April 18 / 17.30 Lingfield (AW)

17.30

Standard

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  • Prize money: £4187.2
  • 1m 4f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
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Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Mostly sunny

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.00
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 711230 CD

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Multiple AW winner (including three at this venue) and a reliable yardstick who wasn't far off his best upped to 2m here last time; down in weights/grade and claims under Jamie Spencer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(7)

23rd Jan 2025

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 6

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Forge Valley Lad

10st 1lb

J: Luke Morris

T: David Simcock

Was snapping a losing run when prevailing narrowly at Lingfield (1m4f) but then followed up over the same C&D ten days ago, defying a 4lb penalty without being overly pressed; only 2lb higher for this despite another penalty, but stamina for 2m is unproven.

4/1

1

(7)

23rd Jan 2025

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 6

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Forge Valley Lad

10st 1lb

J: Luke Morris

T: David Simcock

Was snapping a losing run when prevailing narrowly at Lingfield (1m4f) but then followed up over the same C&D ten days ago, defying a 4lb penalty without being overly pressed; only 2lb higher for this despite another penalty, but stamina for 2m is unproven.

4/1

1st

1

(1)

13th Jan 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

15:30 Lingfield (AW)

Forge Valley Lad

9st 11lb

J: Luke Morris

T: David Simcock

took keen hold, prominent, steadied into midfield with one circuit to go, hung left over 1f out, pushed along and ran on well inside final furlong, led final 110yds, comfortably

15/8

20/1

  • Place: £7.20

Form: 0633-9

Last run: 52 days

W: 9st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Largely consistent but ran poorly behind Forge Valley Lad over C&D in February and off since; overall record of 1-23 is a bit of a concern and best watched this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

27th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

18:38 Cartmel

Zhang Fei

12st 0lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Has struggled over hurdles since rejoining this stable but his penultimate Flat run was encouraging and this is his first time in a seller.

12/1

5th

3

(6)

14th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 5

17:03 Salisbury

Zhang Fei

9st 6lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Fergal O’Brien

He's struggled over hurdles since rejoining this stable but he ran a respectable race at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm) 10 days ago; needs to build on that effort now stepping back up in trip and he's without a win on the Flat since 2022.

5/1

4th

2

(7)

4th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

17:53 Windsor

Zhang Fei

9st 9lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Fergal O’Brien

8yo who has struggled back over hurdles since rejoining Fergal O'Brien in the autumn; his sole Flat win came at this track (11.4f, good to firm) but that was in 2022 and he has something to prove back in this sphere; hood reapplied.

16/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 4311-4 CD BF

Last run: 41 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Won first two AW starts over 1m2f and 1m4f (both at this venue) and not disgraced back over 1m2f (here) last time; no reason why he won't give another good account back up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(7)

4th Oct 2023

Soft

1m 2f 50y

Class 4

17:12 Nottingham

Tudor

9st 5lb

J: J F Egan

T: Patrick Owens

Both wins have come on Polytrack (1m2f/1m4f) but he acts on soft ground (ran once on heavy); 0-11 on grass but he may have needed his latest start, when absent three months and representing a new stable; competitive mark judged on best turf/AW efforts.

12/1

4th

3

(3)

15th Sep 2023

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 4

17:35 Sandown

Tudor

9st 12lb

J: J F Egan

T: Patrick Owens

in touch with leaders, headway over 2f out, weakening when bumped and carried left over 1f out

20/1

OUR TIP

5/2

Form: 00-831 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Hasn't been with this yard long but turned in best Flat effort when upped to 1m6f and winning at Chelmsford last time; 7lb higher, down in distance and back up in grade but difficult to rule out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(9)

24th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:25 Goodwood

Crescent Lake

9st 7lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Acts on good to firm and good to soft; respectable third off this mark at Sandown (1m6f) most recently; has form figures of 113 over this C&D and holds a solid chance back here.

13/2

3rd

4

(3)

26th Jul 2024

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

19:05 Sandown

Crescent Lake

9st 7lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

led, raced in second after 4f

6/1

4th

2

(6)

3rd Jul 2024

Good

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

20:00 Epsom

Crescent Lake

10st 2lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Creditable third twice in May; form dipped when he tried front-running on latest start (had a good record at Goodwood before that) and it had looked as if 1m6f-2m was more his thing these days.

