Lingfield and Wolverhampton previews: Jake ready to cut a dash
Published:
David Metcalf | February 22, 2016
Pharoh Jake can sprint to success at Lingfield
Pharoh Jake ran a blinder when runner-up last time out and looks weighted to go one better and score and overdue success in the 5f handicap on today’s card at Lingfield (15.25).
The John Bridger trained gelding is a four-time course and distance winner, with the last of those successes coming back in December 2014 off a mark of 63.
Although Pharoh Jake has failed to get his head in front in 17 subsequent outings, he has run well to make the frame on numerous occasions and is now able to race off just 58.
That gives the eight-year-old major claims from a handicapping perspective, and he comes into the contest having gone down by just 3/4 of a length to Rigoletto over course and distance two days ago.
Pharoh Jake kept on well to snatch second place near the line, and it was a fine effort on his first start back after 151 days on the sidelines.
The son of Piccolo is entitled to come on for that outing, and a repeat run should be good enough to see Pharoh Jake land the spoils.
Heavenly chance for Cosmic Halo
In the 1m 2f handicap (17.05), Cosmic Halo looks to have been found an excellent opportunity to get back to winning ways.
The Richard Fahey trained mare is on a losing run of 12, having not scored since landing a competitive class 4 handicap at York in September off a mark of 73.
However, the seven-year-old has dropped markedly in the weights as a result and is now able to race in this lower grade class 5 contest off 8lb lower.
Cosmic Halo’s current rating of 65 is the lowest she has raced off in over three years, and the daughter of Halling signalled that she was ready to take advantage when going down by just a short-head to Tommys Geal over course and distance three days ago.
After being slowly away and allowing the winner first run, Cosmic Halo finished with a rattle to be gaining all the way to the line and would have won in another stride.
Given how the race panned out it was an excellent effort, and if building on it Cosmic Halo is going to be very hard to beat.
Selections
14.20: Colourfilly
14.55: Steam Ahead
15.25: Pharoh Jake (NAP)
16.00: Queen Aggie
16.30: Bush Warrior
17.05: Cosmic Halo (NB)
For Shia and Lula weighted to strike at Wolverhampton
For Shia And Lula has a good record at Wolverhampton and can take advantage of a drop in the weights and further enhance it with victory in the 7f handicap there today (17.55).
The Mark Loughnane trained gelding is a three-time course and distance winner, and in the last of those successes made all to score by a length off a mark of 75.
For Shia And Lula got put up to 77 for that victory, and has since run well to make the frame on several occasions.
The seven-year-old also caught the eye four starts back when fourth over course and distance off 74, and is now able to race off 69.
That is 6lb lower than when last successful, and gives For Shia And Lula a big shout at the weights.
For Shia And Lula also comes into the contest having shaped as if needing the run last time out at Lingfield following a break, racing prominently until weakening late on.
That run should have blow away the cobwebs and put the son of Majestic Missile spot on for this, and with the yard remaining in good form and Luke Morris now taking over in the saddle everything looks in place for a big run.
There’s something about Mary…
In the 1m 1f handicap (15.50), Mary Le Bow is a fascinating contender now dropped back in trip and can go well at a big price.
The mare, who is trained by Victor Dartnall, was last successful at the track back in November over an extended 1m when coming from off the pace to score readily by 1 1/2 lengths off a mark of 59.
Mary Le Bow backed that up with a solid 1 3/4 length third in a class 5 contest over course and distance to the thriving Pactolus off a revised rating of 63, and was also far from disgraced when fourth here next time up off the same rating in another class 5 affair.
Although the five-year-old has not been at her best in her last two starts at Lingfield and this venue, both those runs have been over 1m 4f.
Mary Le Bow was also poorly placed in the latter, and the drop back down in trip looks a major plus.
The handicapper has also dropped Mary Le Bow another 1lb to 61, and that makes the daughter of Sir Percy nicely treated on the pick of her form in this class 6 contest.
Selections
14.10: Goldmadchen
14.45: Teide Peak
15.15: Fun For All
15.50: Mary Le Bow (NB)
16.20: Royal Birth
16.55: Pirate’s Treasure
17.25: Sonnet
17.55: For Shia And Lula (NAP)
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