Lingfield
It is the all-weather championships at Lingfield today and the prize money on offer at this meeting ensures that it attracts plenty of the top horses.
13:40 32 Red All-Weather Fillies' and Mares' Championships Conditions Stakes
Cold As Ice, trained by William Haggas, will start at a short enough price but she looks head and shoulders above her opposition today. She finished third over six furlongs last time out where a sluggish start cost her any chance, she was flying at the end however and it showed that seven furlongs is her distance. That was a Listed event against the boys, therefore a drop back to a conditions race with fillies and mares only should ensure she runs out a comfortable winner.
14:10 Unibet All-Weather Sprint Championships Conditions Stakes
Goken moved to the yard of Kevin Ryan over the winter having previously been running in France. He was a Group 3 winner over there and actually contested a couple of Group races in the UK last summer at Goodwood and a Group 1 at Ascot. He obviously has plenty of pedigree and is a top looking horse. He looks to have the little bit of extra stamina for the six furlongs as he won his first race for his new stable staying on over six furlongs at here in November so he is sure to give a good account of himself today.
14:40 32Red All-Weather Marathon Championships Conditions Stakes
Mark Johnston has a handy knack of winning races such as this and he runs Notarised today. He won last time out at Chelmsford over two miles staying on nicely at the end to blow the rest of the field away and I think he has an excellent chance in this at a nice price. It could well turn into a battle of who has the better staying power between him and the short price favourite Moonrise Landing, however, I am confident the Johnston horse will come out on top.
15:45 Coral Easter Classic All-Weather Middle Distance Championships Conditions Stakes
This is the big race of the day and carries first place prize money of a whopping £124,500 so has attracted a quality field. Grendisar is the short price favourite and top rated horse in the field. He finished third in this race last year being beaten by a horse that went on to win Group races. He has won his last two races here over ten furlongs and this appears to be his optimum trip, therefore it will take a good performance to beat him.
Battalion was beaten by Grendisar in a Listed race here in December. He had a slow start that day and was also giving two pounds to today's favourite. I am confident that back off level weights that if he can get a solid start he has a brilliant chance of defeating the jolly and landing this top prize. He also has form over further so is sure to be doing his best work at the business end of proceedings and as long as he doesn't get too far behind early on I think he can win at a value looking price.
Today's Selections
Lingfield 13:40 - Cold As Ice - 3 points @ 8/11 (Betbright)
Lingfield 14:10 - Goken - 1 point @ 3/1 (Paddy Power)
Lingfield 14:40 - Notarised - 1 point @ 5/1 (Most firms)
Lingfield 15:45 - Battalion - 1 point @ 11/2 (Most firms)