2.30pm Lingfield Tips & Betting Preview 18/01/2017

10 go to post for the fourth race of the day at Lingfield, a trappy looking handicap. See our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: A trappy looking heat can go the way of MULTIGIFTED, who was ridden brilliantly by today’s rider Liam Keniry on his penultimate start and was too free to do herself any justice on her latest start. She remains on the same mark today and the hood should help settle her better, so if returning to his best she should be hard to stop. The maiden after 19 starts Cape Spirit can give her the most to think about but looks destined to keep his maiden tag.

1 FAST PLAY – Has a penalty to contend with for her selling stakes win here on Saturday (1m 4f, Std), and that certainly demands much more today. Going up in trip is an interesting move as she’s looked a non stayer at trips beyond 1m 4f in the past, which is a concern. Conditions are fine and Richard Hughes has been having some winners of late (2-16 in the pas two weeks) so if improving once again she would have each way claims.

2 THOMAS BLOSSOM – Has been running well over hurdles in recent times and has to be considered a major player back in this sphere, running well to finish fourth when last seen on the all weather in August (2m, Std). 1lb lower than that mark today and is 3-8 under David Probert who takes the ride again which is a big plus, with today’s conditions perfect for him. Bound to run a big race and has to be respected.

3 LOVING YOUR WORK – All three wins have come at Newbury, with his last win coming in June (1m 2f, Good to Soft). He’s struggled since and his latest three runs on the all weather in recent times have yielded no success, struggling to beat a rival. Those were in a higher class but he was well beaten so it’s hard to say he’ll be much better now dropped to Class 6, though he’s now dropped another 3lb for his latest flop at Kempton (1m 2f, Std). Goes up in trip and makes little appeal.

4 PINWOOD – Has shown very little for this yard, struggling to beat any rivals and has dropped 17lb in total since joining Adam West. Goes up in trip which makes limited appeal based on his previous two efforts at 1m 4f where he has looked like a non stayer. Drops in class again but hard to make a case for him and is avoided today.

5 MAJOR BEN – Ran on nicely at Wolverhampton to score his first victory (1m 2f, Std) and a stop start pace didn’t help him at this venue over 1m 4f when trying to go back to back. As a lightly raced four year old he is likely to improve again with this step up in trip in his favour, and he’s only 2lb higher for his win in December. Adam Kirby is back on board (who road him for his first victory) and he is currently firing in the winners, with a record of 15-48 for the past two weeks. Couple this with David Evans record of 8-46 over the time period and you have a strong contender for the victory today.

6 EPSOM DAY – Won at this venue in January 2016 (1m 4f, Std) but things have gone badly wrong since, struggling to beat a rival on the five runs that have proceeded that effort. He’s been well held on all his starts for Laura Mongan and is clearly not going in the right direction, though he is now 2lb below his winning mark. It’s still hard to trust he’ll get back to form however and is best watched despite the in form George Baker taking the ride.

7 RUZEIZ – Very unpredictable eight year old who ran one of his better races last time out at this venue a few weeks ago (1m 4f, Std), though even that isn’t the required standard to win today. On the same mark as that win but is hard to catch right and a record of 1-29 shows how difficult he can be. Others have more convincing claims and probably best left alone with how poor his strike rate is overall.

8 MULTIGIFTED – Given a brilliant ride at Kempton on his penultimate start, with Liam Keniry using her brilliant turn off foot to his advantage to steal a march on the field and was never for the catching (2m, Std to Slw). However she was far to free on his latest start over the same C&D and was never going to give his running after tugging all the way round and Liam Keniry had no chance that day. Races off the same mark and the hood goes on which should help the problems she’s been having with settling. She has to be respected and is likely to take some beating if back to her best today.

9 CAPE SPIRIT – 0-19 but took a step in the right direction when second at Wolverhampton two weeks ago (1m 4f, Std), staying on well under today’s jockey William Cox. He is good value for his 7lb claim and this five year old is unexposed on this surface so could improve further and has to be respected. She’s tactically versatile and has the luxury of stall one and is likely to be a main danger if building upon that latest effort.

10 NORSE CASTLE – Set a very steady pace but was still only seventh of 11 over shorter here last month (1m 4f, Std), and is only dropped 3lb for that. Will be taken on for the lead today and they’re likely to go a decent clip, which may well catch him out on past evidence. Hard to see him playing any sort of role and best left alone until the handicapper relents further.