4.30pm Lingfield Tips & Betting Preview 31/03/2017

This is an open 6 furlong handicap, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: There are a few with chances here and DREAM FARR gets the vote. He’s been a revelation this year for Ed Walker and he’s only 2lbs higher than his last victory in a similar contest to this so he should take all the beating. Don’t Blame Me is the biggest threat but may just need this whilst Anonymous John will pop up at some point having slipped to a decent mark.

1 VERY HONEST – Won a turf handicap off 3lbs higher than today’s mark back in June of last year. That came in a better grade than this but she’s struggled since and it looks as if the handicapper has taken charge of late. She’s back down to a mark of 77 today but she needs to show more than she did on her last two starts although this is her first time in a Class 5 handicap. Interesting.

2 DREAM FARR – Won a similar contest to this back in February by a neck and is only 2lbs higher for that success. There has been plenty of money around for him this year having been sent off favourite in all three runs and his form reads 131 so he should continue his excellent vein of form here. This will probably require a bit more but he remains in Class 5 company and he has an excellent draw in stall 2.

3 ANONYMOUS JOHN – Without a victory since October 2015 and he’s only placed once for his new stable in six starts to date. His best form has come over today’s trip so it’s a positive to see connections sticking to this path and he was only beaten 3/4 lengths last time out off the same mark as this. On old form he’s in with a chance but he’s been quite regressive and others make more appeal.

4 DON’T BLAME ME – Lightly-raced 4yo who returns to action here off a 200 day break. He completed a double at Kempton over 6 furlongs at the end of last year and is now 5lbs higher than that last success where he came out on top by 1 1/4 lengths. He should progress again this year with little mileage on the clock although he may just need this having produced his best runs off a recent run. Likely to be popular here.

5 CHETAN – Notched up a hat-trick last summer and that saw his mark rise from 56 to a career high of 75 on his last run of the season. He returned off a break at Chelmsford earlier this month and he was comfortably held off 2lbs higher than this and it’s possible that the handicapper is still in charge having not shown the same level of form as last summer. He’s vulnerable to a few in this and his trainer has a poor 3% strike rate here.

6 BERTIE BLU BOY – Finished behind Chetan last time out and has been a bit of an inconsistent sort of late having put in a good second over C&D between two poor runs. The handicapper has only dropped him 1lb for that below par effort at Chelmsford earlier this month and his trainer has been relatively quiet of late which is a slight concern. He’s drawn in stall 8 and others make more appeal.

7 TOP OF THE BANK – Exploited a falling mark at Wolverhampton earlier this year in a weaker grade than this. He was only successful by 1/2 a length but he went in again over C&D just a few days ago by 2 1/4 lengths from a decent enough type. This will require a very good effort to defy this penalty although he did win a maiden with a rating of 80 this time last year. One to consider.

8 SPIRIT OF ZEBEDEE – Trainer has sent 10 horses here and the only winner was this horse so it’s a positive he returns here having been in excellent form. He’s recorded two second place finishes and two wins since the turn of the year and this is his first attempt in Class 5 company this year so he’ll obviously need to do more again. An eye-catching booking with Silvestre De Sousa (22% strike rate) taking over in the saddle and one for a market check.