17:20 Lingfield

Friday 5 May 2017

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4517:20

Racing Welfare Handicap

Off time: 17:20 | Winning time: 2m 31.12s

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Selected odds by:

(10)

Arab Moon²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: S De Sousa| T: W J Knight| OR: 67

2/1

The only recent winner in this field, having scored over 1m3f at Kempton last time on his handicap debut. Front pair were 2¾L clear there and he is up 6lb for it, but every chance that he can improve and play a leading role again.

Form: 550-11

(7)

The Raven Master³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Louis Steward⁽³⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 65

10/1

Not shown much in his three maidens to date, but now stepped up significantly in trip and making his handicap debut. Pedigree suggests that this far may be a big ask and he looks no more than fairly treated, so perhaps a watching brief might again be prudent.

Form: 5693

(6)

Russian Regard¹⁶³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: R Kingscote| T: J G Portman| OR: 64

20/1

Moderate form in a trip of maidens and given a fair mark for this handicap introduction on his reappearance from a break. Pedigree leaves him with plenty of questions to answer with regard to stamina.

Form: 006-

(3)

Caspian Gold²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: J Quinn| T: R Hughes| OR: 62

20/1

Arguably regressed in three maidens last year and after being gelded in the winter, he was last of nine on his return at Brighton (1m) last month. 2lb drop for that but hard to make a strong case for him getting home over this far given his pedigree.

Form: 599-9

(4)

Starshell²⁰²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 60

2/1

Well beaten in all three starts in maidens at other AW venues last year. Now much more interesting going handicapping from this mark. Full brother to 1m5f AW winner and dam also related to winners over today's trip. Yard had a recent winner and a market check strongly advised.

Form: 875-2

(9)

Curtsy¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: L P Keniry| T: H Morrison| OR: 59

6/1

Not able to mount a serious challenge in maidens last year, but did better when stepped up in trip over C&D on her reappearance, despite never looking like the winner. Looks capable of building on that from same mark today and should go close.

Form: 697-4

(8)

Affair⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: Theodore Ladd⁽⁷⁾| T: H Morrison| OR: 50

50/1

Has slipped 13lb in the handicap to today's mark after a strong of heavy defeats, including in a claimer here two starts ago. Impossible to recommend on that evidence until seeing some signs of ability.

Form: 609-658

(5)

General Allenby¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Josephine Gordon| T: H Tett| OR: 49

33/1

Well beaten in maiden and novices' company last year before being a 21L last of 11 on his handicap debut at Bath. A winter break did not serve him much better and now steps up markedly in trip. Not without hope over this far on pedigree, so precautionary market check probably prudent, though success would be a surprise.

Form: 0780-06

(1)

Pentito Rap²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Ryan Tate| T: B R Millman| OR: 49

8/1

Left Sir Mark Prescott after his three maiden runs last year to join this yard and outperformed his 22-1 odds on handicap debut at Chepstow. Not disgraced on his Kempton return last month but not sure this marked rise in trip is going to suit, given his pedigree.

Form: 7963-6

(2)

Bed Of Diamonds¹⁷⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: Noel Garbutt⁽³⁾| T: A West| OR: 47

66/1

Beaten a long way in all the maidens last year and now returns from almost six months off. Handicapper clearly not expecting too much on her debut in this sphere, though for optimists, she is a half-sister to a 1m3f-2m4f winner, including in German Listed company.

Form: 800-8

Forecasts

Arab Moon (2/1), Starshell (2/1), Curtsy (6/1), Pentito Rap (8/1), The Raven Master (10/1), Russian Regard (20/1), Caspian Gold (20/1), General Allenby (33/1), Affair (50/1), Bed Of Diamonds (66/1)

Arab Moon represents a stable going well and should make a bold bid to defy a 6lb rise for his recent success, while Curtsy had a sighter from this mark over C&D on her reappearance and looks a likely danger. However, the suggestion is handicap debutante STARSHELL, who is related to AW success over this sort of trip and looks to have got in on a handy mark.