First run in 1998, the Winter Derby is staged at Lingfield racecourse and run on their All Weather track. The 1m2f contest in now a Group 3 race after being upgraded from Listed class back in 2006.
In recent years, a 4 year-old has won the race 6 times in the last 13 runnings, while it could pay to concentrate on horses aged 6 or younger as this age group has been responsible for 16 of the last 19 winners – last year in 2021, it was another win for trainer John Gosden – his third win in a row – when the Godolphin-owned Forest Of Dean took the honours.
Here at RACING AHEAD we look back at the recent winners and gives you all the key stats to take in the 2022 renewal – this year run on Saturday 26th February 2022.
Recent Lingfield Winter Derby Winners
2021 – FOREST OF DEAN (10/3)
2020 – DUBAI WARRIOR (13/8)
2019 – WISSAHICKON (1/4 fav)
2018 – MASTER THE WORLD (16/1)
2017 – CONVEY (11/2)
2016 – GRENDISAR (11/4)
2015 – TRYSTER (3/1 fav)
2014 – ROBIN HOODS BAY (10/1)
2013 – FARRAAJ (6/4 fav)
2012 – PREMIO LOCO (5/1)
2011 – NIDEEB (9/4 fav)
2010 – TRANQUIL TIGER (11/8 fav)
2009 – SCINTILLO (8/1)
2008 – HATTAN (14/1)
2007 – GENTLEMAN’S DEAL (4/1 jfav)
2006 – SRI DIAMOND (8/1)
2005 – ECCENTRIC (7/2)
2004 – CALUKI (14/1)
2003 – PARASOL (5/2 jfav)
Key Lingfield Winter Derby Betting Trends
17/19 – Winning distance – 2 lengths or shorter
16/19 – Won by a horse aged 6 or younger
15/19 – Priced 8/1 or shorter in the market
15/19 – Had run at Lingfield previously
15/19 – Won over at least 1m2f previously
15/19 – Had raced at either Lingfield (11) or Kempton (4) last time out
13/19 – Winning distance – less than a length
13/19 – Drawn in stall 7 or less
13/19 – Came from the top 3 in the market
13/19 – Had raced within the last 8 weeks
12/19 – Placed in their last race
12/19 – Won at Lingfield previously
11/19 – Won their last race
9/19 – Won at least 6 times previously
8/19 – Winning favourites
4/19 – Ridden by Frankie Dettori (2 of last 3 runnings)
3/19 – Trained by John Gosden (last 3 runnings)
2/19 – Ridden by Andrea Atzeni (2 of last 9)
2/19 – Ridden by Adam Kirby (2 of last 7)
Just 2 of the last 15 Winter Derby Trial winners have gone onto win the Winter Derby
The average winning SP in the 19 renewals is 11/2
RACING AHEAD VERDICT: A race the John Gosden yard have won for the last three years, including 12 months ago with Forest Of Dean, who is back for more. However, they also run the 123-rated LORD NORTH and being that he’s rated 16lbs higher than his stablemate then he’s the class act in here and will take the beating. Not been out since winning a Group One in Meydan, but has gone well fresh in the past and dropping into a Group Three will make things easier on this return anyway. Fancy Man, Al Zaragaan and King Of The South are all horses with place claims, but the clear second pick is the 115-rated Alenquer. Top marks to the Haggas yard for taking on Gosden here with this former Group Two winner. He was last seen running 9th in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last October and before that was second in the Group One Juddmonte International at York. He is a useful middle-distance colt and can make the selection work for this.
