14:55 Lingfield

Monday 31 December 2018

All11:4012:1012:4513:1513:5014:2014:5515:25

Betway Sprint Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 14:56 | Winning time: 57.52s

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(10)

Temple Road^b,t⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-10| J: L Morris| T: J M Bradley| OR: 62| CD

8/1

Won eight times here including five over C&D. Missed 320 days before finishing last at Wolverhampton but much better here next finishing fifth. Likely now fully fit to do himself justice so solid each-way claims.

Form: 913-695

(4)

Holy Tiber¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Joey Haynes| T: P Howling| OR: 59| D

11/4

Ended 12-race losing streak when awarded a win last time in the stewards room at Chelmsford over 7f. Only 2lb higher but not tackled minimum distance since debut win in May 2017 so that the biggest doubt.

Form: 360201

(3)

Little Miss Lilly¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Amelia Glass⁽⁷⁾| T: C G Cox| OR: 59| D

4/1

Best run since Kempton win in October (5f) here last time where she led until well inside the final furlong over 6f before eventually finishing second. Handicap mark unchanged and return to 5f will help so genuine contender here.

Form: 091752

(2)

Fareeq^b,t⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: R Kingscote| T: C Wallis| OR: 58| DWS

3/1

Form tailed off in the summer and two substandard efforts since a break. Now had a wind-op in hope of recapturing best form which would be competitive but others more compelling.

Form: 724869

(7)

Mercers^b¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Watson| T: P Butler| OR: 55| CD

13/2

Only placed once in five starts since a summer break and that first time back. Enjoys this C&D (dual winner) but would need a considerably better effort than what we've been seeing lately.

Form: 634807

(5)

Hurricane Alert⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: K T O'Neill| T: M R Hoad| OR: 50| CD

8/1

C&D winner in June off a 1lb higher mark and ran a very solid race here last time too when a close fourth having led ½f out. Likes to race prominently and expecting a bold showing especially if he gets the lead.

Form: 237274

(6)

Pharoh Jake¹⁷⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 8-8| J: Liam Jones| T: J J Bridger| OR: 46| CD

25/1

Five time C&D winner but without a win since 2016 and this his first run since down the field back in July so suspect he will need the run.

Form: 434739

(9)

Free Talkin^p,h1⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Kieren Fox| T: M J Attwater| OR: 45

33/1

14-race maiden has only placed once and that on turf (10 AW starts). Steps back to 5f for first time here and gets a first-time hood but hard to be confident.

Form: 806398

(1)

Chicago School^t,v¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Jane Elliott⁽³⁾| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 45| D

25/1

Couple of wins at Dundalk but unplaced in eight starts for this yard and only beaten a combined five rivals in last four starts. Easy to overlook.

Form: 680999

(8)

Maddi¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Raul Da Silva| T: L A Dace| OR: 45

40/1

Last in all three career starts and comes here off the back of a 38L defeat at Wolverhampton over 7f. Not seen any positive evidence so far.

Form: 7-00

Forecasts

Holy Tiber (11/4), Fareeq (3/1), Little Miss Lilly (4/1), Mercers (13/2), Hurricane Alert (8/1), Temple Road (8/1), Pharoh Jake (25/1), Chicago School (25/1), Free Talkin (33/1), Maddi (40/1)

With the other members of a three-horse shortlist both liking to race on the front end this could just set up for hold-up horse TEMPLE ROAD who ought to be ready to deliver something like a peak effort now third time after a layoff. The other pair are Little Miss Lilly who was second here latest and Hurricane Alert who was a close fourth also over C&D.