The Synthetic Shrew - All Weather Championships at Lingfield Park 2016 Preview

£1.1million prize money will be on offer for the richest race day on the all-weather calendar. The very best contenders from the UKs all-weather racecourse congregate on Lingfield to compete in 7 championship categories. In now only it’s 3^rd year, the championships have been an excellent innovation to give the all-weather horses a climax to the season and some exceptional prize money to offer.

Grendisar will be hot favourite to follow up his Winter

Derby win with the all-weather classic

Today, The Whistling Shrew welcomes guest tipster and flat specialist The Synthetic Shrew to preview the championship races where in the feature race Winter Derby winner, Grendisar, is the star of the show and will be hot favourite to follow up. The meeting as a whole serves up as a great addition to the racing calendar as well as a lead into a mouth-watering Dubai World Cup Night where last year's classic winner Tryster will be taking on California Chrome – Plenty of speed and close finishes to savour. At least 8 line up in each race today which means plenty to play for win and each way!

Good Luck,

Stay Shrewd!

Shrew’s Shrewdies

Race Time – Most Likely Winner – E/W at a Price

1:40 – Cold As Ice 8/11 – Saucy Minx 8/1

2:10 – Lancelot Du Lac 11/4 – Lightscameraaction 16/1

2:40 – Moonlight Landing 2/1 – First Mohican 14/1

3:15 – Sovereign Debt 5/2 – Mister Universe 8/1

3:45 – Grendisar 6/5 – Complicit 25/1

4:15 – Gracious John 6/4 – Kadrizzi 6/1

4:45 – Haalik 15/8 – Special Season 9/2 – Reverse Forecast

Race By Race Guide

1:40 - ALL-WEATHER FILLIES´ AND MARES´ CHAMPIONSHIPS CONDITIONS STAKES (CLASS 2) (4yo+)

Cold as Ice had a difficult run last time out and looks to be a worthy favourite. She was closing at the line and the defeat by Rivellino still represents a good enough level of form to win this. The outside draw is statistically a plus over CD and she can’t really be opposed

The betting also highlights her closest pursuer in Volunteer Point who would be the one to pick up the pieces if she underperforms. She has been the more progressive of the two and was not hard pressed when scoring here at the start of the month. She holds Secret Hint and Bint Daddy on form easily on the last two runs, but given that they are priced at 25/1 and 40/1 there is possible value in looking for an improving horse to place ahead of volunteer point.

Saucy Minx scored here on last run and the wider draw may be to her favour here if following the favourite home.

2:10- ALL-WEATHER SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIPS CONDITIONS STAKES (CLASS 2) (4yo+)

This appears to be one of the closer races of the day and there are several contenders who jump of the page.

All speed - Lancelot Du Lac heads the betting in the Sprint

Lancelot Du Lac shares top rating with Goken and Lightscameraaction. He hasn’t run at Lingfield since winning in December 2014 before a spell in Meydan, but has followed up with two wins since his return to the UK all-weather this season including a comfortable win over Intransigent.

Goken won a listed race here in November and may have a bit to find on recent form but as a 4 year old may still be progressive enough to win this – he hasn’t been since that victory and the break is sure to have freshened him up to make a bold bid. A significant market move may be wise to follow.

Lightscameraaction has been much less consistent. On a going day last time out over CD he beat Take Cover, which on his day may be good enough to win this, but his 4^th place behind Rivellino before that left a bit to be desired. Of Rivellino, he is a horse that only seems to win here and the CD form could count a lot.

Gamgoon has run well of late and can hit the frame here, but he seems to lack 1’s after his name for his efforts. Bosham conversely has a lot of 1’s but in lesser company. Realise has run consistently well for his new yard and the drop back in trip is interesting – he will need to prove he has the raw speed to go close.

2-40 ALL-WEATHER MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIPS CONDITIONS STAKES (CLASS 2) (4yo+)

Anglophile lost this race narrowly last year and looks good value at 11/2, but Raif Beckett's Moonlight Landing gave him quite the beating last time out and looks a very likely improver for the step up in distance. This will be his first run at Lingfield since his first 2 races but that may be clutching at straws for reasons to oppose.

Of the others, they seem much of a muchness. If the race were run on turf over hurdles then Pearl Castle would have a hell of a chance… but its not. First Mohican seems the most consistent and is very likeable on best form should the favourite not progress as expected.

3:15 - ALL-WEATHER MILE CHAMPIONSHIPS CONDITIONS STAKES (CLASS 2) (4yo+)

Sovereign Debt is fancied to go close in the mile

Sovereign Debt brings a high level of turf form in to this and was beaten into 2nd in a blanket finish to this race last year. He looked likely to come on for his last run ( same prep race as last year) and is fancied to reverse places with Mister Universe. 

Mindyourownbusiness is the all-weather specialist and has beaten Sovereign Debt when in receipt of 10lbs. With Crowley up he should go well and could make amends for his flop in this last year. He seems to show better form away from Lingfield and at the price has to be opposed.

Captain Cat is not easy to win with but has good turf form and has to have a chance too.

 3:45 - ALL-WEATHER MIDDLE DISTANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS CONDITIONS STAKES (CLASS 2) (4yo+)

Grendisar won the Winter Derby here in February in an authoritative manner and has to be considered a worthy favourite. He has a nice draw on the inside and the booking of Adam Kirby is a big plus. His form this year has been very good and slightly above what it was last season, he has gone from strength to strength and is expected to follow up.

The question then is who follows him home?

Complicit has a bit too find against some of these, but saved his best form last year for two big runs behind Tryster over course and distance. Stall 10 isn’t ideal but he could be worth a shot at the current price of 25/1

Can Maverick Wave reverse form with Grendisar?

Maverick Wave is held by Grendisar on their last meeting and although 4^th last time out the level of form was still good – he’ll be thereabouts and on his best form would probably be favourite – but based on the Winter Derby performance can’t be fancied. Battalion was shaping nicely for a challenge in this before last time out when 6^th over course and distance. Both horses have reasonable draws in the middle of the park but it’s hard to see them getting past the favourite.

Fire Fighting  is another possible danger out of stall 3 but seems to be a better turf horse than all-weather and saves his very best for other tracks. Man Of Harlech does run well here and could hit the frame at a price but you’d have to expect he is of no danger to the favourite who should be well positioned and have enough finishing speed to win this.

4:15 - 3 YEAR OLD SPRINT ALL-WEATHER CHAMPIONSHIPS CONDITIONS STAKES (CLASS 2) (3yo)

Gracious John had a terrible time of things in his last race but still ran on very well in the closing stages. He finished the race lame but still ran on well for third. Given better fortune from stall 2 he looks to be better than these. His main danger may be the improving Wolowitz – but he is too short at 3/1.

Wolowitz did beat Kadrizzi home last time but it didn’t seem the latter gave his running that day. He has shown the best top speed of any of these behind the favourite and is fancied to provide the biggest challenge.

Field of Vision will need to put a disappointing run behind him to feature. Both Agueroooo (one o to many?) and Quatrieme Ami will need a bigger step up than expected but its not beyond reason.

4:45- 3 YEAR OLD MILE CHAMPIONSHIPS CONDITIONS STAKES (CLASS 2) (3yo)

Haalik has some very good turf form and came out recently to win well at the course and there seems little reason why Race Day should reverse the places. That form line would tend to rule out Special Season who is closely matched with Race Day on their 1-2 here in November. Special Season does hold good CD form though and will go close; but his run last time out puts me off.  

The bigger danger may come from Cape Speed who is improving and stepped up to the distance well last time out when winning at Kempton. He holds distance form over the favourite but will have to improve again to challenge.