Matt Brocklebank has a couple of tips for Saturday's televised action on the all-weather at Lingfield including a runner from the Gary Moore stable.
Racing betting tips: Saturday February 13
1pt win Apex King in 2.35 Lingfield at 11/2
1pt win Avorisk Et Perils in 3.10 Lingfield at 9/1
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
A rare winter foray into the all-weather scene with Newbury having to reschedule for next Sunday, and a relatively low-key Lingfield card, which does also have to beat a precautionary inspection due to the prospect of more snow and ice.
Providing we’re in the clear, ITV4’s action kicks off with a four-runner sprint which, despite featuring the classiest animals on the card, isn’t much of a betting race and the following Bombardier British-Hopped Amber Beer Handicap is more appealing.
That’s primarily due to the fact we have a short-priced favourite in the shape of lightly-raced five-year-old Crackling. Plenty of Martyn Meade’s are over-bet anyway for some reason but there's the added layer of Ryan Moore in the saddle so it looks almost guaranteed here.
Crackling was only narrowly denied in a head-bobber at Southwell last month in fairness, and the winner has held his form reasonably well in slightly better company since, but he's obviously not miles ahead of his mark and getting back on the Polytrack may not be ideal for what is presumably a fragile sort. On top of that, there are some hardy types in against him.
Accomplice is arguably better than ever on recent evidence and the worldly-wise mare has only gone up another 3lb for her latest course and distance success. She does tend to find life hard in Class 4 company now, though, while Noble Peace scraped home over 10 furlongs here recently and looks to need all of that trip these days (he was tried over hurdles in December).
Which leads to APEX KING being the standout horse in the market and he’s looked in fairly good nick since returning to former handler David Loughnane lately (click for trainer quotes), finishing a close fourth at Wolverhampton on his return from a layoff before not really getting the rub of the green here last time.
He was too keen and ended up too wide for Hollie Doyle on that occasion but was still beaten only a length and a half into fifth.
He’s won handicaps from marks of 77, 83 and 73 in the past, two of which came over this track and trip, so a perch of 75 around here is more than manageable and his jockey Luke Morris won’t want to mess about with not much pace signed up in general.
If he can track one and pounce on the turn then you suspect that will be the plan as a messy affair won’t suit this horse, but there are few better than Morris at making the best of a tactical conundrum around Lingfield. At 11/2 (BoyleSports) Apex King rates the bet of the afternoon.
The other one on the card is AVORISK ET PERILS (9/1 bet365) for Gary Moore in the Betway Casino Handicap.
There’s potentially more chance of a good gallop in store here courtesy of Convertible and Capla Crusader, who both led last time out, and Kieran Shoemark might be able to mow them all down late on the selection.
The horse did just that over the same course last June, ultimately scoring with something up his sleeve, and he has slipped back to an identical mark having not been placed in four subsequent starts.
Last month’s fifth, when beaten less than two lengths having been a bit short of room late, was just his second run since a breathing operation and represented a clear step back in the right direction. The winner of that race, Party Island, along with the third, El Conquistador, and aforementioned Capla Crusader, have all boosted the level of form with subsequent victories, and it’s hoped Avorisk Et Perils may yet have a touch more to offer following the wind surgery.
Before the ITV4 cameras even get rolling, look out for an interesting little battle in the opening Betway Apprentice Handicap at 11.45.
The market says it’s between just the two and it’s quite hard to argue otherwise, Moohareeba representing John Gosden and Galahad Threepwood Mick Channon.
The former’s jockey Benoit De La Sayette is making great waves in this sphere and his mount is likely to be all the rage up just 4lb for her Kempton success last month, but it’s worth pointing out Sayette has yet to ride a Lingfield winner and his two efforts at the venue to date have been pretty miserable experiences.
He’s really shone at Kempton in particular (5-10) where the sweeping bend and long straight seems to suit his classy style, but perhaps George Bass – whose Lingfield AW record is a respectable 4-30 – will have the edge in terms of experience on this occasion.
Galahad Threepwood looked to have really turned a corner when winning cosily over this course and distance and, with that coming after a 68-day break, the son of Nathaniel looks a late-maturing type who could have plenty more to give.
Published at 1500 GMT on 12/02/21
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