Friday 1st March
By UK Flat / AW (Northern)
AW Expert Selections - Lingfield
Lingfield 3.47 - Handicap - 2 miles - 13 run - Standard
SPARTAN ARMY is a worthy favourite and looks progressive for Alan King and Rossa Ryan and I have no hesitation on this occasion in recommending a 2 point win bet.
Vaguely Royal is an unexposed Gosden horse upped in trip, Red Flyer is very consistent but not great e/w value as a result of that consistency. Duty Of Care is very consistent too but the vast majority of the best of that form is at Kempton. Prydwen is aCourse winner upped in trip and a genuine danger if getting the trip and was the last one left off the investment list.
At bigger prices for some shrapnel I really like the e/w chances of FIRST EMPEROR who is a Course and Distance winner with assured stamina and the able assistance of Luke Morris at a nice each way price and at bigger Odds, DIAMOND BAY another who has Course and Distance winning form and who acts here generally well off a nice AW mark and very appealing at 33-40/1 for some enhanced place shrapnel.
Tips (1w) Spartan Army / (2s) First Emperor / (3s) Diamond Bay
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Lingfield 4.22 Handicap - Class 2 - 1 mile 2 furlongs - 13 run - Standard
On this occasion I'm happy to take on the top end of the market where Dragon Icon is upped in trip from a high draw and Penzance despite form figures of 1-1-1- is up from a starting mark of 73 to 92 today with its best form at other AW tracks. Talis Evolvere from the Hannon yard is upped in trip but doesn't look an obvious horse to improve for it on visual evidence of runs over a mile. Wadacre Gomez is upped in Class off a higher mark and will get plenty of competition for the lead here. At bigger odds Old Peculiar is an Irish raider who looks handicapped to the hilt. I did look long and hard at Diderot, and he would be the reserve pick but his form ties in with one at bigger odds who looks excellent value.
I'm most keen on FELIX whose best form is at this Course including this Distance, its in generally good form and looks to have a very solid each way chance.
At bigger Odds, Base Note may be top weight but still has the look of a late maturing horse who still has some untapped potential and is very interesting at double figure odds and at big odds around 33/1 or higher QAASID is very interesting on a specific Course and Distance run last Easter and after 2 quiet runs looks primed to do significantly better and it's form ties in nicely with Diderot who is a far smaller price.
Tips (1) Felix / (2s) Base Note / (3s) Qaasid