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

4th

2

(5)

5th Jul 2026

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 4

17:25 Southwell (AW)

Crystal Mariner

9st 11lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Jamie Osborne

Three wins in 2025, the last two over this trip at Kempton; yet to match that form after three starts this year, though, and didn't find that much after travelling well at Kempton (1m3f) on Monday.

12/1

5th

6

(3)

29th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 4

20:15 Kempton (AW)

Crystal Mariner

9st 6lb

J: William Carver

T: Jamie Osborne

Not fired in two starts on turf since returning last month but he won twice over C&D last autumn and is just 1lb higher than for his latest success; worth a second look.

12/1

8th

1

(7)

8th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

16:35 Leicester

Crystal Mariner

9st 9lb

J: William Carver

T: Jamie Osborne

Triple AW winner who completed a Kempton double (1m3f, AW) in October but he's been well held in two starts since; may have needed his reappearance run at Chepstow last month but that took his turf record to 1-13 and others are preferred.

16/1

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

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

3

13th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

2m 2f 148y

Class 3

17:02 Stratford

Therapist

11st 6lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Nicky Henderson

Four and three-runner races when she won over 2m here in April and May; came up well short, however, in her hat-trick bid when 5-4 favourite at Warwick nearly six weeks ago, which dents her claims.

3/1

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

1st

4

(8)

16th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

19:30 Epsom

Damascus Steel

10st 6lb

J: Miss Becky Smith

T: Gihan Arnolda

Did well on AW last winter and even better form when the cheekpieces replaced a visor at Goodwood (1m4f, good) four weeks ago, leading over 1f out to score with rather more authority than the half-length winning margin suggests; used to act on good to firm; up 3lb but firmly in the picture.

5/1

1st

6

(6)

19th Jun 2026

Good

1m 3f 218y

Class 4

18:55 Goodwood

Damascus Steel

9st 1lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Gihan Arnolda

Two 1m4f AW wins for Denis Quinn in the winter and a respectable fifth at Lingfield (1m4f, AW) in April on sole starts for John Ryan; left the impression he's still in form at Thirsk 19 days ago on his first start for this yard and cheekpieces now go on.

14/1

6th

10

(3)

31st May 2026

Good

1m 4f 8y

Class 4

17:15 Thirsk

Damascus Steel

8st 11lb

J: William Carson

T: Gihan Arnolda

Two 1m4f AW wins last winter for Denis Quinn and respectable fifth of 15 at Lingfield (1m4f, AW) last month on sole run for John Ryan; however, it's a long time since he ran well on turf and has something to prove back on grass; stable debut.

12/1

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

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

1st

7

(8)

29th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 198y

Class 5

15:20 Brighton

Gallant Lion

9st 0lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Ian Williams

1m2f win here (good to firm) kicked off a four-timer in 2023 for Tony Carroll but he took a while to rediscover his level before scoring at Chepstow (1m4f, good; first-time blinkers) for this yard one year ago; raced mainly over further without success since and latest start over 1m can be written off; handy mark and he's not discounted on just his second visit to Brighton.

9/1

11th

5

(1)

7th May 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 5

18:30 Southwell (AW)

Gallant Lion

9st 7lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Ian Williams

Beaten 11l when fifth in a maiden hurdle at Hereford three weeks ago; only 1lb higher than for his win at Chepstow (1m4f, good) last May but will likely find this trip on the sharp side on his switch back to the Flat (all wins over 1m2f or further).

14/1

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

3rd

3

(1)

9th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

20:02 Newbury

Raintown

9st 8lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: J S Moore

Scored over 1m4f here last July; winless since but comes here on the back of a good second of nine in 1m3f handicap here 16 days ago so can't be ruled out.

14/1

2nd

10

(5)

23rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 0y

Class 5

20:35 Newbury

Raintown

8st 13lb

J: Kyle McHugh

T: J S Moore

8lb lower than when winning easily here (1m4f, good to firm) last July, but hasn't matched that form since and was a long last of four at Bath (11.7f, firm) six weeks ago; can be slowly away.

14/1

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

2nd

10

(3)

21st Feb 2026

Standard

1m 5f 0y

Class 5

14:33 Lingfield (AW)

Hebridean Nomad

9st 4lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Andrew Balding

Has a patchy profile but he justified support when bouncing back with a strong-finishing win here (1m4f) last month; up 4lb but that was a cosy success and the form has been boosted by the runner-up since; interesting contender.

4/1

1st

5

(1)

24th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

14:14 Lingfield (AW)

Hebridean Nomad

9st 10lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Andrew Balding

Won a 1m novice at Kempton in September 2023 but 0-10 in handicaps since; did catch the eye when third at Kempton (1m3f) back on AW in November but hasn't built on it twice since, finishing remote third at Chelmsford (1m6f) latterly; the return to 1m4f may help but others are more convincing.

12/1

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