Something for the Weekend

by the Spotter
THIS WEEKEND'S racing resembles that of the summer’s with meetings being called off and inspections due to the prolonged deluge of rain that has fallen on the country over the past few days.  The meetings at Ascot and Haydock need to pass inspections and even if they manage this the ground is unlikely to be particularly pleasant and, therefore, I have decided to sidestep the lot of them and focus my attention on the all-weather meeting at Lingfield.  Trainers have, quite rightly, been shunning the artificial tracks this winter as prize money levels dwindle in the light of too many fixtures for bad horses but nevertheless the two best prizes at Lingfield have attracted horses of the calibre and consistency to bet on.  The 3.00 event is a 6f sprint that features a number of horses in good form.  One such horse is Gerard Butler’s Bonus who followed up a recent listed victory with another comfortable success over course and distance.  He’s won three of his last four starts and was possibly unlucky to finish only fourth from the worst draw in a listed event over course and distance behind Maltese Falcon late last year.  Receiving a pound for that length beating and with a good draw this capable son of Cadeaux Genereux can complete the hat-trick.  The following race is another interesting affair with a number of horses in with a chance of carrying off the pot.  All weather specialist Fajr, Samarinda and Orchard Supreme all line up in this heat but I feel it may fall to a less exposed runner in Ektimaal.  Ed Dunlop’s runner was all at sea on his first start on the course in late December and rallied to be a good second behind Vortex.  If he copes with the undulations he will be in with a good shout off a mark of only 87.

 

Selections: 3.00 Lingfield, 2 Bonus

                                                                   3.35 Lingfield, 7 Ektimaal