Lingfield and Kempton preview: Burbidge can Master rivals
Published:
David Metcalf | January 27, 2016
Master Burbidge ready to rule at Lingfield
Master Burbidge caught the eye last time out and can take advantage of what looks a handy mark to open his account in the 1m 7f handicap at Lingfield on the flat course today (15.45) now stepped up in trip.
The Neil Mulholland trained gelding has only had four starts on the level, and put in a much improved effort over 1m 4f Kempton three weeks ago when third of 14 to San Quentin.
Master Burbidge raced prominently early, but then got shuffled back into mid-division and found himself short of room three from home.
The five-year-old had to be switched to find daylight, and then stayed on strongly inside the last to be gaining at the finish and beaten 3 3/4 lengths.
It was an excellent effort given how the race panned out, and San Quentin has come out and won again since to give the form a solid look in the context of this contest.
Judged on the way Master Burbidge finished off the race, the step up in trip this afternoon will suit, and off an unchanged mark of 50 he looks weighted to take all the beating.
Aleator holds all the aces
Aleator put in a career-best performance when scoring last time out over course and distance and can make light of a rise in the weights to follow-up in the 1m 2f handicap (15.10).
The gelding is a typical improver from the Sir Mark Prescott yard who has won three of his 11 starts and also run well to be placed on three occasions in competitive contests.
The four-year-old is a tough sort who only does what is required to get the job done, and there was lots to like about the way he dug deep to beat Sheila’s Buddy by 1/2 a length at the track earlier in the month.
Aleator made virtually all in the hands of regular pilot Luke Morris, and when strongly pressed inside the final furlong responded well to his urgings to score with more in hand than the winning margin suggests.
A 2lb rise for that victory looks more than fair, and the son of Blame looks the type who could have even mote to offer.
Lingfield Selections
13.00: Alhella
13.30: Ten Rocks
14.00: Russian Radiance
14.35: He’s A Dreamer
15.10: Aleator (NB)
15.45: Master Burbidge (NAP)
16.15: Clement
Dream Mover looks heavenly at Kempton
Dream Mover can take advantage of what looks a lenient mark to make a winning return to action in the 6f handicap on today’s twilight card at Kempton (18.10).
The Marco Botti trained colt has only had three starts, and shaped with bags of promise on debut when a tenderly handled 3 3/4 length fourth to Melabi in a hot maiden at Doncaster.
The runner-up Ribechester is a really useful sort who went on to land a Group 2 and is now rated 113, and the third home Hope Cove has won twice since to be rated 83.
Agueroo, who came fifth, has also gone on to bag three wins and is now rated 86 on the turf and 88 on the all-weather.
That is strong form in the context of this class 4 contest and makes Dream Mover look potentially thrown-in off an opening handicap mark of 80.
Dream Mover duly built on that effort to open his account in good style at Nottingham, before shaping as if amiss when well beaten in a Group 3 at York when last seen in action.
This is much easier, and if ready to go after 161 days on the sidelines, Dream Mover is going to be tough to beat.
Crowning Star weighted to sparkle
In the 1m handicap (19.40), Crowning Star looks decent value to build on an eye-catching run last time out and bag an overdue success.
The Steve Woodman trained seven-year-old was last successful over course and distance in March 2015 when scoring by 3/4 of a length off a mark of 50.
Crowning Star backed that up with a solid third at Lingfield off 52, and is now able to race off just 46.
That is 4lb lower than when last victorious and gives Crowning Star, who was rated as high as 74 earlier in his career, a massive shout at the weights.
The gelding also comes into the contest having shaped as if his time was near when sixth of 13 to Fairy Mist over course and distance seven days ago.
After being slowly away, Crowning Star was denied a clear run when making a move a furlong from home before keeping on to be beaten just 2 1/2 lengths without being unduly knocked about.
If building on that, the son of Royal Applause is a big player in what is a weak class 6 contest.
Kempton Selections
16.40: Danzoe
17.10: Rivers Run
17.40: Fern Owl
18.10: Dream Mover (NAP)
18.40: Fenner Hill Neasa
19.10: Warden Bond
19.40: Crowning Star (NB)
20.10: Mrs Burbidge
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