4.40pm Lingfield Tips & Betting Preview 20/04/2017

This is a tricky Class 6 handicap over a mile, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Plenty of exposed handicappers in this and a chance is taken on WHISPERED KISS making just her second start in handicap company. She showed progression to finish fourth of fourteen over a mile off a pound higher in November and more progression is expected. Lord Murphy is an obvious threat having been in excellent form of late whilst Mulled Wine is also of interest at a bigger price.

1 CARIBBEAN SPRING – 12-race maiden who makes his 4yo debut today. He’s been off the track since November and he showed mixed form last year with a decent third over 6 furlongs sandwhiched between two sizeable defeats. The step up in trip is interesting given he’s struggled three times over this trip although this is significantly easier than many of his races to date. Does have some claims, but stall 12 makes life difficult.

2 LORD MURPHY – Lightly-raced sort who has a win and a second to his name from his last two starts. He was well-backed last time out and he was just touched off by a nose off a 4lb lower mark. He switches to Lingfield today and stall 7 is fine for a horse that is clearly improving for a yard that have a 15% strike rate here. Should be popular in the market for a horse that should improve again and Adam Kirby is riding at a 15% strike rate at present.

3 CALEDONIAN GOLD – Acclamation filly who’s yet to break her maiden tag in 12 starts but has come much closer of late. She steps up in trip here to a mile following a placed effort over 7 furlongs at Southwell and a 2lb drop in the weights makes life easier with possibly more to come at this slightly longer trip. Robert Winston is an interesting booking (19% strike rate last 14 days) but the yard struggle here with just 2 winners from 38 runners. Interesting.

4 BLACKTHORN STICK – One of the more exposed runners in this field, making his 45th start of his career today. He has been comfortably held on his last couple of runs over 7 furlongs and they came off just 2lbs higher and his form doesn’t give him a leading chance in this. However, he is now 4lbs lower than his last winning mark which came back in April of last year although he has yet to win over further than 7 furlongs. Others make more appeal.

5 HOME AGAIN -16-race maiden and he has gone close to breaking his duck on his last three occasions. Those efforts came over shorter (6 and 7 furlongs) and he steps up in trip here with the visor left off today which is an interesting move having looked to improve for its use last time out. He’s on a workable mark with a 7lb claimer utilised and one of the likelier winners of this. Respected.

6 MULLED WINE – One placed effort to his name from 9 starts which came off this mark over a mile at Kempton which demonstrated his ability to get competitive. It was disappointing he couldn’t follow up that run over C&D last time out but he’s been given another small break and could be of interest at a bigger price. Stall 4 is fine and the yard have sent a winner out in the past fortnight.

7 WHISPERED KISS – Unexposed sort making her fifth start today following a winter break of 154 days. She needs to find something on form with a few of these but she did improve for a switch to handicaps on her final start of last year and a pound lower here which could see her get competitive. Shane Kelly retains the ride which is a positive although the yard have only sent two winners from 65 runners here.

8 FAIRY MIST – Makes his 84th start today and he’s lingering on a winning mark now 2lbs lower than when he was victorious last June. That came over a mile and it’s positive connections keep him over that trip having struggled over shorter trips than this. He’s thoroughly exposed to the lightly-raced types in this although it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him run well again here. C&D winner.

9 TILLY’S BRIDGE – Handicap debut today for a yard that are profitable here (£7.50 profit). She showed some ability behind Ashwaq on her last start and that maiden could turn out to be of a modest standard and she’s open to plenty of improvement here. She’s worth a second look in the betting but her overall form suggests she’ll need a lower mark than this. Best watched.

10 GENERAL BROOK – Mixed-code performer having run over hurdles several times for this yard. You have to go back to June 2014 for his last win which came under David Wachman and his regressive profile makes him thoroughly unappealing here. He’s down another 2lbs and should pop up at some stage in this grade but it looks impossible to know when. Poor draw in stall 10.

11 GAVARNIE ENCORE – Finished third of twelve off this mark back in early March over a mile at Kempton and there was plenty of money about for him that day. He couldn’t follow that effort up and arrives here with an inconsistent look about him. He’s without a win since March of last year although he is now 3lbs lower and his trainer’s record of 6 wins from 99 runners makes him off-putting here.

12 COUP DE VENT – Last victory came in December 2015 over 1m 2f and she’s been beaten by fair margins since. She’s only raced once since last summer and she was beaten by 5 lengths over C&D off just 2lbs higher. She’s probably had a couple of issues and all the headgear is left off today. Another one in this that’s best watched.