Mail Sport’s racing expert Robin Goodfellow delivers his tips for Saturday’s meetings at Lingfield, Navan and Wolverhampton.
Mail Sport’s racing expert Robin Goodfellow delivers his tips for Saturday’s meetings
Lingfield
Robin Goodfellow
12.15 Grenham Bay
12.50 Photosynthesis
1.25 Amazing
2.00 Dragon Icon
2.35 Diomed Spirit (nap)
3.10 Oh So Grand
3.45 Two Past Eight
Gimcrack
12.15 Ultramarine
12.50 Roman Emperor
1.25 Amazing
2.00 Fantastic Fox (nb)
2.35 Diomed Spirit
3.10 Behind The Scenes (nap)
3.45 African Star
Newmarket – 1.25 Amazing (nap); 3.10 Oh So Grand (nb).
Northerner – 2.35 Bergerac (nap)
Navan
Robin Goodfellow
1.55 Harvard Guy
2.30 Mighty Jeremy
3.05 Minella Cocooner
3.42 Tangental
Gimcrack
1.55 Harvard Guy
2.30 Chosen Diamond
3.05 Sandor Clegane
3.42 Fox Le Bel
Wolverhampton
Robin Goodfellow
4.25 Circles
5.00 Floating Voter
5.30 Roman Crown
6.00 The Craftymaster (nb)
6.30 English Spirit
7.00 Starfighter
7.30 Optician
8.00 Noble Captain
8.30 Hannah’s Return
Gimcrack
4.25 Circles
5.00 Catena
5.30 Twenty Bob
6.00 New York Bay
6.30 English Spirit
7.00 Jumeira Vision
7.30 Footsy
8.00 Noble Captain
8.30 Balmy Breese
Northerner – 5.00 Hyrcanian (nb)
Goodfellow Best Bets
The form horse in the 5f handicap at Lingfield (2.35) is DIOMED SPIRIT (NAP) who attempts to win his fifth race in a row.
The progressive four-year-old has shown improved form since returning to the all-weather following a 55-day break with wins at Wolverhampton and Chelmsford.
His running style suits Lingfield and he can extend his winning run with Hollie Doyle deputising on board off only a 3lb higher mark.
Later on Saturday evening at Wolverhampton (6.00), THE CRAFTYMASTER (NB) can enhance his impressive record since joining the Tony Carroll stable.
With form figures of 2211, including a course and distance success on his penultimate start, he can complete a hat-trick under William Carson
The Wizard Of Odds
2.00 LINGFIELD
Talis Evolvere arrives in fine form after two wins and two seconds in his last four starts. He remains open to further improvement and will be ridden by Ryan Moore.
2.35 LINGFIELD
The top weight Silky Wilkie (nap) was placed twice in Listed company last year. He has finished a close second in all three of his previous races at Lingfield.
3.10 LINGFIELD
The step up to 10 furlongs should really suit Twirling, who is also well drawn in stall one. She went close over a mile at this course last time out.
The Databank
WATCH OUT FOR…
Fire Demon (12.50, Lingfield)
It always catches the eye when you see the green, white and pink silks of powerful breeding operation Juddmonte in action — and the colours that Frankel, Enable and other greats carried will be on Fire Demon this afternoon.
A winner on his most recent appearance, at Kempton two weeks ago, this three-year-old colt looks to be progressive for trainer Andrew Balding, who provided Juddmonte with a 2,000 Guineas winner in Chaldean last May. Fire Demon is not a world beater — yet — but he will take some stopping here.
Minella Cocooner (3.05 Navan)
There is quiet confidence that racing will go ahead in Ireland and, if that is the case, keep your eye on this Willie Mullins chaser. He has run just eight times in his life but always carried a decent reputation and has not had the wins to reflect his talent.
His biggest threat today will be posed by lively favourite Sandor Clegane but, sooner or later, Minella Cocooner is going to put it all together in a race and show his rivals a clean pair of heels. This is just his third race over fences, he has plenty of improvement in him.
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
The big race days matter most to three-time champion jockey RYAN MOORE and he has much to look forward to this year for Coolmore and Ballydoyle. But he has a voracious appetite for riding winners and it is significant that he is arriving at Lingfield, on a bitingly cold afternoon, for four rides.
He gets the leg up on Grenham Bay (12.15), Fire Demon(12.50) — both for Andrew Balding — then Talis Evolvere (2.00) for Richard Hannon and Twirling (3.10), trained by Simon and Ed Crisford. Twirling runs in the colours of Coolmore co-owner Michael Tabor’s wife, Doreen.
WHAT’S IN A NAME
BERGERAC (2.35 Lingfield)
If that word does not take you back to a Sunday night, BBC One and a classic car whizzing around Jersey, what were you watching? Yes, Bergerac is a town in France but it was also a crime drama starring John Nettles. The horse of the same name has won its past two starts.
BIG DAY FOR…
Saffie Osborne Injury cut short her breakthrough year and she has not ridden competitively since October, but she is back at Wolverhampton with rides on Hashtagmetoo (7.00) and Moveonup (8.00).
