All-weather racing at Lingfield and Southwell

All of today´s races are class 5 or 6, so no great performances can be expected. Our best bet at Lingfield is Reem Star (Ed Dunlop/ Eddie Ahern) in the mile maiden for 2yo´s at 14.00 CET. This close relation to Amico Fritz was noted running on well when runner-up last time at Wolverhampton, and that form should suffice, the unraced Aldedash (Henry Cecil/ Ian Mongan) could be a threat. The mile handicap half an hour later is much more open.

Final Drive (John Ryan/ Ahern) has won his last 3 races, but now meets Syrian (Ian Williams/ Jamie Spencer) on significantly worse terms. Tevez (Donovan /Cathy Gannon) was also in good form when last seen, but has had a short break, and we have a sneaking fancy for Prince of Thebes( Mike Attwater/ Kieren Fox); he is not the most consistent, but likes this track and has come down a long way in the weights. Ex-Italian Indefinite Hope (Marco Botti/ Andrea Atzeni) is an interesting runner on his British debut in the 3yo handicap at 15.30. However it is hard to say what the form is worth, and consistent Sheila´s Bond (Stan Moore/ Luke Morris) may be the safer option.
Claiming races are not the most reliable events, but Sworn Tigress (George Baker/ Matthew Davies), bred by Gestüt Wittekindshof and owned by Sir Alec Ferguson looks a good thing in the 13.50 race over 1 1/2 miles at Southwell. The meeting here is an additional fixture and the racecourse has made a shrewd move in putting on 3 bumpers at the end of the card, all of which look quite competitive.

Tony McCoy is an interesting booking for Richard Fahey´s unraced Reia in the 3yo race at 15.20, but we most like Main Beach (TP Coles/ Dominic Elsworth) here, as he ran well for a long way against much better opposition last time. The mares bumper at 15.50 should lie between Tazzarine (Charlie Egerton/ McCoy) and Verde Goodwood (Oliver Sherwood/ Leighton Aspell), both of whom showed decent form in the spring but have not raced since, while the final bumper half an hour later can go to the penalised Max Laurie (M Banks/ Tom Molloy), who won at 33/1 when scoring at Towcester, but will not be nearly that price today.