Top commentator Simon Holt previews the pick of the Good Friday action at Lingfield and has two tips including Elbereth.
Recommended bets
1pt e.w. Elbereth in 4.40 Lingfield at best morning price
1pt e.w. Prince Of Arran in 2.10 Lingfield at best morning price
There are a number of strong-looking favourites on All-Weather Championship Finals Day at Lingfield with Natural Scenery, Ennaadd and Convey all boasting clear form chances.
It's possible that the aforementioned trio will all prove too good for their rivals on Good Friday, but your intrepid correspondent will spurn the obvious and suggest support for a couple of horses at bigger prices.
In the meeting's climax race, the Betway Easter Classic, Convey holds a narrow edge over Absolute Blast (winner since), Grendisar (last year's winner) and Battalion on his Winter Derby victory here at the end of February.
Now a gelding, Sir Michael Stoute's very useful five-year-old should come on for that first run for five months and, with Ryan Moore aboard, can confirm those placings.
However, for all his talent, Convey has not always look straightforward and, while the removal of his manhood since last year may have resulted in a more professional attitude, he has not always been a horse to place maximum faith in.
As an alternative, I like the profile of Andrew Balding's improving mare ELBERETH who stayed on strongly to win a fast-track qualifier at Dundalk three weeks ago after decent efforts in a Group Two and a Group One in Turkey and Italy respectively last September and October.
It's possible that, despite being a three-time winner at this trip (and second in the John Smith's Cup at York last summer), Elbereth might find this a sharp enough test, but she has an excellent attitude, a consistent record (placed 13 times from 18 starts) and warrants each-way interest.
In the Sunbets All-Weather Mile, Ennaadd is clearly the one to beat on his impressive defeat of You're Fired and the reopposing Sovereign Debt at Kempton in November and, on a line through the latter, should have the advantage of the decent French raider Qurbaan.
Trainer Roger Varian has a high opinion of this King's Best colt but he returns from a five-month lay-off and will probably start short enough.
Natural Scenery, likely favourite for the Betway All-Weather Marathon, was a taking winner stepped up to two miles at Newcastle in February going up 8lb as a result and could improve further.
However, she certainly had the run off a slow gallop that day and, on handicap ratings, this is an open contest.
An equally progressive horse is PRINCE OF ARRAN who was unbeaten in his first three starts on the polytrack at Kempton and, on his latest visit, stayed on well to take third under 9st10lb behind the well handicapped Big Country in the Rosebery Handicap.
That looks a very solid effort and the Charlie Fellowes-trained gelding should come on for the run which was his first for over four months.
This is a step up in trip for Prince Of Arran but the son of Shirocco shapes like a stayer and, providing he handles Lingfield as well as Kempton, he too could reward each-way players.
Posted at 1020 BST on 13/04/17.
