Lingfield and Nottingham previews: Doctor to dazzle under Cosgrave

David Metcalf | 09.08.2016

David Metcalf | August 9, 2016

Doctor Parkes weighted to strike at Lingfield

Doctor Parkes can capitalise on a drop in the weights to land the 6f handicap on this evening’s card at Lingfield (18.15) now partnered by Pat Cosgrave.

The Stuart Williams trained 10-year-old was in good form earlier in the year, winning a class 4 at Kempton off a mark of 77 before going on to land a claimer at Lingfield off an official rating of 79.

Doctor Parkes also ran a blinder seven starts back when a 2 3/4 length sixth of 21 in a competitive class 4 affair at Ascot off 78 and is now able to race in this lower grade class 5 affair off 70.

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It gives the veteran major claims at the weights and he comes into the race on the back of a solid fourth over course and distance three days ago when partnered by 3lb claimer Aaron Jones.

It was an effort which suggested Doctor Parkes’ time was near and the booking of Cosgrave to do the steering is an eye-catching one.

He has a strike rate of just over 28.5 per cent when teaming up with the yard in the past 12 months and that suggests that connections mean business.

Spin has a Top chance

In the 5f nursery that gets proceedings underway (17.10), Spin Top looks the answer now dropped back in trip and eased in grade.

The Joseph Tuite trained gelding is yet to trouble the judge in five starts, but has looked a work in progress and shaped better than the bare result suggests last time out on handicap debut at Newbury, when sixth of nine to Rajar in a class 5 contest over 6f.

Spin Top showed plenty of pace to track the leaders in third place until weakening inside the final furlong to be beaten 4 1/2 lengths.

That looked quite a warm contest for the grade and the drop back to the minimum trip looks sure to suit.

The handicapper has also been quick to drop Spin Top 3lb to a mark of 63 and looks exploitable in this lower grade class 6 contest.

Lingfield selections:

17.10: Spin Top (NB)
17.45: Zipedee
18.15: Doctor Parkes (NAP)
18.45: Thundering Blue
19.15: Awesome Rock
19.45: Ayr Of Elegance
20.15: Cartwright

Strath Burn hot stuff at Nottingham

Strath Burn has some top class form to his name and looks to hold outstanding claims of getting back on the scoresheet in the 5f conditions contest on this evening’s card at Nottingham (19.30).

The colt was a dual scorer last year when trained by Charlie Hills, with the last of those successes coming in a Group 3 at Newbury.

Strath Burn also ran a blinder when second of 15 to Twilight Son in the Group 1 Sprint Cup at Haydock, coming with a storming run form off the pace to go down by a short-head.

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That form is extremely strong in relation to this lower grade class 3 affair and Strath Burn comes into it on the back of three solid efforts this season.

In the last of those the four-year-old was beaten just 1 3/4 length into third behind Naadirr at Doncaster on his first start for trainer Robert Cowell.

Cowell has a superb record at improving sprinters that come into his care and Strath Burn can take this en route to better things.

Pursuit poised to follow-up

Classic Pursuit showed a tremendous attitude when scoring last time out and can defy a penalty to follow-up in the 5f handicap (20.00).

After being steadied at the start and held-up off the pace the Ivan Furtado trained gelding came with a strong run to take up the running inside the final furlong, and found extra when challenged to beat Salvatore Fury by a neck at Haydock.

Although Classic Pursuit has to shoulder a 6lb penalty for that success a mark of 72 still looks very exploitable given that he was placed off 75 last season.

This also looks a far weaker contest lacking any real strength in depth and with the trail blazing Royal Bajan in the line-up Classic Pursuit is likely to get the strong pace that he needs to be seen to best effect.