2.30pm Lingfield Tips & Betting Preview 28/02/2017

This is an interesting maiden over 7 furlongs and there could be a couple of nice types on show, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: There will be plenty of support for Traveller here as Ryan Moore gets aboard and he’ll look to break his maiden tag but there is a slight doubt about this drop back to 7 furlongs and it’s worth taking him on with NEVER FOLDING. This filly needs to up her game but she’s got every chance of doing so now making her second start and the 5lb fillies allowance could prove pivotal for Seamus Durack who has an excellent record here.

1 ISLAND BRAVE – Racecourse debut for Stan More who has a 7% strike rate with his 3 year old stock. He’s a colt by Zebedee and was bought for £32,000 at the Goffs summer sale last year which is a fair price tag and he is related to a nice 2yo winner so isn’t completely without hope here. The betting will probably be the best guide to how he may perform today.

2 TAUREAN GOLD – Went unsold as a yearling at Goffs in 2015 and he’s already been gelded which should signal some warning signs. His dam won over 6 and 7 furlongs but his profile doesn’t make much appeal and he will do much better when entered into handicaps further down the line.

3 TRAVELLER – Henrythenavigator colt who was bought for 30,000 Euros as a yearling and subsequently sold on for 60,000 Euros as a 2yo. He finished ahead of a subsequent winner on his last start but just couldn’t do enough to hold off two rivals in the finish, weakening late. He returns to 7 furlongs here which doesn’t look completely ideal but this looks slightly weaker than anything he’s faced to date and gets the services of Ryan Moore today. Interesting, but not unbeatable with a tongue tie applied.

4 WIDNES – Showcasing gelding bought for 28,000 Euros as a yearling. Ran with respect in a Class 4 Doncaster maiden over 6 furlongs but couldn’t follow that up with two defeats at Kempton in the latter part of last year. He has a little bit to find on official ratings but he gets the services of Fran Berry today and first time blinkers may just eek out some improvement in him. He’s definitely worth a second look in the betting.

5 NEVER FOLDING – A Requinto filly that went unsold for £38,000 at the Tattersalls sale in April of last year. Finished behind more experienced rivals on her debut when a staying on fourth behind a subsequent winner. She’s been given a 53 day break and although she probably has a bit more to find on form, she does receive 5lbs from a couple of useful sorts here and should come on a lot for her debut run. She’s an interesting runner for Seamus Durack who has a 23% strike rate here, recording a profit of £11.34 to level stakes.

6 ROCKSETTE – 66/1 on racecourse debut and beaten a fair way over 7 furlongs, starting slowly and never able to get in contention. She’ll be another that will benefit from her experience on the racetrack today and whilst she does have a 5lb fillies allowance, it would be a surprise to see her win this.

7 TOOLATETODELEGATE – Beaten 31 lengths at Wolverhampton on her debut, running very green and was never in with a chance. She started at 150/1 that day and probably won’t be too far off that again in this having previously traded hands for 4,000GNS as a yearling. Trainer has only had 14 runners aged under 4 and she’s another that will do better much later in her career.