With Exeter off and Towcester just
about raceable, it may pay to concentrate on the polytrack action today. The 5f
handicap at Lingfield (15:00) sees course regular Chjimes bid to win his fourteenth race from 54 starts at the Surrey
venue. There’s no doubting the quality of his back catalogue, and while he’s
not quite the force of old, he’s always at his best in the winter months, and
shaped much better than the bare result in a C&D apprentice contest last
time. After travelling comfortably, he was caught wide at the apex of the bend
and lost vital ground and momentum before running on strongly in the last
hundred yards to be beaten 1¾ lengths. He’s strictly held by Imaginary Diva on
that effort, and George Margarson’s mare is respected again, but a kinder draw and change of jockey for Chjimes can see him step up on that
effort. He’s the only C&D winner in the field, and that proven ability to
get his head in front here will count for plenty. Molly Jones is the other to
consider, with a last-time-out second to Pharaoh Jake reading well in the
context of this race, but a lifetime record of 1-18 is slightly off-putting.
The last race (15:30) at Lingfield is
set to be a tactical affair, with many of the contenders tending to be held up
in their races. The obvious exception is proven stayer Tartan Jura, who may
attempt to draw the sting out of his rivals now dropping back from 2m. He’s the
likeliest leader, but the feeling is that he lacks the basic speed to be
effective at today’s trip, and he’s likely to set things up for something to
pounce. The pair who make most appeal in that scenario are Noble Silk and
Standpoint. The latter tends to finish strongly when granted a strongly-run
race, and would be interesting if Tartan Jura were to blast off, but a more
nuanced pace is more likely to suit the lightly-raced Noble Silk. He didn’t have much to beat when winning a turf maiden
here in September, but improved again when a good second on his handicap bow
over C&D last time. On that occasion he travelled well in midfield on the
inner before moving through to lead inside the final furlong. Headed close home
by Focal Maith on that occasion, he kept on well enough to comfortably hold
third-placed Standpoint, with another couple of these further back in what
proved a messy race. Several of the vanquished can be excused the run, with
Standpoint and Beat Route meeting
trouble (the latter markedly so), and Nave shaping as if the run was needed
after a break. That shouldn’t detract from the performance of Noble Silk, though, and the way he
rallied when collared by the winner showed that he, too, had something left. With
so few miles on the clock, he almost certain to do better again, and is taken
to go one better.
Recommended
Bets:
Back Chjimes in the 15:00 Lingfield
@ [5.0] (NAP)
Back Noble Silk in the 15:30 Lingfield
@ [3.7] (NB)
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