2.50pm Lingfield Tips & Betting Preview 06/09/2017

The one running of this race saw an odds-on winner in the shape of Ed Vaughan’s Reconcilliation (4/7) with Oisin Murphy in the saddle and it will be interesting to see if the jockey can double up this afternoon. It is a small field for the £2,264 first prize but, as they pay out £168.35 for finishing fourth, only one will leave here empty handed. Read on for our in-depth race preview and selection ahead of the 2.50pm at Lingfield.

IN SUMMARY: David Simcock’s WAR AT SEA may not be a world beater, but he really should be able to make the most of a return to maiden company after a career best fourth in a Class 4 handicap at Yarmouth last time out. That form stands out here and, unless any of the others improve out of all recognition, this is his to lose with Sula Island perhaps his biggest danger.

1 FIRE WHIRL – As a 24,000 guineas yearling and a son of Sixties Icon, the William Knight trained gelding looks interesting on paper, but is impossible to gauge accurately ahead of his racecourse debut. The stable are light on runners with just four in the last two weeks for one winner and a 25% success rate. Although Jockey Abbie Wilbrew may claim seven pounds off his back, she has only had two rides this season – seven in total – and is still awaiting her first winner. She might just lack the experience needed against her far more battle-hardened rivals.

2 WAR AT SEA – Seven races without a win so far for David Simcock’s son of Mastercraftsman, but he has hit the first four home in five of those and has finished third in his last two outings. Last time out at Yarmouth he tried nine furlongs and was only beaten a length and a half by Hajal in a Class 4 handicap which is clearly the best form on offer. If he stays this far reverting to maiden company then he should take all the stopping and seems sure to run well for likeable jockey Oisin Murphy.

3 GOLDEN SET – The daughter of Bated Breath has always looked a backward sort and has been beaten 17 lengths and 15 lengths on her only two starts to date. Trainer James Fanshawe is renowned for his patience with the slower to learn sorts and she may well have a win in her one day. However, based on what she has shown on the track so far she is impossible to make a case for here and she may well be sent off the outsider of this field and, perhaps, rightly so.

4 STAR GUIDE – Just the two races for Sylvester Kirk’s filly who finished fifth at Lingfield on her debut and a slightly better second to Munstead Star at Kempton on the polytrack last time out. She was put firmly in her place that day with a three-and-a-half length defeat, although the third was close to four lengths further back, so it may be better than it seems at first. She was staying on at one pace that day over the mile and a half and may be better over further in time. However, in this race she has the credentials to be a major player and cannot be ruled out, though she may have to make her own running to avoid it turning into a sprint finish.

5 SULA ISLAND – Despite her poor form figures of fifth and sixth, Alan King’s filly has shown glimpses of potential and may well be considerably better than we have seen thus far. She was only beaten four-and-a-half lengths over this sort of trip on her debut at Lingfield, yet she failed to build on that when left with far too much to do over a mile and a quarter at Windsor. Back up in trip she can challenge them all this afternoon if Fergus Sweeney can keep her nearer the early pace.