Murphy Mare A Diamond

It seems prudent to give Fakenham's treacherous circuit a miss on Friday (the track must be barely raceable, and already gets the highest percentage of non-completions per runner of any course in the country), and easier pickings will be found at Lingfield, where the runners only have gale-force winds to contend with.

Best bet on the card is Pat Murphy's Catalinas Diamond who finds herself on a career-low mark in a race which will be run to suit, and with the services of the mercurial Jamie Spencer to boot. This contest has several free-going sorts in opposition, which may be a stumbling block to form horse Bertie Blu Boy, who could do without being pestered on the lead. He coped with One Last Dream when scoring last time, but the presence of Idle Curiosity in particular means that the pace will surely be contested, and that is likely to play into the hands of one of the hold-up runners.

Catalinas Diamond has run respectably over six furlongs on both starts, and the way she's kept on late suggests that she's ready for a return to this longer trip, particularly given a race which suits her style of running. Not only will she have that, but Jamie Spencer is much more capable of delivering a last-gasp challenge than Fergus Sweeney, who did the steering last time. It's almost a year since her last win, which came off an official BHA mark of 65, and she's generously handicapped off just 56 today.  

Another who looks fairly handicapped at the Surrey venue is Clive Drew's Maison Brillet in the thirteen furlong handicap at 16:15. Successful from the reliable El Libertador at the track a year ago, he's now slipped below that winning mark, and clearly needed the run on his reappearance. With that outing to help put an edge on him, he's more than capable of a bold show, and while Waving won't be an easy nut to crack, Maison Brillet makes plenty of each-way appeal at inflated morning odds. With 3 places available despite the small field, he's also an attractive place only option, and I will stick to that market for the bet.

Recommendations:

Both at Lingfield

Back Catalinas Diamond @ [7.8] in the 14:30 (NAP)

Back Maison Brillet @ [4.3] to place in the 16:15 (NB)