Yesterday’s Review

1pt win Ceira G (83) – The first thing that needs to be said about this race is that a Class 5 race is usually for horses rated (0-70). This race was listed as a Class 5 race for horses rated (0-62), which is a Class 6 race, not a Class 5. As we know 31% of all UK Flat Racing is Class 6 racing, and I want to avoid this type of racing as we have the lowest quality animals and jockeys involved. It’s a sneaky way for the BHA to have less Class 6 racing. I will be watching and avoiding these types of races going forward. The selection recorded a time 19 lengths per mile slower than her previous effort at Chelmsford, and 16 lengths per mile slower than her latest effort at Wolverhampton. She was cut up by a keen going Hollie Doyle on Hidden Verse early on in the race, and lost valuable momentum. However, she never travelled with any purpose afterwards, and the final bewildering aspect of the ride was 7lb claimer Alice Bond staying as close to the inner rail as possible on the home turn (which anyone who has watched Lingfield over the years knows is the WRONG place to be entering the home straight). A difficult watch from start to finish.

Today’s Advice

LOOK BACK SMILING (8f Hcap) – Last year’s winner of this race has been relatively quiet on the clock since finishing second at Thirsk in May behind Titan Rock. As a hold-up performer he likes a decent pace to aim at, and comes into todays (1.50) Doncaster rated 1lb lower than when winning this race last year. Apprentice Brandon Wilkie takes another five pounds off his back, and he has been in decent form lately with wins aboard Drifts Away, Mister Mojito and Obsidian Knight. Conditions should suit the selection with plenty of pace in the race and a possible headwind, and he looks worth an interest at a venue where he has had plenty of success at in the past.

WHIP CRACKER (8f Hcap) – This lightly raced four-year-old was noted travelling best of all when last seen on turf at Goodwood at the backend of last season on Heavy ground. On that occasion he raced in behind the pace, and looked the clear winner before getting bogged down on the ground inside the final two furlongs. He had a nice little pipe-opener at Wolverhampton in the trial for this race three weeks ago, and should appreciate today’s Good To Soft (Soft) conditions a lot more. He can race off a two pound lower mark today, and as one of the more lightly race types in today’s (3.35) Doncaster we have still to see the best of this son of Cracksman. Obviously, in a race of this nature with twenty two runners there are plenty of dangers with horses coming back home from Meydan like Sean and Magnum Opus having performed with credit recently. Favourite Thunder Run is another lightly raced type that could still have more to come, but I want to avoid front-runners today with conditions the way they are.

0.75pt e/way Look Back Smiling (11/1 General 5 places) 1.50 Doncaster

0.5pt e/way Whip Cracker (10/1 General 5 places) 3.35 Doncaster

0.5pt e/way double