January 03 / 13.15 Lingfield (AW)

13.15

Standard

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  • Prize money: £4972.3
  • 1m 4f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Sunny

OUR TIP

Form: 47398- D

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Ran as though something was amiss four weeks ago but is accustomed to stronger races than this and is now 3lb lower than when placed for Joe Bradnam at Kempton (1m3f) in September; player if back on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(9)

3rd Jan 2025

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

13:15 Lingfield (AW)

True Courage

10st 1lb

J: Joe Bradnam

T: Michael Bell

Ran as though something was amiss four weeks ago but is accustomed to stronger races than this and is now 3lb lower than when placed for Joe Bradnam at Kempton (1m3f) in September; player if back on song.

12/1

9th

1

(9)

3rd Jan 2025

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

13:15 Lingfield (AW)

True Courage

10st 1lb

J: Joe Bradnam

T: Michael Bell

slowly away, always behind

12/1

8th

2

(1)

5th Dec 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:40 Chelmsford (AW)

True Courage

9st 12lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Michael Bell

dwelt start, midfield

10/1

Form: /5643-

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 13lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Returned from break with three pretty good 1m2f runs towards end of last year, most recently when third at Newcastle three weeks ago, and this move back up in trip is probably in his favour; likely contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(6)

24th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 4

14:12 Newcastle (AW)

Knockbrex

9st 5lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Charlie Johnston

Narrow C&D winner (Class 4; 12-1) in November and, broadly speaking, has acquitted himself respectably since; stamina was likely overstretched at Wolverhampton (1m4f) latest; it's interesting that Jack Callan (1-1) returns to the saddle from just 1lb above that winning mark.

4/1

8th

3

(6)

30th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 4

17:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Knockbrex

9st 12lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Charlie Johnston

1m2f and 1m4f AW winner, including on Tapeta; backed up November's Newcastle success with a respectable third at Lingfield last month; was below that level at Chelmsford (1m2f, Polytrack) latest; drops 1lb and can be competitive if he acts at this track.

9/1

Form: 87362-

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 13lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced for his age and built upon promising stable debut when clear second at Kempton (1m4f) last month; only 1lb higher here and can make his presence felt again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

5th Oct 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

14:30 Fairyhouse

Crystal Mariner

11st 12lb

J: Harry Sexton

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Useful Flat performer (four wins, rated 81) has been runner-up in maiden hurdles at Ballinrobe and Newton Abbot; appears well held by State Pension on running at Navan.

7/1

7th

2

19th Sep 2026

Good

1m 7f 165y

13:07 Navan

Crystal Mariner

11st 12lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Useful Flat performer has been runner-up in maidens at Ballinrobe and Newton Abbot, but will need more to contend in this company; hood goes on.

14/1

2nd

1

7th Sep 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 4

14:30 Newton Abbot

Crystal Mariner

11st 4lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Won four times on the Flat at 1m2f-1m3f; sold for 29,000gns in July and made a most encouraging start over hurdles when runner-up at Ballinrobe (2m, good) last month; looks a major player.

15/8

Form: 93/33-

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 12lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Better known as a hurdler now but kept on strongly for third in valuable fillies' handicap on the Flat here (1m2f) last month and looks well worth another crack at 1m4f; high on the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

9

(8)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 188y

Class 3

16:17 York

Therapist

9st 0lb

J: Mark Winn

T: Peter Niven

Formerly trained by Andrew Balding and Nicky Henderson; sole Flat win came over 1m2f in 2023 but she has since won five times over hurdles; ran creditably over 2m at Lingfield at the start of the year before being sold for £6,000 in May; worth a check in the market.

22/1

4th

2

(4)

31st Jan 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

15:20 Lingfield (AW)

Therapist

9st 7lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Nicky Henderson

In good form when last seen on the Flat, going down narrowly over 1m3f at Southwell last March, and successful three times over hurdles since; however, she ran poorly in that sphere in November and has stamina to prove on her return to the AW.

6/1

Form: 01269- D

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 11lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Three-time winner over 1m4f last year; will find this easier than the valuable series final he contested at Kempton (2m) last month but probably needs a career-best performance to overcome current mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

(9)

27th Sep 2026

Good

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

15:22 Epsom

Damascus Steel

11st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Gihan Arnolda

Won in first-time cheekpieces at Goodwood in June and followed up in the Ladies' Derby over C&D (good to firm); however, he seems to have gone off the boil on his three runs since; reapplied visor replaces cheekpieces.

14/1

6th

4

(5)

12th Sep 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 63y

Class 4

17:42 Chester

Damascus Steel

11st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Gihan Arnolda

New cheekpieces when he went back-to-back over 1m4f at Goodwood and Epsom but his form has dipped; effect of the headgear might be wearing thin.

10/1

5th

9

(12)

31st Aug 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

15:35 Epsom

Damascus Steel

11st 3lb

J: Mr Fletcher Yarham

T: Gihan Arnolda

2-4 for new stable, winning at Goodwood (1m4f, good; cheekpieces first time) before getting the better Epictetus over C&D last month; came unstuck at York in his hat-trick bid and this looks a competitive race in which to get back on track.

