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The AW Champion Jockey thinks he has a good chance with one at Lingfield

| 03.02.2017
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

Luke Morris previews his Saturday rides and has his say on the recent Goodwood Cup news…

There are still a good couple of months left of the all-weather season, but my mind couldn’t help but wander to the summer when the news came of about the changes that are being made to the staying programme on the Flat.

It’s about time something was done because people have been changing their attitudes at the sales and in racing towards speed, so hopefully enhancing the staying division with new races and upgrades will encourage people to breed and race stayers more.

Upgrading the Goodwood Cup to a Group 1 is a great move, I think. Stayers were just lacking that mid-season Group 1 and the Goodwood Cup looked the ideal race to boost from a Group 2. It’s at a big summer festival and hopefully it encourages people to take a chance with horses.

We’ve got St Michel to target at some of the big staying prizes this year and hopefully he can get to Goodwood in top shape at the end of July.

That’s a little while off yet though and I’ll be focusing on trying to ride as many winners as I can on a good card at Lingfield on Saturday.

12.50 Lingfield – Ubla

He’s just been struggling of late so the cheek pieces have gone on. He worked well in the week so if the headgear can just bring him back to his best then he could step up on what he’s been doing recently.

1.25 Lingfield – Miss Tiger Lily

Lingfield seems to suit her best as it’s a slightly quicker track then Kempton. What you see is what you get with her as she’s tough and honest, but she has no secrets from the handicapper. She’ll try and she’ll run her race, but if there’s something that’s better in at the weights then it will probably beat her. But she’s a solid each-way chance and I’m sure she’ll be involved.

2.00 Lingfield – Pretend

All_Weather_Sprint

Morris isn’t riding in the 2.00 at Lingfield, but thinks Pretend is the one they all have to beat.

I’m not riding in this race, but I thought Pretend was mightily impressive at Kempton last time, and he would be the one I would want to ride. Stall one’s not ideal but he’s the best sprinter on the all-weather and realistically he should take all the beating.

2.30 Lingfield – Secret Asset

I won on him at Sandown in the summer and he’s a good old boy. The 5f track at Lingfield is probably sharp enough for him these days and it’s his first run back off a break, so I expect he’ll need it.

3.05 Lingfield – Arab Spring

This is a really strong race for the grade, it’s a Group race in all bar name really. I thought Arab Spring was mightily impressive in the September Stakes and, while he has a penalty to carry for that win, if he’s tuned up enough then he’s the one to beat.

3.40 Lingfield – Dreams Of Glory

He won nicely last time. He’s drawn in stall ten for this race which isn’t ideal as he likes to go forward and I think he’s better over 5f too. From a wide stall over 6f he’s going to need a bit of luck.

Related

Check out Luke’s other blogs in his archive.

 

 

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Author

Luke Morris

Luke is a talented and well-known flat jockey who studied at the British Riding School and rode his first winner in November 2005. The nephew of former rider Jason Tate has built up a broad client base which has seen him branded Britain's busiest jockey. He retained his All-Weather Champion Jockey title at Finals Day and will continue to guide you through the fixtures each week for the rest of the season.