2.55pm Lingfield Tips & Betting Preview 28/12/2016

Fourteen horses go to post for this Class 5 nursery handicap at Lingfield today with £3,881 on offer to the winner. Read on for our expert’s thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: This is an open race for the grade with a few horses bringing some modest form. Nuncio is well up to winning a race of this nature and can go well under George Baker who rides this track so well. David Elsworths’ runner Ninety Days Young should also figure as he was better than the result suggested last time out and having shown good form in two runs prior including a win at Chelmsford, should be going close again in this but a chance is take on NOBLE BALLAD who is bred for this level, and can get his head in front today for a jockey and trainer who have been going really well this Winter. He doesn’t have an insurmountable task against this lot and he can go close if putting his best forward today.

1 Vatican Hill – Previously with Richard Fahey and having first run for Jamie Osborne today. Showed some improvement to finish runner-up on his fourth start at Beverley in a Class 5 handicap in August and put a mediocre run behind him next time out to win on his final start at Thirsk (Good/Firm) over 7f three months ago. He beat some subsequent winners that day so should continue to improve for a yard in good form on the AW this Winter but up 15lb and headgear from that race left off today. One to note in the market under promising claimer Lucy Barry but appears stable second string on jockey bookings.

2 Wentwell Yesterday – Has been consistent in minor events this Autumn, winning at Chelmsford over 6f last month and finishing runner up in half of his eight races in that time. Below form when upped to a Class 5 handicap twenty-six days ago but could bounce back in this if putting his best foot forward. Yard also run Vatican Hill and place claims from a tough mark with his last two starts over this trip at Kempton resulting in two second placed finishes.

3 Oceanus – Still a maiden after seven starts for the yard and returned from a short break in August to run well in a couple of maidens up to Class 4 level. Has flopped in nursery handicaps in this grade since beating only two home in a field of twelve at Haydock (Good/Firm) and finishing last on his first AW start at Kempton twenty-seven days ago. Hard to fancy back on the AW today with blinkers tried for this despite the drop in grade and others are preferred.

4 Sun Angel – Maiden after six starts up to Class 2 company and only one runner up effort to her name at Windsor (Good/Firm) in June behind Smokey Lane who has won in better company since. Showed improvement on his second AW start to finish fourth last time out at Kempton and should continue to improve with racing but more needed to win this and best watched for now.

5 Nuncio – Authorized gelding who has had three runs so far for the yard. Didn’t show much when beating one home in an eleven runner Class4 event at Newbury (Good/Soft) in September but has shown minor improvement upped to 6f and fourth of 12 on last start at Kempton a month ago. Should continue to improve now sent into handicaps and interesting if the money comes for him. Claims.

6 Rita’s Man – Remains a maiden after four starts and has finished fifth on three occasions, twice at 6f and on his last start upped in trip to 1m at Chelmsford three months ago. Down in trip today and has an absence of three months to overcome and needs more for win purposes. Can be overlooked on what he has shown so far with others looking stronger.

7 Melissa Jane – Three runs since making her debut at Newcastle when only seventh behind the classy Sayesse who has won twice up to Class 3 company since. Scored on her second run at Chelmsford in a Class 4 maiden after a four month break but struggled in a nursery handicap in that grade since. Down in grade today and tackles 7f for the first time. Looks held by a few of these for win purposes.

8 Galahad – Fair form in eight runs at this level, including a win at Newcastle last month over 1m. Didn’t start too well on the AW last time at Kempton and needs to show more to win this down in trip.

9 Ninety Years Young – Left a disappointing run behind him at Haydock (Good) when dropped to 5f in in October to score by ¾ of a length from the reopposing Wentwell Yesterday next time out at Chelmsford. Finished a two length runner up when sent off favourite off top weight at that course next time out and not disgraced when only sixth over C&D twenty-seven days ago when hampered and racing wide. Can to better in this and must be respected from a mark of 67 and should hold his form with the Osborne runner. Player.

10 Licence To Thrill – Only three career runs up this grade and hasn’t shown much so far but probably better than the bare result when only ninth of 11 at this track over 1m last month in a bunched finish. Goes into handicaps now and much more needed for win purposes. Trainer in good form.

11 Mungo Madness – Only four starts so far and ran well to finish fourth of 7 in a better grade at Yarmouth in August but has finished down the field on his next two starts including when upped to 1m1f when making his handicap debut at Newmarket (Good/Soft) in October. Down in grade and trip for this but makes his AW debut today and others bring stronger form on to this surface.

12 Presence Process – Previously with Luca Cumani and only modest form in six runs so far including two for this yard at this track on his last two starts. Only three lengths down in fourth of 5 over 1m on his last start but looked well held by the eventual winner and looks up against it today.

13 Noble Ballad – Related to some good winners including Haaf A Sixpence and has finished sixth on all three starts so far in minor events. Should leave that behind him now going into handicaps with some of his relatives also maidens before going on to better things. Should run well after a 48 day break and solid chance of a much improved showing in this with the yard still in good nick.

14 Elementary – Remains a maiden after five runs fair form so far. Only had one behind when sent off favourite for a nursery over C&D last month, weakening tamely 1f out (Ninety Years Young in sixth). Down 3lb for this but has a lot to prove right now and best watched.