15:30 Lingfield

Saturday 1 February 2020

All12:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:05

Betway Novice Stakes

Off time: 15:32 | Winning time: 2m 29.86s

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Selected odds by:

(8)

Bonsai Bay⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: George Downing| T: Ian Williams

100/1

Pulled up on Flat debut (failed to finish in three of his four bumper starts) and well beaten and outpaced at Chelmsford when last of five in December. Hard to fancy.

Form: P5-

(4)

Open Handed^h1⁶⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: J Fanning| T: Mrs A J Perrett

16/1

Nearly two years since he's been seen finishing a tailed off last of 14 on debut at Kempton; best watched for now; wears first-time hood.

Form: 0/

(5)

The Rocket Park⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: L P Keniry| T: John Berry

16/1

Won a bumper on debut at Stratford but failed to build on that and beaten a long way in two Flat starts; hard to see him making an impact here.

Form: 64-

(3)

Where's Tom⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: M Madgwick

10/3

Broke his maiden at the fourth attempt in a bumper at Ascot (1m7½f) when sent off at 25/1; struggled over hurdles last time and unlikely this test will suit now switched to the Flat.

Form:

(7)

Mr Chua^p,t¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: L Morris| T: M Scudamore

13/2

Showed some promise over hurdles and not disgraced on sole Flat start in a five-runner heat at Kempton; that's not far off the standard required here and can go well again.

Form: 3

(1)

Vexed¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Hayley Turner| T: D M Simcock| OR: 69

3/1

Six-race maiden who wasn't seen to best effect at Chelmsford last time when fourth of nine; may come on for that first run in 196 days though; drops in trip.

Form: 73/445-4

(6)

Engrave^p⁷²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Charlie Bennett| T: Miss J Feilden

20/1

No match for a potentially smart sort at Chelmsford on second start but beat the rest by a fair margin and ought to improve; debuts for new yard.

Form: 32-

(2)

Finespun^v1²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 70| BF

7/4

Showed promise in each of her three starts in novice company but failed to justify favouritism on handicap debut over C&D last time out; well bred and likely to improve; wears first-time visor.

Form: 532-3

Forecasts

Finespun (7/4), Vexed (3/1), Where's Tom (10/3), Mr Chua (13/2), The Rocket Park (16/1), Open Handed (16/1), Engrave (20/1), Bonsai Bay (100/1)

A modest event and on that basis it might be worth taking a chance on MR CHUA who showed promise last time out and gets the services of Luke Morris who rides this course particularly well. Finespun is a well bred filly who could benefit from first-time headgear here. Engrave is another promising filly who could go well.