3.10pm Lingfield Tips & Betting Preview 11/02/2017

Only the six runners turn up for this valuable, £19,000 handicap over a mile but those who do are talented horses and it promises to be an interesting affair. See our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Captain Cat is the “sleeper” in the field, the horse who is well-handicapped on old form and might bounce back soon, but whether it’ll be in a small field lacking in pace is up for debate and the general feeling is to oppose once more. Intransigent can go well if staying the mile trip but MY TARGET is preferred as he bids to make it 4-4 over C&D this winter. He looked better than ever four weeks ago, travelling and quickening in impressive fashion and there could be more to come under conditions that he clearly loves.

ALFRED HUTCHINSON – Five time course winner who arrives on the back of a top effort when scoring over C&D five weeks ago, finishing off strongly from an uncompromising position to get the better of a smart All-Weather performer in Realize. That was a conditions’ race in which he was entitled to win with the favourite running below-par and life will be tougher back in a handicap off a mark of 100. The highest mark he has defied in this code is 97 and as a 9-year-old, it’s hard to expect him to be better than ever.

CAPTAIN CAT – Previously very useful performer when trained by Roger Charlton, winning two Group 3’s in 2014 at Salisbury (1m, Good-to-Firm) and then Haydock (1m, Good). Won’t reach those heights again but has shaped much better the last twice for Tony Carroll, particularly last time out in a C&D handicap when beaten under 2 lengths. It was a step in the right direction but today’s contest is a better class and the horse needs a bigger field, along with a more thorough gallop than is likely, in order to show his best form.

MY TARGET – Always looked reasonably talented but has taken his form to a new level around here this winter, winning all three of his C&D starts. The latest victory came four weeks ago when defying a mark of 91 in good fashion, getting the better of Mr Bossy Boots by over 1 length. It was a comfortable success and although he has been hit with a 6lb rise, the suspicion is that he has more to offer. Trainer Michael Wigham has a good 9-53 course record in recent years and his runner is a definite for the shortlist at least.

INTRANSIGENT – Capable of smart form in his younger days, winning a Listed sprint at this track (6f, Std) back in November of 2014 but found winning impossible afterwards, only breaking a long losing run on his penultimate start at Kempton (7f, Std) four weeks ago. Backed that up with a good second to an evidently thrown-in opponent in Keystroke over the same C&D and not impossibly handicapped. The issue is this 1 mile trip, with all of his best form being over shorter, and it’s likely that he will prove vulnerable late on.

LUNAR DEITY – In great form this time last year, landing a couple of valuable handicaps at Chelmsford (1m, Std) and then over this C&D, but lost his way somewhat afterwards and is now rated 8lbs below his last winning mark. Showed signs of a rejuvenation back at Chelmsford three weeks ago but that was in claiming company and it wouldn’t be sure to represent a significant step forward. Could come on again and has a capable apprentice on board, but does have enough to prove for the moment and is opposable.

PRESUMIDO – Frequent All-Weather winner, amassing an 8-39 record on artificial surfaces over the years and won as recently as December when defying a mark of 81 at Kempton (1m, Std). Has won here four times, including once over C&D, but is rated 86 now and that Kempton victory was a career best on the ratings. Whether he has anything in hand off his current mark is up for debate and a few of today’s opposition should have too much class, as was the case when well behind Intransigent at Kempton last time.