10/1

Form: 4V5-11 CD

Last run: 42 days

W: 9st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Has won both starts this year over C&D in January and over this trip at Southwell last month; 3lb higher in this stronger event but may well be capable of better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

3rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

21:00 Warwick

Theonlywayiswessex

11st 11lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

On a fairly tough mark but otherwise has plenty in his favour and ran a solid second over C&D last time; every chance.

6/4

2nd

5

4th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:25 Warwick

Theonlywayiswessex

11st 11lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Below par when last seen in August but ran pretty well in his previous two races, including here; has plenty in his favour, other than a tough enough mark.

8/1

4th

4

21st Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

17:35 Newton Abbot

Theonlywayiswessex

11st 8lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Two solid placed efforts since returning from a break, latest when a 7.25l third at Stratford (2m3f, good to firm; Magic Seven second) last month; should give another good account though he remains vulnerable off this sort of mark.

15/2

6th
7 (5)
Talap

12/1

Form: 212149 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Multiple turf/AW winner abroad and in decent form at Cagnes earlier this year; below best on first run for yard at Bath but soft ground might have been to blame and he should do better back on AW.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

14:16 Taunton

Talap

10st 5lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Gordon Edwards

0-9 over hurdles but he has won in other disciplines and his 8l second of ten to Cooler Than Me over C&D (heavy; 100-1) last time was easily his most competitive show as a handicap hurdler; considered for a place.

8/1

2nd

10

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

14:15 Taunton

Talap

10st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Gordon Edwards

0-8 over hurdles and beaten 14l or more in all four handicaps; hard to make a case for.

66/1

10th

13

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

13:52 Wincanton

Talap

10st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Gordon Edwards

0-7 over hurdles; ran well for a long way when eighth from out of the weights over C&D (good to soft) on Boxing Day and is effectively 10lb lower today but his overall profile remains unconvincing.

25/1

Form: 44335- BF

Last run: 213 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Consistent maiden on turf/AW last year and showed ability on first two starts for the yard (hurdles); disappointed in visor last time but headgear left off for return to the Flat; off since October but gives trainer a strong hand.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(2)

9th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 3f 218y

Class 5

20:10 Goodwood

Age Of Sail

9st 11lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Gary Moore

sweating, raced in second, led 4f out, ridden clear over 1f out, eased towards finish

5/4

1st

3

(1)

2nd Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:35 Chepstow

Age Of Sail

9st 7lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary Moore

11-race maiden under both codes but he gave it a good shot from the front when third of ten in a Lingfield handicap (1m5f, AW) last month; conditions should be fine on this return to turf and he's respected off 1lb lower than last time.

4/1

3rd

4

(1)

13th May 2023

Standard

1m 5f 0y

Class 5

17:15 Lingfield (AW)

Age Of Sail

9st 8lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Gary Moore

prominent, led after 1f, set steady pace, increased tempo over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra and lost second final strides

10/1

10/1

Form: 1223-4 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Dual fast-ground winner up to this trip at Salisbury last August and she's a reliable sort who ran creditably on reappearance (over this trip on Tapeta); claims, though vulnerable to an improver.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

19:10 Punchestown

Whimsy

12st 0lb

J: James Smith

T: Anthony McCann

Record of 1-19 over timber; three-time winner on the Flat has placed in two starts in that sphere since falling over hurdles at Leopardstown in March; recent form suggests she's fit and healthy but poor strike rate over hurdles is off-putting.

14/1

2nd

6

(3)

26th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 217y

Class 4

18:15 Musselburgh

Whimsy

9st 2lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: Anthony McCann

Had three seasons with Andrew Balding, including three wins, and has been with this yard since July 2023, including for two wins (one over hurdles) and plenty of place returns; third over 1m4f in her only two Flat runs in the last 13 months, including under Patrick McGettigan 17 days ago, and her very solid Flat record for this trainer suggests she will be on the premises.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £33.00
Straight Forecast £167.46
Tricast £533.23
Trifecta £310.20

Selections

RP Ratings:

Crescent Lake

Telegraph:

Theonlywayiswessex

NEWMARKET:

Tudor

SPOTLIGHT:

Forge Valley Lad

WEST COUNTRY:

Talap

The Star:

Theonlywayiswessex

Daily Record:

Theonlywayiswessex

The Times:

Tudor

The Guardian:

Tudor

TOPSPEED:

Crescent Lake

POSTDATA:

Crescent Lake

D Express:

Crescent Lake

Daily Mirror:

Crescent Lake

Daily Mail:

Forge Valley Lad

The Sun:

Forge Valley Lad