Free horse racing betting preview and tips from Simon Holt
Racing commentator Simon Holt previews Saturday's card at Lingfield where Royal Ascot second Headway rates a strong fancy.
Simon Holt's recommended bets
2pts win Headway in 3.30 Lingfield at best morning price
2pts win Encore D’Or in 2.55 Lingfield at best morning price
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Should Lingfield survive a morning inspection on Saturday, HEADWAY looks the one to beat in the Listed 32Red Spring Cup.
William Haggas’ colt will be making his all-weather debut, but could have a class edge judged on his efforts last season which included being beaten a head in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and, later, a third behind Sands Of Mali in the Gimcrack Stakes at York.
Probably at his best on good or faster ground on turf (his only disappointing run came on soft going at Goodwood), Headway shapes as though this first try at seven furlongs will suit him well and he has a few pounds in hand on official ratings.
The likely danger is Lansky, who now wears a tongue-tie along with the blinkers he wore to victory when odds-on at Kempton in October.
That was a race he had to win and there is more substance to earlier efforts when third to Wells Farhh Go in the Acomb Stakes at York (7f good to soft) and fourth to James Garfield in the Mill Reef at Newbury though on neither occasion could he get seriously competitive.
Six furlongs at Newbury looked on the sharp side for Ryan Moore’s mount but it remains to be seen if he has quite enough pace to beat Headway even over this longer trip.
Earlier, Moore should deliver the goods aboard ENCORE D’OR, who bids to repeat last year’s victory in the Betway Handicap.
Now up 5lb in the weights, the six-year-old went on to finish third behind Kimberella on All-Weather Finals Day, has a good record at Lingfield and, like Headway, may just have too much class for his rivals having won a Listed race at Doncaster last September and chased home Gracious John at the same level a week ago.
Atletico, second in his last three starts, looks Encore D’Or’s main rival, though could find five furlongs on this course sharp enough after narrowly failing to peg back Reflektor over six furlongs at Wolverhampton on Monday.
George Dryden, successful over the course and distance in a Class 4 contest last month (this is Class 2), seems to have been revitalised by new trainer Charlie Wallis and, despite going up 5lb for that win, is still well handicapped on past form.
Posted at 1500 GMT on 02/03/18.