Lingfield and Chelmsford previews: Art the ace in the pack
Published:
David Metcalf | February 25, 2016
Quality Art handicapped to strike at Lingfield
Quality Art looks decent value to take advantage of a drop in the weights and get back to winning ways in the 5f handicap at Lingfield today (16.55).
The Simon Hodgson trained gelding was in tremendous form last year when winning five of his eight starts, with the last of those successes coming at Wolverhampton off a mark of 68.
Quality Art got put up to 74 for that victory, and failed to cut any ice in his next three starts.
However, the assessor has been quick to cut the eight-year-old plenty of slack and the son of Elusive Quality is now back down to 68.
It gives Quality Art major claims from a handicapping perspective, and he comes into the contest having returned to form last time out when third at Wolverhampton.
After being held-up and racing keen in the early stages, Quality Art kept on nicely without being unduly knocked about to be beaten 2 3/4 lengths by Rich Again.
The winner has since come out and run a blinder to finish runner-up at Kempton to give the form a solid look in the context of this contest, and it was an effort which suggested Quality Art was coming to the boil.
It was also Quality Art’s third run back after a 267 day break, and the veteran should now be spot on to do himself justice.
Dilgura ready to cut a dash
In the 6f handicap (16.20), Dilgura looks to have plenty going for her. The Stuart Kittow trained mare is very lightly raced for a six-year-old, and has won two of her eight starts.
In the last of those successes at Wolverhampton back in October 2013, Dilgura ran on strongly to beat the thriving Burren View Lady by a neck off a mark of 73.
The daughter of Ishiguru has since endured two lengthy spells on the sidelines and run just four times, but showed that she retained plenty of ability when a fine 1/2 length third to Luis Vaz De Torres in a class 4 contest over course and distance two starts back off a rating of 74.
Dilgura is now able to race in this lower grade class 5 affair off 72, 1lb lower than when last successful, and that gives her major claims at the weights in a grade in which she has a 50% strike rate.
Selections:
14.00: Gunner Moyne
14.35: Esteemable
15.10: Magic Garden
15.45: Franco’s Secret
16.20: Dilgura (NB)
16.55: Quality Art (NAP)
Ennaadd looks a cut above at Chelmsford
Ennaadd created a huge impression when scoring last time out and can take advantage of what looks a lenient mark to follow-up in the 1m handicap on this evening’s card at Chelmsford (19.10).
The Roger Varian trained colt shaped with plenty of promise on his first two starts before running out an impressive wide margin winner at Lingfield back in December.
Ennaadd travelled well throughout at the head of affairs and only had to be pushed clear inside the last to win going away by six lengths.
It was a most taking performance which suggested the three-year-old needed keeping firmly onside, and the form of the race has worked out well.
The third home Hombre Rojo, who was beaten 6 3/4 lengths, has since gone on to land a hat-trick and finish third in a Group 3 contest in Meydan to be officially rated 93.
That makes Ennaadd look potentially thrown-in at the weights off an opening handicap mark of just 91, and the son of King’s Best can take this with the minimum of fuss en route to much better things.
Barsanti can secure double for Varian
Barsanti makes his debut for Varian in the 1m 2f handicap (204.40) and looks to hold outstanding claims of giving the Newmarket handler a double on the card.
The gelding shaped with plenty of promise in four tuns last season when trained by Luca Cumani, most notably when third to the now 107-rated Decorated Knight at Haydock and a one length runner-up to Oakley Girl at Lingfield who is now rated 93.
Those runs represent strong form in the context of this weak looking class 5 contest, and the assessor appears to have a taken a real chance in allotting Barsanti an opening handicap mark of just 75.
The son of Champs Elysees is certainly bred to be much better than it, and on the pick of his runs last season Barsanti looks to have tons in hand on his exposed rivals.
Selections:
17.40: Celtic Artisan
18.10: Eleuthera
18.40: Grand Meister
19.10: Ennaadd (NAP)
19.40: Bocking End
20.10: Hold Firm
20.40: Barsanti (NB)
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