Time On My Hands

Good morning all,

I'm into a very quiet time of the year for me – no work on the tracks until a week Saturday, just a few Sporting Life cards to do and until the Yarmouth Autumn Festival comes around, not a lot of racing to go and watch either! I will try and squeeze a few fixtures in but for the time being, seeing as I have done today's Lingfield card for the Life, I shall try a Colossus or two for us to take part in. I'll put them up at 11am sharp, so if you want to get involved, you know when!

2.00 – 1m2f Handicap

Iballisticvin looks the obvious one after two good efforts here and the step back up to 12f looks in his favour, but he might not be one to completely trust. Its How We Roll ran a shocker at Ffos Las but I’m tempted to forgive him that and say it was down to the softer ground, so he could bounce back, and although Mistress Nellie never wins, she’s never far away either. Skylark Lady was the only one of the outsiders to make much appeal.

2.30 – 1m 1f Claimer

You’d have to go a fair way to find a race weaker than this.

What to make of Mustadun? He’d thrash this lot ten minutes on his best form, and even his recent (moderate) form puts him in the firing line, but he’s clearly regressing quickly and he could easily blow out completely. A jolly old favourite to try and get out the frame, then.

Max Guevara looks a bit more solid, given he ran perfectly well last time (albeit on different ground) and probably only needs repeat that to be in the frame. With worries about Seafaring Girl over the trip, I’m tempted to stick the 46-rated Melo Girl in as well. She’s clearly not very good but the trip and ground are both fine and she has less questions about her than one or two.

3.00 – 2m Handicap

You can’t have a 2m low-grade handicap at Lingfield and not have Danglydontask in it, it’s the law. He stays all day and this trip is a minimum for him. Quick ground ideal and he looks sure to run his race. Ormskirk is capable but inconsistent, and I’m more interested in Lazarus back on turf (still looks on a winning mark) and Essgee Nics, who got going all too late here last time but finished with a flourish for fifth. There should be more to come from him.

3.30 – 6f Seller

Claimer and a seller, Lingfield you are spoiling us.

This does look at the mercy of More Than Likely, who only needs to repeat any of her last four starts to take care of this moderate bunch. She might be hard to win with, but not even she can throw this opportunity away, can she? Harry Beau looks best of the rest, especially if he can hit the gates running this time (missed the break latest, yet still ran well.)

4.00 – 7f Median Auction

Good little race this. I want to take Restless Endeavour on under the penalty, she looks to have plenty to do, and Follia looks the one to be with. She ran very well on debut at Newmarket and that form is working out well. High Shine is related to some good sorts but the hood on for her debut has to be of some concern, so I’ll throw the Andrew Balding newcomer Irish Tweed in as well. She too is well related and the trainer knows the family well. She’ll want further in time but this looks a suitable starting point.

4.30 – 7f Nursery

I said at 2.30 that you’d have to go a long way to find a worse race. I was wrong, you only have to wait two hours. This is awful.

As such, anything could happen. Top weight Mr Kodi is just about the “form” pick (I use the word lightly) and the visor might sharpen him up a bit, but when something that was beaten 4l last time is the pick, we need at least one more. David Evans’ other runner, Let’s Go Lucky, has run well enough in three starts to think he might improve a bit for going handicapping and I’ll take a total flyer on Ohnotanotherone in the first time cheekpieces as well. In the context of this race, it wasn’t a disaster at Chepstow last time and he goes handicapping off a platers mark.

Today's selection (for those that just want the one) – Essgee Nics e/w (4 places Paddy Power)

Good luck with all your bets today,

David.