2.00pm Lingfield Tips & Betting Preview 11/04/2017

This is a 1 mile contest, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Simon Crisford’s EAGLE CREEK jumps off the page in this. He’s got plenty to find with Mathix when the pair last met but that was his first time on a racecourse and he’s got a pedigree to suggest he’ll have improved a lot for a winter break. He should be capable of getting competitive here at a fair price. Arnarson makes plenty of appeal on paper but stall 12 makes life difficult and he may be seen to better effect in handicaps.

1 ARNARSON – Sets the standard here with a rating of 80 and he races in maiden company for the fifth time today. He’s shown some good ability in similar contests to this over a mile and 7 furlongs and he’s been well supported (100/30, 11/10, 11/8) to finally break his maiden tag. Yard have slipped out of form without a winner in the past fortnight and stall 12 makes life more difficult. Frankie Dettori is on board for the first time today.

2 AZALY – Once-raced Sepoy colt who finished 9 1/4 lengths behind the winner of a 7 furlong maiden at Kempton last October. He will have learnt plenty from that initial experience and should be fine with today’s extra furlong but his yard have also been extremely quiet of late and this is only their fifth runner at Lingfield. Stall 9 is another unhelpful draw and others make more appeal.

3 DAIMOCHI – Showed plenty of progression on his last start when beaten 1/4 of a length in a maiden over C&D. That form is of a modest level and it puts him in contention here although he will need to improve again to get the better of a couple of unexposed types. Will improve for further in time and may possibly be one for handicaps later in the season back on turf.

4 DUKE OF BRONTE – Related to some decent sorts and he was very green on debut just a few weeks ago at Kempton. He was out the back for most of the race and didn’t look the most progressive of sorts for a yard that have been in decent form of late (2 winners from their last 8 runners). Others make more appeal here and he’s another that will be better suited to handicaps.

5 EAGLE CREEK – 200,000GNS colt who’s a half-brother to the smart Viren’s Army. He made his debut in a decent Class 4 maiden at Newbury last October and he ran with credit, just finding the experience slightly too much in the final furlong and unable to keep up with the winner. He finished fifth that day and there should be plenty more to come this season. He’s worth plenty of consideration for a horse that should excel this year.

6 ENTANGLING – Has shown some ability in two maidens to date, both at Kempton. He has been sent off 4/1 and 7/2 favourite so there’s plenty of support for him but he’s looked a little one-paced in the final stages. He’s by Fastnet Rock so that’s a distinct possibility and he may appreciate a stiffer trip than this in time. Best watched today and one for handicaps.

7 FREE FORUM – 180,000GNS purchase and he’s related to some smart sorts. He looked all at sea on debut at Chelmsford, running green and finding himself detached from the rest of the field. He will have learnt plenty from that experience and arrives here with more to come. Stall 11 makes life tricky and jockey bookings suggest today might not be the day and he’s best watched in this for a yard with one winner from their last 9 runners.

8 MATHIX – 40,000 Euro purchase by the French sire Kendargent. He finished second of 14 in a Newbury maiden at the end of last year and finished ahead of Eagle Creek on that occasion. Stall 8 is fine and this yard have sent out 3 winners from their last 5 runners. Plenty to like about his chances for a yard that have a 28% strike rate at Lingfield, respected.

9 PREROGATIVE – Most experienced runner in the field but he’s been frustrating and failed to break his maiden in 9 attempts last year. He did place on 7 of those occasions but often found one too good and he’s left in maiden company today. He has the advantage of race experience against some of these but there are plenty of unexposed types up against him here and he’s likely to find one too good here again.

10 SPUN GOLD – Speedily-bred son of Exceed And Excel and he’s stepped up in trip to a mile for the first time today. He’s not been seen since June of last year and that raises some slight doubts about his well-being in his period off the track. He is related to a couple of nice sorts over further so the trip shouldn’t be an issue and Luca Cumani has an outstanding 34% strike rate here. One to consider at a bigger price.

11 YEMNAAK – Well-beaten on both career starts to date. He finished 13 of 16 at Doncaster earlier this month when sent off 100/1 and he was beaten 23 lengths which puts his chances today into perspective. He’ll find life much easier when entered into handicap company and he’s impossible to recommend on level weights against some nice sorts in this.

12 COYA – Only filly in the race and she was comfortably beaten on debut earlier this month at Kempton. She was sent off 50/1 and spent most of her time out the back being niggled along and it’s unlikely she will have progressed enough to get competitive here. She’ll do far better in weaker races than this and is hard to recommend today.