4.40pm Lingfield Tips & Betting Preview 03/02/2017

A marathon handicap will cap of the day’s racing at Lingfield on Friday, see our betting tips and the full race preview.

IN SUMMARY: The ever consistent BURNSIDE is certainly owed a victory and can go one better than his latest second at Wolverhampton to take victory today. He’s on the same mark again today and with both Adam Kirby and Ian Williams both in such terrific form he’s likely to be hard to catch today off a mark of 65. He can fend off the challenges of Attain who ran well to win here last week but has been raised 4lb and Thomas Blossom, who also ran well on his latest start but this race comes very quickly after his last.

1 ATTAIN – Posted a career best effort to win here a week ago over the 1m 4f trip, albeit in an amateur riders contest and has been raised 4lb for that effort. Has Luke Morris booked today which is a plus and Archie Watson’s horses are running well at present with two winners from his last six. Likely to run well again upped further in trip but this will require another jolt of progress and as a eight year old that isn’t guaranteed.

2 HALLING’S WISH – All three wins on the flat have come when ridden by George Baker, and he returns to the saddle for the first time since their win at Kempton back in October (1m 4f, Std). Is now 2lb higher than that mark but has been poor the twice, never looking dangerous on his latest start here in December (1m 4f, Std). Will need more if he’s to take this but is clearly happier when Baker is on board so is likely to run well again for the in form Gary Moore team and has to be respected.

3 THOMAS BLOSSOM – Returned to the flat with a good effort when third here over C&D two weeks ago and ran well again as himself and Canadian Diamond pulled seven lengths clear of the third at Kempton two days ago, though he was just beaten in second (2m, Std). That was a brilliant effort and he can race off the same mark today with this drop back in distance looking to be in his favour. Likely to run a big race under Tom Marquand as long as this doesn’t come too soon, which has to be the chief concern.

4 MARSHALL AID – Was a good second at Chelmsford in November (1m 5f, Std) when beaten only a length, though hasn’t been seen best effect since then. He’s looked very laboured the last thrice, finishing a well beaten last at Wolverhampton when last seen in January (1m 5f, Std). Now 0-12 under rules and doesn’t look to be getting any closer to getting his first win despite now being on his lowest ever mark. Hard to consider a threat.

5 BURNSIDE – Consistent of late with form figures of 32252 since going back onto the all weather and was a good second at Wolverhampton when last seen in late January, narrowly denied after storming home late on (1m 5f, Std). On the same mark again today with Adam Kirby taking the ride for the first time, who is in good  form with a record of 14-50 in the past two weeks. Ian Williams yard is also in fine form with a record of 7-21 in the past two weeks and he’s likely to run well again with conditions fine and has to be respected.

6 EPSOM DAY – Won a 1m 4f maiden here back in January 2016 but has gone he wrong way since, struggling to beat a rival in all his runs since and was poor once again here over C&D in January. All hopes are pinned on the return of the blinkers and that is by no means enough to tempt today with other rivals in form at present. Likely best watched for classic winning trainer Laura Mongan.

7 MAMOO – Has some good form at the 1m 4f trip, running well three starts ago over that trip here in November, running on at the finish. That would suggest a step up in trip would suit but he ran no sort of race when upped to 1m 7f here in December when miles behind Burnside, but possibly can be forgiven it as he never looked likely to stay that far. Over today’s trip he was well beaten at Wolverhampton in January after leading at a steady pace and its hard to fancy him today despite Josephine Gordon taking the ride and he’s best watched.

8 SALIENT – Thirteen year old stalwart for Michael Attwater whose last win came when fending them all off at Kempton in August (1m 4f, Std to Slw) in a very game effort. He’s now 1lb below that mark but he’s been very poor on all runs since and at his age it’s hard to trust he’ll put his best foot forward again despite the drop in the weights. Others have far more pressing claims and he’s likely best watched, as likeable as he is.