Lingfield preview: Lots to like about Lady Lunchalot
Published:
David Metcalf | December 16, 2015
Lady Lunchalot has an excellent record at Lingfield, so can further enhance it with victory in the 1m 4f apprentice handicap there today (15.20).
The Laura Mongan trained mare is a five-time winner at the venue, with the last of those successes coming back in February off a mark of 67.
Lady Lunchalot has since run a number of solid races to make the frame, and signalled that her time was near when an excellent head second of 11 to Artistic Flight over course and distance on her penultimate outing.
The five-year-old backed that up with a fine 3/4 length second to the thriving Saint Honore, again over course and distance, and although now 1lb higher in the weights remains well-treated on the pick of her form.
Lady Lunchalot’s revised rating of 65 is still 2lb lower than when last successful and gives her major claims from a handicapping perspective.
The daughter of More Than Ready also goes well for Patrick Vaughan who is decent value for his 5lb claim, so this looks a nice opportunity for Lady Lunchalot to gain a deserved success.
Tate’s colt might just Fit The Bill for punters
In the 1m 2f handicap (14.15), Fit The Bill looks a worthy favourite to land the spoils now dropped back in trip.
The James Tate trained colt has won three of his 11 starts this season, including once at this venue, and was last successful at Redcar in June when scoring by a head off a mark of 78.
The three-year-old got put up to 81 for that victory and failed to trouble the judge in his next four starts.
However, that has resulted in the handicapper cutting him some slack and the son of Ifraaj shaped really well on his first start back from a break last time out when third over 1m 4f here.
Fit The Bill, who is now able to race off a reduced mark of 77, looked the likely winner when kicking clear before the home turn but then faded as lack of race fitness took it’s toll.
The drop back to 1m 2f looks sure to suit, and another plus is that Tate has a tremendous strike rate of just over 30% with his runners at the track in the past 12 months.
Selections
11.30: Sacred Trust
12.00: Matraash
12.40: Peaceful Journey
13.05: Major Muscari
13.40: Colorada
14.15: Fit The Bill (NB)
14.50: Cotillion
15.20: Lady Lunchalot (NAP)
Related
Check out Coral’s horse racing section for more racecard previews, news and tips.
