11.40am Lingfield Tips & Betting Preview 14/12/2016

A small turnout for this Nursery Handicap with £5,175 on offer for the winner of today’s feature race in the first at Lingfield. Read on for our experts’ thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: This should be best left to Sans Souci Bay and GOLDEN NECTAR. The former was a good winner at Chelmsford two starts ago and followed that up with a fine second kept to the same level last time out. He should have more to give in this sphere but Laura Mongans’ charge won well at Kempton on her second start there, grinding it out and she may have more resolve than the Richard Hannon horse if it boils down to a match with that run behind her. She will be tough to beat again.

1 Kodiac Khan – Previously trained by Hugo Palmer for whom he had six runs at Class 4 & 5 level. Only one win at Epsom (Good) in June and well-beaten in fifth upped in grade at Kempton on his first start for Mark Johnston 42 days ago over 7f. Might benefit from tracking the pace here and will surely be able to do that with Joe Fanning up but looks held on what he’s achieved so far with the likely market principals.

2 Sans Souci Bay – Showed steady improvement in first three runs upped to 6f and eventually found his forte when tried at 7f on fourth start at Chelmsford when staying on well to get up by a ½ length in a Class 5 handicap in October. That far back in second in a similar event at Lingfield 33 days ago when his rival got first run. Looks open to much more progress at this level and big run ensured.

3 Golden Nectar – Sakhee’s Secret filly who made an impressive start to life with Laura Mongan when close second on debut in a Class 5 at Kempton. Not quite able to reach the winner that day when staying on well, she followed up next time out kept in the same grade, just getting up by a nose. Racing keenly that day under Pat Cosgrave she showed good resolve to stay on and win after tracking the pacesetters and if similar tactics employed here she may be tough to beat in a finish up against the boys upped to a Class 4. Big player on what she’s shown so far.

4 Hajaj – Dark Angel colt who has had only three runs so far. Showed good improvement to win on second start at Chelmsford in a Class 4 event, getting up to win narrowly by a neck. Only fourth kept to the same grade next time out over 7f and this longer trip should suit here given he looked in need of a stiffer test in that race. Entitled to run well but probably has a bit to find with the front two in the market.

5 Presence Process – Previously with Luca Cumani and fair form in three starts in Class 4 company until he finished last of 13 in a Class 5 at Newmarket (Good) in October over 7f. Now with Pat Phelan, he was slowly away on AW debut at Lingfield after finishing eighth of 13. Hard to see getting involved here based on those runs easy to rule out today.