4.55pm Lingfield Tips & Betting Preview 29/03/2017

This is a tricky handicap over 1 mile, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: This is a really competitive handicap with just 6lbs separating the top and bottom weight. TAAJUB may be the second string of the Peter Crate runners but he has a decent enough chance at a fair price having run well in a higher grade than this last time out. He’s got a better draw today and should be seen to much better effect. Equijade and Cherry Kool are two to keep a very close eye on in the betting.

1 MOSSGO – He made all last time out over C&D and fully exploited a drop down into Class 6 company. The handicapper has put him up 4lbs for that success and he’s going to find life much tougher off top weight in this company as he attempts to make it a double. He could be challenged for the lead in this and he doesn’t possess the quickest turn of foot so he may be best avoided on these terms today.

2 TAAJUB – He ran a really good race over C&D last time out in much better company than this and he was only beaten 3 lengths by Verne Castle who went on to run very well in a listed contest. He was drawn in stall 8 that day and he’s much better off in stall 2 now which will see him get a much better race position providing he breaks as well as he normally does. He should strip fitter for that relatively recent outing and he’s a decent price in this to win, now 10lbs lower than his last winning mark.

3 CHERRY KOOL – Stuart Williams has the best strike rate in this field at Lingfield (19%) and his runner arrives here off a small break of three months. He was last seen finishing third of ten over C&D when sent off the 11/4 favourite and that was off just 1lb higher so he could be a big threat today off a mark of 70. He’s better off with Picansort for that defeat and he is one to watch in the betting market for a yard that know the time of day. Respected.

4 MENELIK – Drops down to 5 furlongs for the first time today and arrives here off a recent success at Chelmsford over 6 furlongs. He’s been raised a hefty 8lbs for that victory which is going to make life very tough but he’s of interest again having found a second wind now making his 42nd start under rules. He’s something of an All-Weather specialist with 37 runs on the surface and this could be one of his last races before being put away again for next winter.

5 TEMPLE ROAD – Has held his form really well of late off this mark and 1lb higher over 5 furlongs. He still looks in the grip of the handicapper as he remains 7lbs higher than his last winning mark but that victory came at Lingfield and he should go better here than he has at different All-Weather tracks recently. He’s drawn in stall 7 which makes life tough and the yard have been in poor recent form (no winners from the trainer’s last 9 runners) and he’s opposed in this.

6 PICANSORT – Second runner in this for Peter Crate and he looks to be the stable first string on jockey bookings. He beat Mossgo last time out in a weaker grade back in February and he’s better off at the weights with that rival by 4lbs today. He was also well-supported in the betting that day and he should run his race again although he’s not exactly improving given he’s run 86 races to date. Deserves to be favourite in this off an evidently workable mark.

7 POWERFUL WIND – Trainer has only had one winner from 27 runners here and his runner has steadily fallen through the handicap over the last year. He races off 64 today having won off 70 just last May on the turf so he’s potentially well-treated and that was evident on his 1 1/2 length defeat at Southwell last time out. Life will be more difficult here on this quicker surface but he does have the best draw to try and make all although he may set this race up for a closer.

8 EQUIJADE – Least exposed horse in the field and she ran with credit in All-Weather sprints at the end of last year. A mark of 64 is probably about right for her and the handicapper has her where he wants her but she can improve for last season’s efforts and it’ll be interesting to see how she fares off a break in this tight handicap. She’s a C&D winner and is yet another runner that needs consideration in this.