Lingfield preview: Fourovakind looks the real deal
Published:
David Metcalf | November 24, 2015
Trainer Harry Whittington is in red-hot form, and Fourovakind looks to hold leading claims of providing him with another winner in the 2m 7f handicap chase on today’s card at Lingfield (15.00).
The gelding was a useful hurdler who opened his account over the larger obstacles with a runaway success in the mud at Chepstow back in January.
Fourovakind jumped well throughout and came clear from the third last to win easing down by 23 lengths off a mark of 118.
The 10-year-old backed that up with a cracking third of 12 to Soll in a competitive class 2 contest at Newbury off a revised mark of 127, before rounding off the campaign with a solid third of 13 at Haydock.
Those runs read well in the context of this class 3 contest, and suggest that Fouroevakind should be more than capable of winning races of his current rating of 127.
The son of Sir Harry Lewis also has a good record fresh so fitness is unlikly to be an issue with the stable going so well, and with underfoot conditions ideal Fourovakind looks to have plenty in his favour to make a winning return to action.
Minstrels from Gallery to winners enclosure
In the 2m 3f handicap hurdle (14.30), Mistrels Gallery is nicely treated on the pick of his form and looks decent value to land the spoils.
The Lucy Wadham trained gelding made a winning handicap debut at Fakenham on New Year’s Day when scoring by 14 lengths off an opening mark of 117, and went on to finish an excellent 2 3/4 length third to Lightentertainment in a class 2 contest at Cheltenham off a revised rating of 128.
The six-year-old also posted a solid effort when third to Unique De Cotte in a similar grade affair at Ascot off the same rating, and is now able to race in this lower grade class 3 contest of 125.
That gives Minstrels Gallery every chance at the weights, and although he could finish only fifth to Rock Of Leon on reappearance over course and distance earlier in the month the son of Refuse To Bend shaped as if badly needing the run.
Minstrels Gallery now meets the winner, who went into the race with a run under his belt, on 8lb better terms and that may well be enough to see him reverse the placings, as he looks sure to strip much fitter for the outing.
Selections
13.00: Midnight Silver
13.30: Halo Moon
14.00: Wabanaki
14.30: Minstrels Gallery (NB)
15.00: Fourovakind (NAP)
15.30: The Poodle Faker
