all-weather racing at Lingfield and Kempton

All-weather racing this afternoon at Lingfield and this evening at Kempton, with several jockeys riding at both meetings. It is unusual for 3yo´s to race against older horses over 1 1/2 miles at this time of year, but that is the case in the maiden race at 16.20 CET at Lingfield, where 5 of the 8 runners are 3yo´s, including El Bravo (Gary Moore/ William Buick), runner-up in a similar event this CD last time, and Chilly Filly (Mark Johnston/ Jimmy Quinn), making her seasonal debut, but in the money on 4 of her 5 starts last year and bred to stay. None of the usual stable jockeys can do the weight, hence the booking of Quinn. Mark Johnston has his usual jockey Joe Fanning on board top-weight Eastern Aria in the 3yo handicap over 10 furlongs at 18.50 and this one can win as long as one forgets his disappointng performance at Wolverhampton last time.

Fanning also has a good chance of taking the last race at Kempton, a 6 furlongs handicap at 22.20, with Jon Akehurst´ s Super Frank, who is going for a hat-trick. However he seems more of a Lingfield specialist and the number one draw here is a disadvantage. Al Gillani (James Boyle/ George Baker) won 3 races in quick succession, including this CD, last September, but has not been out since, so an interesting alternative could be Derek Ffrench Davis´ Brandywell Boy, who goes well for young apprentice Billy Cray. Seb Sanders is still waitimg for a winner since making his recent comeback from injury, but this could come here courtesy of Sir Mark Prescott´s Phoenix Flight in the 1 1/2 miles handicap at 21.20, but more interesting are the two maiden races here, with several well-bred newcomers entered. John Gosden is already in good form and runs his wife´ s Christina Rossetti in the mile fillies maiden at 19.50 and Princess Haya´s Negotiation in the 7 furlongs race an hour later, both with Jimmy Fortune in the saddle.