14:05 Lingfield

Saturday 25 February 2023

All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

BetUK Winter Derby Stakes (Group 3) (All-Weather Championships Fast-Track Qualifier)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 2m 2.32s

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Selected odds by:

(1)

Forest Of Dean^p⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Collen Storey| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 105| CD

17/2

Smart gelding. Won this in 2021. Won 6-runner minor event at Newcastle (10.2f, 9/2) 44 days ago, cosily. Work to do with classy stablemate Lord North but should give his running.

Form: 130/45-1

(7)

Foxes Tales²⁰³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Rob Hornby| T: A M Balding| OR: 105| D

11/1

Smart performer, looked awkward when last seen in August, well-beaten ninth of 10 to Anmaat in Rose of Lancaster Stakes (14/1) at Haydock (10.4f, good). Gelded since. Remains unexposed on AW.

Form: 7/24649-

(5)

Harrovian^b,t⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: K T O'Neill| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 104| BF| D

17/2

Useful gelding. Respectable 1¼ lengths third of 6 to Forest of Dean in minor event at Newcastle (10.2f, 7/4) 44 days ago. Work to do.

Form: 40363-3

(4)

King Of The South^v²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Spencer| T: W J Knight| OR: 102| D

22/1

Useful gelding. Seven wins from 21 Flat runs. Latest win at Newcastle in November. 12/1, fifth of 8 in handicap at Kempton (11f) 28 days ago, not ideally placed. This is much tougher.

Form: 6512-55

(3)

Lord North²³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 118| D

8/11

Second in this last year before winning (dead-heated) the Group 1 Dubai Turf for a second time. Not beaten far (not ideally placed) in the Eclipse at Sandown when last seen 7 months ago. The one to beat.

Form: 1/21454-

(6)

Lucander^b⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: George Baker| OR: 106| D

33/1

Smart gelding. Didn't need to be at best when winning 8-runner minor event at Sakhir (10.9f, good to firm) 8 days ago, driven clear. More needed at this level.

Form: 601-541

(8)

Pistoletto^p²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: David Probert| T: J Ryan| OR: 78| C| D

150/1

Fairly useful gelding. Course winner. Last of 7 in novice hurdle at Fakenham (16f, good to soft, 13/2) on NH debut 23 days ago. Impossible to fancy on these terms.

Form: 0063-78

(2)

Tyrrhenian Sea¹³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 103

9/2

Rapidly made up into a smart performer on AW last winter. Didn't live up to expectations on turf last 2 starts but good chance he can revive on AW first time back and ran well on only other try over this trip. Interesting alternative to the favourite.

Form: 424350-

Forecasts

Lord North (8/11), Tyrrhenian Sea (9/2), Harrovian (17/2), Forest Of Dean (17/2), Foxes Tales (11/1), King Of The South (22/1), Lucander (33/1), Pistoletto (150/1)

Hard to oppose dual Dubai Turf-winner LORD NORTH on these terms. He came up short on his return in this last year before scoring at Meydan but has a good record fresh otherwise and should make no mistake this time. Tyrrhenian Sea could be the danger back on AW, ahead of 2021-winner and stablemate of the selection Forest of Dean.