Lingfield preview: The Steward holds solid claims
Published:
David Metcalf | January 8, 2016
The Steward looks decent value to land the 1m 4f Coral Handicap at Lingfield today (14.45) now refitted with the cheekpieces.
Sir Mark Prescott’s gelding has a progressive profile and has won two of his nine starts and been placed on four other occasions.
In the last of those successes at Kempton, The Steward only had to be ridden out with hands and heels to readily beat Revision by 1 1/2 lengths when fitted with the cheekpieces for the first time.
The four-year-old backed that up with a solid third at Wolverhampton, before shaping better than the final finishing position suggests last time out over course and distance when a five length fifth of nine to Barye when connections swapped the cheekpieces for the blinkers.
The Steward attempted to make all and only weakened late on after getting headed approaching the final furlong.
To me he got too lit up in the blinkers, and with the cheekpieces which clearly suit now back on, can take advantage of a 6lb pull in the weights to turn the tables with Barye.
Expect a flow of bets on Pyroclastic
In the 1m handicap (13.35), Pyroclastic looks the one to beat after returning to form with a fine third last time out.
The Jim Boyle trained gelding has just one win ton his name, with that success coming in classified contest at Wolverhampton last April off an official rating of 65.
Pyroclastic went on to finish third in a handicap at Nottingham off 66, and is now able to race off a career-low rating of just 60.
That gives the four-year-old major claims from a handicapping perspective, and Pyroclastic showed that he could be ready to take advantage when a head third of 11 to Pacolita over 7f at this venue 11 days ago.
If building on that, the son of Tagula looks weighted to get back to winning ways in the hands of jockey Pat Cosgrave.
Selection
13.05: Epsom Day
13.35: Pyroclastic (NB)
14.10: Boxing Shadows
14.45: The Steward (NAP)
15.15: Wahaab
15.50: Classic Mission
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