Racecards
13:30 Lingfield Park
Sleight Hill Challenge Nursery Handicap (Class 3)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 7f
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- £11,000 added
- Form 321
- Age 2
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer Ms J S Doyle
- Jockey James Doyle
held up in touch, headway 2f out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on well
- Form 566
- Age 2
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer Peter Grayson
- Jockey R Fitzpatrick
slowly away, always behind
- Form 342394
- Age 2
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer R Hannon
- Jockey Dane O'Neill
prominent, led over 2f out, headed 1f out, kept on well close home
- Form 537723
- Age 2
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 71
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge over 1f out, stayed on same pace
- Form 136403
- Age 2
- Weight 7-12
- Official Rating 62
soon led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Verdict
Cesc can give Eddie Ahern another winner, with Stoneacre Gareth, Baylini, Miss Saafend Plaza and Tee Off all making for a close-knit nursery. The topweight Cesc won a class 4 contest at Newbury in August, and since being switched to the all-weather, endured a couple of unlucky runs, including here the time before last when badly hampered on the bend just before home. Peter Makin's colt duly made amends when defying topweight here 12 days ago, and as he should get a clear run in this small field, is taken to follow-up. Stoneacre Gareth has yet to show what he can do, but his Formby stable is very adept at placing its youngsters, so he should be noted in the betting. Baylini is a filly on the upgrade, and this course-and-distance scorer is reckoned capable of better. She may have too much weight on this her nursery bow, but is another to keep on the right side over the winter. Miss Saafend Plaza was a beaten favourite last time and looks more exposed, while Tee Off has yet to win in class 4 company, and yet steps up a grade. He is opposed for that reason, with Cesc the one to be on.
Formwatch
Cesc 2-1fav (9-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd going well 3f out, led over 2f out, reminder and edged right inside final furlong, pushed along and in command after, won at Lingfield 1m 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Bajan Pride (8-12) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Baylini 9-1 (8-11) Close up, tracked leader over 4f out, led 2f out, ridden, hung right over 1f out, ran on, won at Lingfield 7f 2yo mdn fll (5) pol in Oct beating Sharp Dresser (9-0) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Stoneacre Gareth (IRE) 18-1 (8-13) Hung right, led, ridden and headed 1f out, no extra, 6th of 11, 1 1/2l behind Giant Slalom (8-6) at W'hampton 7f 2yo mdn aut (5) pol.
Miss Saafend Plaza (IRE) 15-8fav (9-0) Held up, ridden over 3f out, came wide entering straight, hung left and kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 3l behind Situla (9-0) at W'hampton 7f 2yo mdn fll aut (6) pol.
Tee Off (IRE) 11-4 (9-1) Chased leaders, outpaced halfway, driven 2f out, stayed on towards finish, 3rd of 6, 14l behind Atlantic Light (9-6) at Catterick 6f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct.
La Marmotte (IRE) 7-2 (8-3) Saddle slipped 6f out, led, ran wide into straight and headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Lordswood (7-10) at Lingfield 7f 2yo clm (6) pol.