The most valuable all-weather meeting in Europe takes place today at Lingfield Park this afternoon with a seven-race card. The lack of terrestrial TV coverage suggests not everyone has embraced the concept of racing on Good Friday but it is certainly competitive fare beginning with a mile-and-a-half handicap for apprentice riders.
Asia Minor (1.45) is in the form of her life having won her last three, all at Kempton, and she could still be ahead of the handicapper despite being 17lbs higher than when starting her winning spree. All four career wins have come at Kempton and it is possible that she will not be as effective going left-handed but she ran well enough on her sole start here and gets the vote in a competitive opener.
The 32Red Fillies’ and Mares’ race is a very valuable prize for the quality of animal in the field and I can see a very rough race; Glastonberry will appreciate the return to 7f and must go well but Fab Lolly (2.20) is the selection from her plum draw in stall 1. Expect to see any amount of scrimmaging and hard luck stories but the selection is tough, has a good draw and her record for today’s jockey Joe Fanning reads 1st, 1st, 2nd
If the Fillies’ & Mares’ Race looks weak the same cannot be said about the 7f Conditions Stakes where I expect Ertijaal (2.55) to confirm the promise of his listed success over C&D last month when he showed blistering pace from a poor draw but was all out to win a head. He has an excellent draw in stall 4 this afternoon and he really looks a cut above today’s rivals. The runner up American Hope has been beaten since and re-opposes again but the danger is the unbeaten Passing Star of Charlie Hills although I think a mile is his optimum trip and is likely to find this an insufficient test.
Whilst Ertijaal was able to overcome a poor draw here last month Grandeur (5.20) was not in the Winter Derby but he is taken to return to winning ways in the finale the feature Coral Easter Classic. Jockey Ryan Moore had to do too much too soon from stall 14 on that occasion, but the former Champion jockey will be able to ride a race from stall two and I will be out of pocket if he is not good enough in this field. The selection had previously finished in front of Winter Derby winner Robin Hoods Bay and a bigger danger may come from Marco Botti’s Solar Deity who has been plying his trade in Meydan of late.
An excellent turf card from Musselburgh and Resolute (3.50) has left the yard of William Haggas since his last start, is 2lbs wrong at the weights and has a modest draw to overcome but he did show promise on turf last season and has joined a stable (Ed de Giles) that might be worth following this term.
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