing the season on a low note. Gelded since that run and reappears on a track that should suit with the yard going well.

Form: 239-225

(5)

Gentlemen⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Josephine Gordon| T: P S McEntee| OR: 90

12/1

Best form has been shown over shorter although he was won over this trip previously. Has been kept busy this winter and has dropped down the weights to a mark 3lb below his last victory. Failed to handle the bend on only previous run around here and others make more appeal.

Form: 447848

(8)

Gothic Empire¹⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 89

5/1

Winner of a couple of lower grade handicaps. The form of his latest victory worked out well with the second and third winning subsequently and earning much higher marks. Definite claims if fit and ready.

Form: 1651-75

(6)

Suqoor^p³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: S De Sousa| T: C A Dwyer| OR: 88

10/1

Winner of two races including one over C&D last April. Signs in last two starts, in better company, that he was coming to hand. Trainer/jockey combination show a 44 points profit for the last five years. Looks set to go close.

Form: 934364

(3)

Take The Helm²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Kieren Fox| T: B J Meehan| OR: 87

9/2

Did not have much left when winning over C&D in February. Lost nothing when narrowly beaten by the prolific winner Qaffaal last time. A further 2lb rise in the weights still leaves him below marks which produced some good performances last term. Not one to dismiss lightly.

Form: 721214

(7)

Takatul¹⁹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills| OR: 87

10/3

Began his career with three victories before taking on better company. Sent off favourite for his last four starts and has been too keen on his last two. Drop back to 7f makes sense and this lightly raced colt could have more to offer this term. Makes AW debut but his US champion sire was high class on dirt so that should not be a concern.

Form: 1165-41

(9)

Until Midnight¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: William Carson| T: E Stanford| OR: 80

25/1

Winner of five AW races and produced best performance for a year last time. This is a hotter contest than he is used and he has a tough draw to overcome.

Form: 50-3252

Forecasts

Takatul (10/3), Take The Helm (9/2), War Glory (9/2), Gothic Empire (5/1), Viscount Barfield (7/1), Suqoor (10/1), Gentlemen (12/1), Grand Inquisitor (18/1), Until Midnight (25/1)

This is a tight handicap in which a case can be made for most. TAKATUL was a first time out winner last season and is taken to repeat on a surface which he is bred to relish. He beat a subsequent dual winner at Yarmouth in July and is not harshly treated judged on that effort. Suqoor has won two of his four starts over this trip. He has faced some stiff tasks over the past year but there have been signs recently that he would be winning again soon. Take The Helm remains on a good mark despite attracting the attention of the handicapper. His second to Qaffaal is a strong piece of form and he should go close again over a trip which will suit him better. Gothic Empire, Viscount Barfield and War Glory all have solid claims but would need to produce career bests, first time out, to take this.