Lingfield preview: Acquittal gets the verdict on handicap debut

Trainer James Fanshawe has a good record with his runners at Lingfield, and Acquittal can provide him with another success in the 7f handicap there today (16.40).

The Newmarket handler has a strike just under 21 per cent with his horses at the Surrey venue in the past 12 months (six winners and 11 placed from 28 runners), and in Acquittal has an unexposed filly who has shaped with plenty of promise in three starts and could well have got in lightly on her handicap debut.

Acquittal particularly caught the eye last time out on her seasonal reappearance when a not knocked about fifth of 10 to Little Prairie in a 7f contest at this venue on the all-weather surface.

After racing close up with the pace, the daughter of Lawman was ridden to chase the winner a furlong from home before weakening and losing three places close home to be beaten 4 1/2 lengths.

The winner is a well-regarded sort now rated 81, and the second, third and fourth have all come out since and run solid races to finish in the frame.

That gives the form looks strong in the context of this class 5 contest, and makes Acquittal’s opening handicap mark of 71 look exploitable.

Acquittal is also is also sure to strip much fitter for the run, her first run in 221 days and, with Hayley Turner in the saddle, looks weighted to take all the beating.

In the 1m 1f handicap (15.40), Goodwood Moonlight can bounce back from a disappointing run last time out to land the spoils now returned to a left-handed track and eased in grade.

The William Knight trained gelding ran well on his final start of last season when fourth of 11 to Awesome Power at this venue on the all-weather surface, and caught the eye on seasonal reappearance when keeping on under tender handling to finish seventh of 15 to Intilaaq in a decent 1m maiden at Newbury.

Goodwood Moonlight was allotted an opening handicap mark of 61 on the back of those efforts, but didn’t seem to handle the track when hanging right and weakening a furlong from home to finish a well-beaten seventh of nine in a class 5 contest over 1m 2f at Goodwood last month.

The return to a left handed track may well see the son of Azamour in a far better light, and the assessor has also been quick to drop Goodwood Moonlight 4lb to a mark of 57.

That looks potentially lenient judged on previous efforts, especially as Goodwood Monnlight now drops into class 6 company.

Selections:
13.40: Awesome Rock
14.10: Bethan
14.40: Mythical Moment
15.10: Artesana
15.40: Goodwood Moonlight (NB)
16.10: Aguerooo
16.40: Acquittal (NAP)
17.10: Mister Mayday