20/1

Form: 78308-

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Four-time turf winner for a previous stable but unplaced all five AW runs; started off for Ian Williams with two down-the-field finishes (9.4f/1m4f) towards end of last year; considered only if lively in betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(2)

28th Sep 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 198y

Class 5

15:50 Brighton

Gallant Lion

10st 1lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Ian Williams

Only 2lb higher than for his C&D win in May (good to firm) and he wasn't beaten far at Goodwood next time; disappointed at Southwell since but he's now 0-12 on the AW.

11/2

8th

9

(2)

16th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 4

13:30 Southwell (AW)

Gallant Lion

9st 5lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Ian Williams

Back to some form over 1m4f on turf on last two starts; 0-11 on AW, however, with two places but they were on Polytrack.

11/1

4th

7

(5)

19th Jun 2026

Good

1m 3f 218y

Class 4

18:55 Goodwood

Gallant Lion

8st 12lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Ian Williams

Struggled over 1m at Southwell last month but relished the step back up in trip when winning at Brighton (1m4f, good to firm) three weeks ago; still fairly treated on his old form off this 3lb higher mark and has claims.

100/30

Form: 15393- CD

Last run: 4 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Gained the last three of his six wins over this C&D; probably doesn't have much margin for error off current mark but gave good account when third at Wolverhampton (1m4f) on Monday and the return to this track is an obvious plus; each-way claims at least.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

(9)

18th Sep 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

17:15 Newbury

Raintown

8st 10lb

J: David Probert

T: J S Moore

Running well this summer, recording formfigures of 2312 over C&D before a third of five at Ffos Las; this is a step up in class though.

12/1

3rd

4

(4)

28th Aug 2026

Good

1m 3f 209y

Class 5

16:55 Ffos Las

Raintown

9st 7lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: J S Moore

Last three runs have been over 1m2f at Newbury and was bang there on each occasion; still on a good mark and has won over this far; seems fine on most surfaces.

7/1

2nd

1

(2)

14th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

15:00 Newbury

Raintown

10st 0lb

J: Kyle McHugh

T: J S Moore

He had been threatening prior to his C&D win in an amateur riders' race three weeks ago; a 3lb rise shouldn't prevent another big run.

4/1

Form: 12613-

Last run: 71 days

W: 9st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Arguably in career-best form when last seen in October, winning from off the pace at Chelmsford (1m2f) before a luckless third at Southwell (1m3f); will be fine over today's trip but subsequent ten-week break may have checked his momentum.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(9)

21st Jul 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

20:10 Windsor

Early Morning Dew

9st 8lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Jim & Suzi Best

Won over 1m2f on turf last August and AW in October; also had AW form in the winter but recent efforts do not look persuasive.

25/1

4

(3)

2nd Jul 2025

Good

1m 2f 17y

Class 5

18:20 Epsom

Early Morning Dew

9st 9lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Jim & Suzi Best

Well beaten twice in a row over hurdles this spring and only fifth of seven when back on the Flat at Chelmsford (1m2f, AW) a fortnight ago; however, he won over C&D last August on his sole previous course visit and is well treated on AW form as recent as February; not written off.

13/2

1

(2)

19th Jun 2025

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

14:15 Chelmsford (AW)

Early Morning Dew

10st 9lb

J: Miss Megan Jordan

T: Jim & Suzi Best

Dual C&D winner (from four runs), latterly off a 1lb lower mark last autumn; said to have stopped quickly when well beaten at a short price over hurdles last month, which leaves him a bit to prove, but he has one of the more experienced jockeys up.

4/1

Form: 41/4-

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Very unexposed 4yo who narrowly won 1m Kempton novice as a 2yo and returned from 433-day absence with good fourth here (1m2f) on handicap debut one month ago; moves up in trip again today and has considerable scope to build on that recent effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(5)

29th Sep 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 11y

Class 5

14:32 Bath

Hebridean Nomad

9st 13lb

J: Charlie Tucker

T: Andrew Balding

Gained a second career success at Lingfield (1m4f, AW) in January; has come back from a six-month absence in excellent form, coming in a close fourth of nine in 1m4f AW Lingfield handicap 17 days ago; holds good claims off an unchanged mark.

5/1

4th

4

(10)

12th Sep 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:13 Lingfield (AW)

Hebridean Nomad

9st 9lb

J: Charlie Tucker

T: Andrew Balding

Ended a long losing run over C&D in January; resumed from six months off with a good second of six over 1m5f here three weeks ago; well in the mix eased 1lb.

7/1

2nd

1

(2)

22nd Aug 2026

Standard

1m 5f 0y

Class 5

18:15 Lingfield (AW)

Hebridean Nomad

9st 11lb

J: Alfie Redman

T: Andrew Balding

In good order here when last seen at the beginning of the year, winning over 1m4f in January before being beaten a head over today's distance the following month; holds claims if ready to roll after a break.

2/1

Selections

POSTDATA:

Knockbrex

Telegraph:

Therapist

SPOTLIGHT:

Hebridean Nomad

The Star:

Crystal Mariner

TOPSPEED:

True Courage

RP RATINGS:

Hebridean Nomad

The Times:

Knockbrex

The Guardian:

Knockbrex

Daily Mirror:

Knockbrex

Daily Mail:

Therapist

D Express:

Therapist

The Sun:

Therapist

Daily Record:

Crystal Mariner

NEWMARKET:

True Courage