Today's Horse Racing Tips: Five on Finals day
It is All-Weather Championships finals day, and I have picked out five bets at Lingfield (total stake 4.5 points).
Lingfield Tips
14:00 – 2m Betway All-Weather Marathon Championships Conditions Stakes (Class 2)
All eyes will be on the favourite Rainbow Dreamer, who has won six of his ten All-Weather starts. However, preference is for the in-form RANCH HAND (1 point win bet at 10/3). Andrew Balding’s classy five-year-old was a Listed winner on turf last summer and is now unbeaten in his three starts on the All-Weather following his victory at Chelmsford last month. He remains open to plenty more improvement in this sphere, and the booking of James Doyle catches the eye. Amtiyaz, the mount of Hollie Doyle, is next best.
15:10 – 6f Betway All-Weather Sprint Championships Conditions Stakes (Class 2)
From stall 2, HIGHLAND DRESS (NAP – 1 point win bet at 8/1) is likely to be either in the lead or very close to it at the first bend, and that will give jockey Kieran Shoemark every chance of being able to dictate matters down the side of the track and into the home straight.
Archie Watson’s five-year-old is a dual winner at Lingfield, beating the Group 2 winner Shine So Bright and the 109-rated Documenting off level weights before readily accounting for seven rivals here in January. He has since been placed twice at Chelmsford and Wolverhampton respectively, including at Listed level last time out (sent off as favourite to beat Mums Tipple).
This race represents a drop back to six furlongs, but that isn’t a concern given his prominent racing style and smart turn of foot. He has a good chance at the weights with only Summerghand having a higher official rating, and I am really looking forward to seeing him take his chance in this race.
15:45 – 6f Ladbrokes 3 Year Old All-Weather Championships Conditions Stakes (Class 2)
APOLLO ONE (1 point win bet at 4/1) has an overall career record of 3-5 and arrives here in fine form having won his last two starts. His latest victory came in a Listed race over seven furlongs here at Lingfield and marked his first try on the All-Weather. He beat Megallan (odds on favourite for today’s feature race at Newcastle) by a short head that day but only just appeared to get home over the seven furlongs. As a horse with plenty of pace, he should relish this drop back to six furlongs and looks the one to beat.
At a much bigger price, I am also taking a chance on the Mark Johnston-trained BRAVADO (0.5 point win bet at 25/1). He won his first three starts and has not been beaten by far in his last two races. He now returns to the scene of his course and distance win in January and can outrun his odds.
16:45 – 1m Bombardier All-Weather Mile Championships Conditions Stakes (Class 2)
With three wins and four seconds from his seven All-Weather starts, Khuzaam looks a worthy favourite and should go well. However, at the prices I’m siding with FOX DUTY FREE (1 point win bet at 10/1), who has won all three starts since joining trainer Ralph Beckett. He’d been difficult at the start in his last few races for Andrew Balding, but the change of stable seems to have revitalised him. All three wins in November/December came at this course, including a comfortable success when stepped up to the one-mile trip when last seen. This strong travelling type has been freshened up for this race and looks to have a solid chance of upsetting the favourite.