Lingfield Winter Derby Preview - 27/02/21

A total of eleven go to post in the opening race at Lingfield on Winter Derby day with Ryan Moore’s mount Convertible being our selection.

This 4-y-o son of Helmet has been a model of consistency since moving up to this distance (form figures 231) and this event doesn’t look any stronger than the one he won off 4lb lower a couple of weeks ago.

Top jockey Ryan Moore is in rude health, notably around this course, and he is booked from stall 3.

Second up is the 1m Novice Stakes race in which Ryan Moore looks to hold strong claims of another victory aboard the once-raced Glentaneous.

Brian Meehan’s 3-y-o has a smart pedigree and he made an eye-catching debut when flashing home behind a Godolphin horse at Kempton.

He is likely to improve plenty for that and this race lacks any depth.

The third race on the card is a tricky 4-runner event in which market leader Inituitive is likely to prove popular, but with the form of his recent victory taking a few dents, we are happy to side with 6-timer course winner Goring.

Eve Johnson’s 9-y-o isn’t getting any younger but he can not be ruled out around this track and he is racing off the same mark as when victorious in this race last season.

Andrew Balding’s Grove Ferry rates the main danger.

We have a win and each-way selection in the Maiden event at 13:25.

This is a weak looking affair, but there are two with fair turf form, who may prove a class above the rest if putting it all together.

Firstly, Mick Channon’s Mahale looks the most likely winner after his pair of second place finishes at this course in recent weeks. He boasts some useful form from the summer and he has proven he handles the surface.

At a bigger price, Crimson Sand looks capable of landing a blow if fit from a break for Richard Hughes and Ryan Moore.

This 3-y-o has a useful pedigree and he wasn’t running badly in a maiden event at Newbury before being hampered

He finished 10th that day but his position can be marked up and that race is a lot deeper than this.

We now move onto the support act on the card as seven line up for the Listed Hever Sprint Stakes.

There are plenty of consistent speedsters on show but for us Moss Gill has a real class edge and he is still improving at just 5 years of age.

His third to Battaash in the Nunthorpe is the stand-out piece of form on offer and he is proven on the AW - which isn’t a surprise with his sire No Nay Never producing plenty of artificial winners.

The feature race on the card is the Group 3 Winter Derby and we have sided with Kingman colt Father Of Jazz, despite him having a few lb to find on ratings.

Roger Varian’s charge is the least exposed in the field and he has been ultra-impressive in all three starts on the all-weather.

Admittedly, he is taking a big step up in grade, but this is far from a strong renewal and he has been beating lesser opposition in the manner of a smart horse.

He has been handed stall 3 and Callum Shepherd retains the ride.

We like the chances of the bottom-weight in the penultimate race on the card.

This 4-y-o filly has switched to Hugo Palmer after a consistent start to life for Mark Johnston and she looks capable of landing a blow if fitness doesn’t hold her back.

There are numerous pieces of form which would suggest she is well-handicapped off a mark of 78 and Hugo Palmer is in excellent form.

Drawn in stall 2.

Our biggest priced selection on the card comes in the final race of the day where Ralph Beckett’s Grain Of Sense looks potentially well-handicapped off his mark of 75.

This 4-y-o gelding boasts some eye-catching form behind the likes of Brentford Hope, White Moonlight and Alphabetical and he has undergone wind-surgery ahead of his return.

He isn’t one for maximum faith as he has evidently had breathing issues and isn’t guaranteed to be fully tuned up, however he is worth a small play at an e/w price, and shouldn’t be ruled out going forward if he doesn’t win this weekend.