2.00pm Lingfield Tips & Betting Preview 28/02/2017

The first race on the card today at Lingfield is a Class 6 sprint over the minimum distance, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: DESERT STRIKE is no spring chicken now aged 11 but he’s back on a winnable mark (63) and is finally granted a kind draw in stall 2. He has a 29% strike rate around here (best in the field) and could well bounce back to form at a fair price today if he can get a good break. Mossgo is a tempting selection but he’s short enough on the back of a long losing streak although he does boast some good form and should really be hitting the frame based on what he’s achieved recently.

1 MOSSGO – Drops into Class 6 company for the first time since summer 2015 and he could just be a little bit better than these. He’s run with credit on his last few starts but his run last time out really catches the eye, finishing 2 1/4 lengths behind Verne Castle in a Class 4. Although he was receiving plenty of weight that day, he did well to get that close to Andrew Balding’s runner who went on to confirm the form with a one length defeat to Royal Birth in a listed contest at the weekend. The handicapper has nudged him down 1lb for that run and he’s given him every chance in this contest although he is winless in 20 starts and you wouldn’t want to be taking a short price about him here.

2 ANNIE SALTS – Lightly-raced filly who arrives here on the back of a win at Wolverhampton where she was given a very prominent ride and kept on well to beat her rivals cosily off a mark of 61. The handicapper has notched her up 4lbs for that victory but that looks fair given her overall profile and although she’ll need more today, she could well find it with De Sousa taking over the ride (has won on her previously). She was a good second over C&D two starts ago which showed her liking for the course but she’s been handed a horrid draw in stall 9 and though respected, she is opposed with that in mind.

3 PICANSORT – Peter Crate has the best strike rate (13%) of all of today’s trainers at Lingfield and he saddles his stable stalwart now onto his 86th career start. He’s got a bit of decent form to his name with his last victory against better sorts over C&D in December off 3lbs lower. He couldn’t follow up under a 3lb rise as well as a step up to 6 furlongs and returns to the minimum distance here off the same mark. He’s not won off a mark this high since 2014 and doesn’t look to have a lot in hand although he is in a good run of form and isn’t entirely ruled out.

4 POWERFUL WIND – Out of sorts since a victory at Nottingham last May, finishing well beaten in tougher company than this off marks in the 70’s. He was far too keen for his own good on his last run and that didn’t show him in his best light but he will definitely appreciate a drop down into Class 6 company with Ben Curtis retaining the ride. Connections re-apply the tongue tie for only the third time in his 68 race career although he’s never won when wearing it and given he doesn’t arrive here in the best of form he’s probably best avoided today.

5 DESERT STRIKE – Has been the recipient of some extremely bad draws on his last three starts which didn’t leave him with much of a chance. Connor Dore’s 11 year old drops back onto a workable mark of 63 which he won off over a furlong further here in December last year. He drops back to the minimum trip today and has to prove he still has the pace but he won a Class 4 off 72 in May last year and deserves another chance now with a decent draw in Class 6 company and he’s worthy of respect with Mulrennan remaining in the saddle.

6 PHAROH JAKE – Ran a very good race last time out when failing to get the better of an extremely well-backed Mick Easterby runner (5/1 into 100/30) over a furlong further. The handicapper leaves him on the same mark and Jane Elliott claims 7lbs again and he should be able to make another good bid here having shown very good form of late, beaten no more than 3 1/4 lengths in his last 7 starts. John Bridger’s stalwart is certainly on a fair mark, but it doesn’t give him much to work with and he’s vulnerable to any progressive or well-handicapped sorts and may find one too good again here.

7 HOT STUFF – Winning form counts for a lot in this grade and Tony Carroll’s runner showed a good attitude to hold on to win in a maiden over C&D just over three weeks ago. That was a poor race but the horse he beat in second may turn out to be a reasonable type and the handicapper has left him with a chance here allowing him to remain on a mark of 58. He has some place efforts to his name in a higher grade than this and is 5lbs better off with Powerful Wind for a 1 3/4 length defeat last year. He’s still a relatively unexposed-raced 4 year old and with an excellent draw in stall 4, should make a bold bid. David Probert retains the ride and he has a fair chance of making it a double here if he can improve again.

8 FRANGARRY – Finally broke his maiden tag in an Amateur Riders’ Handicap in October last year, springing a 20/1 surprise under a 7lb claimer. He has well beaten on subsequent starts at Chelmsford and Nottingham but arrives here 1lb lower in the handicap off a 118 day break. Fran Berry is an interesting booking (22% strike rate here), getting aboard for his first ride in several weeks and whilst his mount is probably capable in this grade, it’s hard to recommend him today off the back of two poor runs with blinkers reapplied.

9 RED FLUTE – A basement grade performer winning just 3 times from 32 attempts in very low class company. Has shown some ability in weaker races than this but couldn’t get his head in front in a Class 7 last time out and now upped in grade looks to have a mountain to climb. He may improve for some more professional handling now Luke Morris is aboard but he’s 3lbs out of the handicap and stall 10 will make life extremely difficult.

10 RUBHEIRA – Has truly woeful form, finishing no closer than 6 lengths to the winner in all 16 starts to date. Races from 6lbs out of the handicap here and has been beaten out of sight off a mark of 45 countless times. She’s started at no shorter than 50/1 on all her starts to date and it would take an absolute miracle to see her win here.