Lingfield and Nottingham preview: Freewheel hot stuff for on-fire Moss

David Metcalf | 17.05.2016

David Metcalf | May 17, 2016

Freewheel can follow-up at Lingfield

Trainer Garry Moss has his team in red-hot form, and Freewheel can make light of a rise in the weights to provide him with another winner in the 1m handicap on today’s card at Lingfield (16:30).

The Durham-based handler has saddle five winners from his last six runners, and in Freewheel has a gelding who overcoming trouble in-running to score at Pontefract last month.

After being held-up in mid-division, the six-year-old was denied a clear run when making a move a furlong from home and had to be switched before running on strongly to get up on the line and beat Newmarket Warrior by a short-head off a mark of 74.

Freewheel_alt

Freewheel has been hit with a 4lb rise for that narrow success but, given how the race panned out, that could well be on the lenient side.

Indeed, the son of Galileo has been rated as high as 91 in the past and been runner-up off 80 so remains well-treated on the pick of his form off a revised rating of 78.

Freewheel’s win at Pontefract also came on just his second start for Moss, and he could well have even more to offer for his new handler.

Mithqaal value to open account

Mithqaal shaped well when runner-up last time out and looks decent value to go one better in the 7f handicap (15:25).

The colt hinted at ability in three maiden runs last year for Barry Hills, but put in a much improved showing on his handicap debut for new handler Owen Burrows when chasing home North Creek over course and distance in March.

Craven 1

After losing vital ground at the start when being slowly away, Mithqaal stealthy late headway approaching the final furlong and stayed on well to be nearest at the finish and beaten 3 1/2 lengths.

The winner looks a useful sort who has since come out and run well to be second, and the third, fourth and sixth home have all gone on to taste success.

That gives the form a solid look and suggests that Mithqaal should be up to winning races off a mark of 66.

The son of Speightstown also looks the type that will go on improving, and Mithqaal can exploit a good draw in stall five and make the most of the weight he receives from the favourite Cryptic to open his account.

Lingfield selections

13.50: Poet’s Society
14.20: Raven’s Corner
14.55: Senses Of Dubai
15.25: Mithqaal (NB)
16.00: Gypsy Major
16.30: Freewheel (NAP)
17.00: Girl With A Pearl
17.35: Henry Smith

Balmusette weighted to collect at Nottingham

Balmusette was a big eye-catcher last time out and can take advantage of what looks a very lenient mark to open her account on the level in the 2m handicap on today’s card at Nottingham (15:50).

The Keith Reveley trained mare is a useful bumper/hurdle winner at up to 3m and has been rated as high as 133 over the obstacles.

BALMUSETTE at Haydock 20-12-14.

Balmusette has had just five runs on the flat, and the first four of them came over inadequate trips of between 1m and 1m 4f.

This seven-year-old did manage to finish runner-up on one of those, but was always going to be the type that came into her own when stamina was brought into play.

That view was confirmed when Balmusette was stepped up to 2m and ran far better than the bare result suggest at Catterick two weeks ago when fifth of 13 to Summerlea.

The daughter of Halling was held-up off the pace and given far too much to do and, after making a move out wide rounding the home turn, kept on under tender handling to be nearest at the finish an beaten 8 1/2 lengths.

It was an effort which suggested Balmusette would have little difficulty winning races off her basement mark off 55 so, judged on her hurdles ability, she is potentially thrown-in at the weights.

Whipphound can bag overdue success

Horse Racing - Nottingham Racecourse

In the 5f handicap that closes proceedings (17:55), Whipphound looks to hold major claims of securing an overdue success for in-form trainer Ruth Carr.

The gelding is on a long losing run, having not scored since landing a 5f contest at Bath in April 2014 off a mark off 61.

However, that has resulted in a drop in the weights and Whiphhound is now able to race in this off just 57 having shaped really well on his first start for Carr when runner-up to Perfect Words in a field of 16 at Thirsk.

The eight-year-old showed plenty of zest to track the leaders, and after being driven to challenge a furlong from home stuck to the task well to go down by just a length.

It was an effort which suggested Whipphound retained enough ability to win a race of this nature and, if building on it, he looks weighted to take all the beating for a yard that has a healthy strike rate of 22 per cent at the track in the past 12 months.