04/01/17 Straight From The Trainers Mouth

Ed Dunlop

1.10 Lingfield Marwa 20/1

The favourite has come out of Marwa’s Maiden at 1:10 but it still looks a tough ask for her from stall eight. Dubai Art is drawn well in stall one and he was one place behind Arnarson in a Newcastle Maiden that could have been ok for this time of year. He is likely to improve from that first start and will take the beating. If you were to go solely on the form book then current favourite La Guapita has six lengths in hand on Dubai Art through a form line with Doctor Bartolo but that could be misleading given Arnarson has more than likely improved on his second start and Dubai Art should improve for his debut. Our filly stepped up on her debut effort last time at Lingfield and found a little trouble up the home straight but she has a lot to find with the two better drawn principles. Outside of the front two there is not much depth to the race but the newcomer Blaze Of Glory could be interesting for the future given his half-sister has ability, draw nine will not be a help to him.

★★☆☆☆

2.15 Lingfield Dutch Uncle 11/10

Dutch Uncle was slightly unlucky at Lingfield before Christmas when finishing third in a race run under identical conditions to this afternoon’s contest. He has a much better draw in stall three this afternoon and I will be disappointed if he does not go close as it looks to be slightly easier than his last race. We have kept him ticking over at home and he seems in good order, the way he finished last time suggests that the 1m2f trip around Lingfield should suit ideally. The main danger would look to be Starlit Cantata who has won over course and distance off of this mark before and has a valuable three pounds taken off of her back.

★★★★★

Nigel Twiston Davies

3.55 Hereford Sword of The Lord 20/1

Still a maiden over hurdles after 15 outings, but was a winner over fences three outings ago at Perth. Up 6lbs for that, he's run a little below par in two outings over fences since. Back over hurdles here and on the same chase winning mark of 107, he also goes over the same 2m trip. He looks to have a decent each way chance and may just reward at long odds.

★★★★☆

Harry Whittington

1.25 Hereford Ruby Yeats 7/2

She ran very green on stable debut at Southwell before coming home in impressive style to win.  She has sharpened up for the run and come out of the race fresh and well.  She should be very competitive under a penalty.

★★★★☆

Fergal O’Brien

3:25 Hereford Diamond Fort 16/1

He is a super jumper and ran well in Irish Point to Points so we he he will do well over jumps.

★★★☆☆

Roger Charlton

3.15 Lingfield Snobbery 11/2

Snobbery finds himself in a tougher race than last time. Snobbery won his maiden as he liked last time out, but in doing so beat very little, and finds himself on a mark of 78. The second that day was rated 55, and has since been beaten a long way off 57 at Southwell. Snobbery’s mark was decided on at Kempton seemingly where he ran on behind some half decent horses. Today he faces competition from all sides, horses with good winning form, and plenty with hardened experience. Hopefully Snobbery has enough experience for this type of race and that he has improved a lot from Wolverhampton to defy the handicapper’s opening mark. He seems in good form and is a big horse who should improve with age.

★★★☆☆

David Pipe

3.25 Hereford Arkadios 16/1

Former French flat winner Arakdios who has been off the track since 2015.  He has schooled nicely at home ahead of his hurdles/Pond House debut but this looks to be a pretty strong race with Strong Pursuit forecast to go off at 8/15.  Arkadios will be ridden by conditional jockey Michael Heard who claims a handy 5lbs off his back

★★★☆☆

Richard Guest

2.35 Newcastle Bollihope 7/4  & 2.35 Newcastle Polar Forest 13/2

Polar Forest is ridden by Nathan Evans (3) and drawn in stall 2, Bollihope is ridden by Connor Beasley and drawn in stall 7. 7 runners go to post. Both our horses are in great order at home, and both are course and distance winners recently. Bollihope has a particularly impressive record of 3 wins from 3 runs over the track since the Tapeta surface was installed and he comes here a little fresher than Polar Forest who has been running regularly recently. The conditions of the race make it look a tricky little heat to fathom and other than Kicking The Can, who looks to have a tough ask under the conditions of the race, a very solid argument can be made for our pair and the other 4 runners in the race. We are expecting both of ours to run very well today and given Bollihope's obvious affinity to the track we think he has a slightly better chance than Polar Forest, but we do not wish to underestimate Polar Forest's chances either. We hope to see them both there abouts at the finish, and it's quite possible they could be going head to head when it matters.

★★★★☆