Lingfield AW & Winter Derby 2016...

Lingfield All Weather Racing & The Coral Winter Derby, 27th February 2016...
It's not all about Cheltenham and the Jumps!

This is quite the week, 4 days to be precise, starting tomorrow, for the 'Lovely' Lingfield Racetrack.  Set in the heart of the beautiful Surrey countryside, the All Weather racing continues through until winding down the season with the Group 3 Feature race, the 2016 Coral Winter Derby on Saturday...

Firstly, a few facts to know;

• The field is open to horses aged 4 yrs + on the polytrack, run at over 1 Mile 2 Furlongs with a maximum field of 14 runners...
• The £100,000 contest is a Fast Track Quaifier for the £200,000 Coral Easter Classic over the same course & distance on AW Championship Finals Day, March 25th, Good Friday...
• The leading jockeys with 2 winners each are Richard Hughes and Frankie Dettori and Clive Britton the leading trainer, also with 2 previous wins.  
• The AW surface has undergone a number of changes over the past 20 yrs,being re-laid in 2001 with a polytrack surface and again in 2012 with the very latest polytrack composition. For more information on the Lingfield track visit: Lingfield Guide

To book in advance for this week visit: Lingfield Advanced Booking

Polytrack at Lingfield Park Racecourse cc sportinglife

So who will win this years race you ask?

With the current going Standard, there is a quality field of 14 horses for this competitive, race lined up... Race starts, 3:20pm, 27/02/2016...

Among them is the highly touted, Andrew Balding trained 8 yr old, a Group 2 winner on turf, Tullius, AND, with fingers crossed, Jimmy Fortune in the saddle... a perfect match if you ask me and great to see him back riding if all goes to plan...

Andrew Balding's 'Tullius'

This race won't be straight forward however with strong opposition from Champion Flat trainer, John Gosden, who with his 3 runners is hoping for a first time victory; Godolphin runners: Maverick Wave, Tepus Temporis and the 5 yr old South American star, Furia Cruzada, a three time Group 1 winner in South America but yet to start here in Britain..

Newmarket trainer, Jane Chapple-Hyam has a runner in the 8 yr old Brazilian bred, Energia Davos who has proven himself around the Lingfield track before... ran second to Battalion this time last year...

Jane Chapple Hyam's grey, Energia Davos

Marco Botti's Grendisar is one to watch, also hoping to provide Botti with his first Winter Derby victory, the fact that regular jockey Adam Kirby is in the saddle can only reinforce their chances. Also recently beating opposition Festive Fare, Complicit & Watersmeet last time out.  The Newmarket based trainer commented: "It is all systems go for Grendisar'', clearly in it to win it...

Marco Bottis' impressive, Grendisar winning at Lingfield Park..

William Haggas is doubly represented by his 2 stunners in the interesting form of Battalion, a dual listed scorer & Our Channel...

Battalion

Middleham based trainer, Mark Johnston also has 2, 5 yr old runners with Fire Fighting, who had a recent win at Kempton - & is a listed winner on the polytrack surface & the 'character' that is Watersmeet, the grey gelding, with regular jockey Joe Fanning down to ride...

Watersmeet at home, cc M. Johnston /alamystock

Other runners included are;

• Calling Out, 5 yr old bay gelding for David Simcock, who had a recent win under Jim Crowley at Lingfield in December 2015..
• Complicit the 5 yr old & one of the leading AW performers for 2014/15 runs for Paul Cole..

Complicit at Paul Coles yard cc Paul Cole

• Battle of Marathon, 4 yr old bay gelding for John Ryan.. last win came in 2014
• And completing the current field is Godolphin owned, Charlie Appleby's 4 yr old, (unbeaten on 4 AW outings) Festive Fare... recently had a winner at Wolvs last December but beaten by Grendisar at Lingfield this year...

Festive Fare cc Godolphin

Now, i'm not really one for making my final pick before i've seen the horses in the parade ring, but as i've just become a shareholder with Andrew Balding, i'm a little biased with my thoughts, so at the moment of writing this blog, i'm going to give Tullius my seal of approval for the Coral Winter Derby!  Keeping my eye on Grendisar though :) I feel a dual forecast bet in the air...

For my up to date tips on the day, keep checking my twitter feed: @MissEWray

William Hill prices as of 23/02/2016, subject to change... williamhill.co.uk

Festive Fare - 10/3           Grendisar - 4/1
Battalion - 9/1                  Furia Cruzada - 9/1
Tullius - 9/1                     Fire Fighting - 10/1
Energia Davos - 14/1       Maverick Wave - 14/1
Our Channel - 14/1          Calling Out - 20/1
Complicit - 20/1              Tempus Temporis - 20/1
Watersmeet - 20/1           Battle of Marathon - 33/1

Who will you be backing?

If all else fails, there is always the local country pub, The Star, Church Road to retreat too for celebratory or commiserative drinks... http://thestarlingfield.co.uk/

See you trackside...

Evie xxx