Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece you can read my thoughts on this afternoon’s Surrey National at Lingfield.
Is January over yet? It always feels like the longest month of the year, and this one’s no different. I thought I’d wrapped up my betting for the month—then I remembered, Friday is still January 31st, and I’ve got a bet lined up in Lingfield’s Surrey National.
I’ve said before that I don’t rate Lingfield as a NH track and think it should stick to the all-weather. But there’s one race I make an exception for—the Surrey National. Why? Simple. I love a proper marathon handicap chase, and at 3m 5f, this one fits the bill perfectly.
The Surrey National, with its gruelling distance, tests the endurance and sheer willpower of both horse and rider. The length alone means that anything can happen and often does. Long shots become contenders, favourites fall by the wayside, and surprise finishes are not uncommon.
So, as I place my final bet for the month, I do so with anticipation, ready to see which horse and jockey duo will conquer the course and emerge victorious.
2:45 – Surrey National Handicap Chase – 3m 5f
Thirteen have been declared for this £30,000 contest. According to horseracebase trends, six winners have come from 74 runners, with 19 placed.
Six and seven-year-olds have a solid record (2 winners from 11 runners, 3 places). The sole qualifier this year from that age group is Lady Balko who needs to bounce back after finishing last in a Newbury Listed Mares’ Chase 16 days ago.
Three of my four initial shortlist selections—Dr Kananga, Major Dundee, and Everything'sontick—have been declared.
Dr Kananga is well-handicapped on his best form. His sixth on seasonal reappearance in the London National offered encouragement, and this track should suit his prominent style. However, his jumping remains a concern, as seen when pulling up in this race last year. Yard won this in 2022.
Major Dundee needed his seasonal return at Bangor over an inadequate trip. He’s now just 1lb higher than his Midlands Grand National win and has run well off a break before. The 79-day absence isn’t a major worry.
Everything'sontick is the most intriguing. He’s 2-5 over fences, stays 3m2f, and returns after 306 days off. His form figures after a 60+ layoff are 3121. This is his first Lingfield run, but all three wins came on undulating tracks. Unexposed over staying distance, he looks well worth a play.
Stay tuned for my Saturday column where I’ll preview the best of Saturday’s action at Sandown.
Good luck with your Friday bets!
John