David Loughnane: Saturday runners at Lingfield and Wolverhampton

With all the jumps racing frozen off on Saturday the ITV cameras turn to the all-weather, so the chance is there for the spotlight to shine on some different personalities in the racing game.

Viewers will likely recognise Shropshire trainer David Loughnane following his emotional interview on ITV in the July of last year, after he had achieved the biggest win of his training career with Santosha, who had just landed the Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot.

Since then his yard has gone from strength to strength and he had a terrific time of things in December and January, winning 17 races on the all-weather at a strike-rate of 22%.

His horses continue to run well and he has several chances on Saturday, both at Lingfield in the afternoon and at Wolverhampton in the evening. Here he talks us through their assignments while nominating his best chance of a winner…

BEST CHANCE – LAMMAS 12.20 Lingfield

“I quite fancy LAMMAS in the novice race at Lingfield. He was second first time out at Kempton and I think he could be a nice horse going forward.

“A mile at Lingfield may well be a bit short for him, but I think he’ll put in a big performance.

“The horses have been flying. We had a great end to last year and a great start to this year so far. Long may it last!”

OTHER LINGFIELD RUNNERS

APEX KING – 2.35 Lingfield

“We trained Apex King a couple of years ago, he went to a couple of different yards and a new owner for us ended up buying him back.

“He had a good first run back, the race just wasn’t run to suit him last time out but he’s very effective over a mile around Lingfield, he’s off a very winnable mark and I just hope there’s some pace in the race.

“The better the race the better he runs. I’d have probably been more comfortable if it was a better class race on Saturday as you know they go that little bit quicker.”

INEVITABLE OUTCOME - 3.45 Lingfield

“She’s not done anything wrong for us, she’s obviously run over six previously and this trip around Lingfield is probably as short as she’d want to go.

“She’s in good order and I’d be very hopeful of a big run from her.”

WOLVERHAMPTON RUNNERS

Jockey Rossa Ryan has struck up a fantastic partnership with Loughnane at Wolverhampton in recent months, winning six times from 16 runners for the handler since September 21, a win strike-rate of 38% and a £1 level-stake profit of +£50.25.

Ryan rides three for Loughnane on Saturday night, including the former Dermot Weld-trained Dark Pine, and all are well-fancied…

CRITICAL THINKING – 5.45 Wolverhampton

“He’s as consistent as they come and his form speaks for itself. This is his time of year, through the winter on the all-weather, this is when he comes to the fore. It’s a step up again, he’s gone up to a mark of 70 now but he’s every right to be competitive in the race.

“He likes Wolverhampton and he’s very effective over seven furlongs. I have no doubt he’ll be seriously involved at the business end of things.”

DARK PINE – 7.45 Wolverhampton

“He won impressively on debut, he came off a strong pace and hit the line very strongly. We like him and hopefully he can work his way up the handicap mark from where he is.

“He’s up 6lb but that’s not too much of a worry, I think there’s plenty more to come and he should be just as effective over a mile and a half in time.

"We’re happy over a mile and a quarter for now, he just needs a strong pace to aim at which we should be getting with Arij, who he beat last time, in the field again.”

MONSARAZ – 8.15 Wolverhampton

“I don’t think stepping up in trip to a mile and a half will be a problem to him. It’s a stiff finish at Newcastle and it just didn’t play to his strengths last time, he’s more effective on a flatter galloping track.

“He obviously won for us first time out around Wolves and it wasn’t a bad run last time at Newcastle, but the tight turning track at Wolverhampton will suit him better, I’m sure.”

Loughnane has one more runner at Wolverhampton on Saturday evening, ridden by P J McDonald….

LOMU – 7.15 Wolverhampton

“He’s off a very workable mark and still holds the track record over five furlongs around Wolverhampton. He’s been running very consistently for us and just didn’t handle Southwell last time.

“The time before that he was in a conditions stakes, but he’s more effective in a handicap than he is off level weights.

“He’ll be a lot more comfortable on Saturday. The draw hasn’t been too kind to him, as it hasn’t been for most of our runners, but he’s got a nice lightweight on his back and we’d be hopeful he can hold his own.”