Ryan Moore makes another appearance at Lingfield on Saturday after partnering two recent course winners, and looks sure to take plenty of beating in front of the ITV4 cameras aboard CRACKLING in the Bombardier British-Hopped Amber Beer Handicap.
This lightly-raced five-year-old made a sparkling debut on this course over seven furlongs in December, 2018 when bolting up from Gin Palace, a useful handicapper subsequently.
A near-two-year absence followed and, after looking ring-rusty on his return at Kempton in November, Crackling showed much improved form at Southwell just over two weeks ago when going under in the last stride to the in-form Daafr with Thrave (the winner of two of his three previous starts on the course) back in third.
Back at Lingfield and having proved he retains much of his ability, the Martyn Meade-trained gelding will start a worthy favourite to account for narrow recent course winners Accomplice and Noble Peace.
Moore may also strike earlier on when MUMMY BEAR bids to go one better after a recent course and distance second in the Ladbrokes Watch Racing Online For Free Fillies' Novice Stakes.
Richard Hannon's three-year-old, who took a big step forward from her Chelmsford debut in November, may have been unlucky to come up against a smart newcomer when beaten by the attractive Breath Of Sun that day, but she stayed on well all the way to the line and had subsequent winner The Hulk behind her in third.
On form, Mummy Bear has the penalised Rita The Cheetah and six-race maiden Mahale (best so far at five furlongs) to beat both of whom step up in trip here, though there is also an unknown quantity in the Archie Watson-trained newcomer Rosie Powers, a daughter of the top French stallion Siyouni, who will need watching in the market.
In search of some value, TWILIGHT HEIR could cause an upset getting weight from his three rivals in the Get Your Ladbrokes Daily Odds Boost Handicap.
Michael Bell's charge, gelded since last season, put together some consistent efforts as a juvenile and is 8lb better off for the half length he was beaten by recent dual Southwell scorer Secret Handsheikh at Bath last July.
A winner next time at Catterick, Twilight Heir was then beaten into second when joint favourite at Ripon but, in retrospect, it was a fair effort trying to concede 11lb to the subsequently 86-rated Imperium Blue with Hey Mr (now 84) a half length away in third receiving 4lb.
On that form, a mark of 80 looks lenient and, while understandable that he is the outsider of four against horses who have seven recent successes between them on the all-weather (but have gone up plenty in the weights), Cieran Fallon's mount could be under-estimated in the betting.
Published at 1540 GMT on 12/02/21
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