Wait For The Lord poised for sacred performance at Lingfield

While we have the Welsh Grand National and several fascinating clashes to indulge in at Chepstow and Kempton respectively, Lingfield Park is the first destination to dissect the day’s action.

The 1:05 serves up an intriguing contest over 1m2f where Make It Rain deserves favoritism having won three of his last five appearances, including over this course and distance. He seldom doesn’t run his race and is without doubt the one to beat. His success last time out at Wolverhampton was comprehensive enough and a 2lb rise may struggle to find him out.

If Simon & Ed Crisford’s stable-star fails to fire on all cylinders, it may pave the way for the lightly raced Wait For The Lord to strike. David Elsworth’s recruit looked very smart on his penultimate start, cantering to an impressive victory over this distance. On his next start he was hiked up in grade to a Listed contest, and although he finished sixth of eight, he ran respectably and clocked a good time over the last two furlongs. He’s raised 9lb for that but may be able to mount a challenge to the in-form Make It Rain if reproducing that performance and, at around 7/1, looks good value to challenge the 13/8 favourite.

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1st Make It Rain 13/8, 2nd Wait For The Lord 7/1

The highlight of the card comes at 2:15, with a Class 2 handicap over 1m4f. Scarlet Dragon certainly holds a fond place in Hollie Doyle’s heart, being her first Royal Ascot winner, and she gets back on board after a good fourth over course and distance. He travelled strongly with Ryan Moore in the saddle when last seen, but couldn’t kick off the bend to mount a challenge. This is a similar contest so he’s entitled to get involved.

Richard Kingscote has a 100% strike rate on board Cardano, having succeeded on two starts. He’s raised 4lb for his second at Newcastle when being beaten a head by James Doyle and Myseven. That was his best performance of late, pulling somewhat five lengths clear of his next rival, and should put in another bold bid.

Autumn War was fancied but is a non-runner.

1st Cardano 4/1

The 2:50 looks a tight handicap over 7f, but TOO SHY SHY may be worth siding with at a generous price. This filly has a good record at Lingfield, winning twice, and could be able to refind her form after a nice break from the track having won twice after similar breaks. Although finishing seventh last time out, he finished either side of subsequent winners and was stretched by a mile. The drop back to 7f will suit and he’s one to keep an eye on at 16/1.

Agent Of Fortune has a stellar record at Lingfield and could also mount a challenge at a good price. Rhys Clutterbuck has only failed once to succeed when riding this mare from three attempts and, if bouncing back, could get in the frame at 33/1.

1st Too Shy Shy 16/1, 2nd Agent Of Fortune 33/1

The highlight of the day arrives at 3:10 where we travel to Chepstow to dive into the Welsh Grand National, an affair which had been deplatformed after being cancelled on the day after boxing day.

Secret Reprieve comes into this as a red-hot 4/1 favourite having bolted up in the trial for the contest. He could be very impressive again here, but at that price, I won’t be paying to find out.

Instead, I’ll be hoping that YALA ENKI can go two better, having finished third in this affair for the previous two years. He comes into this year’s renewal looking better than ever (if you excuse him for falling at the first fence last time out) and will relish the ground, unless it’s frozen that is. He loves a slog and may write Bryony Frost’s name into the headlines again after her heroic King George VI Chase victory aboard Frodon.

Lord Du Mesnil relishes every extra yard he gets, and if he bounces back from two lacklustre performances, should be in the frame.

1st Yala Enki 16/1, 2nd Lord Du Mesnil 14/1

We then head over to Kempton, where two contenders catch the eye and could be worth opting for. The 2:20 brings us the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle, in which it’s hard to see past the favourite MCFABULOUS. This seven-year-old has gone from strength to strength this season, comprehensively winning the Grade 2 Persian War Hurdle before a cracking run in the Long Distance Hurdle, finishing five lengths off the two ante post leaders for the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham. He didn’t quite stay the 3m and this drop back to 2m5f is ideal. He is a short price at around 11/8 but is without doubt the one to beat.

1st McFabulous 11/8

The Ladbrokes Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at 3:30 includes my final selection for the day. As is the case with all big-field handicaps, it remains very open, however SHANG TANG looks poised to strike here after an impressive display at Ascot on his penultimate start. The jumping display on offer that day was second to none, and a reproduction of that should see him go close.

1st Shang Tang 11/1