All-Weather guru Simon Mapletoft previews 1:40 Lingfield Fillies & Mares
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CHILDESPLAY: Improved with racing this winter, winning back-to-back 7f handicaps at Kempton; 5lb higher now but looks out of her depth off her current mark on these terms.
DON’T BE: Highly progressive all winter, notching a five-timer and improving 30lb in the process; dual C&D winner is so proven around this sharp track and ran better than placing suggested in better company at Wolverhampton latest but more required.
FAB LOLLY: Mid-division in this Final last year and without a win since; shaped better when second in a 6f handicap at Wolverhampton last month but hard to see her troubling the principals under such difficult terms.
FRESLES: French raider who showed bags of speed when only just collared in Listed company over 6f here in November; bettered that by winning a 7.5f Listed Fast Track Qualifier in France the following month and not beaten far in a Chantilly conditions event latest; respected.
HISTORY BOOK: Won a 6f handicap here for Godolphin in January but sold for 25,000gns since; found Listed sprinters too hot over that trip here last time but stays this extra furlong and could show up well on first start for trainer who won this last year; likely to come up short, though.
KHATIBA: Unexposed filly who qualified for this with a taking performance at Wolverhampton in November; 9lb rise puts her in with a big chance at the weights considering she has the potential to improve again; needs to maintain progress but a big player.
LAMAR: Admirable filly who qualified for this by winning over 1m at Chelmsford in January after running well in Listed company over that trip here and 7.5f in France; posted career-best when narrowly beaten in Winter Derby Trial over 1m2f but effective over this trip though worst of the draw to contend with.
MAGGIE PINK: Front-running mare who was a creditable third in this last year but hasn’t won in five attempts on AW this winter; return to 7f a plus but well held by Don’t Be over C&D in January and hard to see her reversing that form.
MAIDEN APPROACH: On an upward curve following consecutive handicap wins at Lingfield and Wolverhampton, though fortunate to beat odds-on favourite over 9.5f latest; work to do off latest mark and likely to find things happening too quickly over this trip.
QUEEN AGGIE: Consistent, versatile filly over this trip, winning a Wolverhampton handicap off a mark of just 62 in November; has progressed 8lb without winning since but not in the same class as some of these.
STOSUR: Not seen since pulled up behind Don’t Be in a C&D handicap in January; not quite good enough to trouble Khatiba in a Wolverhampton qualifier in November and both career wins achieved over 1m, including on Polytrack; others preferred.
VERDICT: Lamar held an entry in the Coral Easter Classic, a race she would have had solid claims in judged on her close second in the Winter Derby Trial over the same trip. Instead, her trainer James Tate drops her back in trip against her own sex but this consistent daughter of Cape Cross has been dealt an off-putting draw in stall 11. French raider Fresles and last year’s third Maggie Pink should ensure a good end-to-end gallop which will suit Lamar but Fast Track Qualifier winner KHATIBA has the look of an improving filly with Black Type potential and she gets my verdict from a more favourable draw. The prolific Don’t Be is another with obvious place claims but may not have the scope of the Varian runner.
