All-weather racing at Lingfield and Wolverhampton

The first 5 races this afternoon at Lingfield are all class 6 races and look very difficult, with fairly large fields of very moderate and inconsistent animals, while the better races at the end of the card have only 6 runners each. Handsome Cross (Willi Musson/ Steven Donohoe) has finished runner-up on all his 3 starts this year and might be able to get his head in front in the 6 furlongs handicap at 16.35 CET.

The 3yo mile handicap at 17.10 looks more interesting, with Ginger Jack (Mark Johnston/ Joe Fanning), Ostentation (Richard Teal/ Liam Keniry) and Marosh (Robert Cowell/ Jean-Pierre Guillambert) all last-time-out winners.In fact all 3 are umbaten so far this yar nd the choice betwen them is triucky. In view of the excellent stable form, we narrowly go for the Johnston/ Fanning runner, and they can double up in the final 3yo maiden with Atlantic Tiger, a promising third on his debut over this CD. However Tajaarab (Barry and Michael Hills), with an excellent German pedigree, could well be a dangerous newcomer here.

Mark Johnston could also saddle a winner at Wolverhampton if the meeting goes ahead this evening. His Demonstration (Greg Fairley) was an easy winner last time at Southwell and can follow up on the 3yo handicap over 7 furlongs at 21.15. Otherwise we expect Hayley Turner to ride a double here on Ed Dunlop´s Coeur de Lionne in the stayers handicap at 18.45 and Michael Bell´s Binthere Dunthat in the 7 furlongs race for 3yo maiden fillies at 20.45. Clive Brittain´s Areeda (Chris Catlin), who has not run since July, looks the danger in the latter event.