Lingfield Placepot: Saturday 20th March

Tipping / Timeform / 20 March 2010 / Leave a comment

Neil Callan, pictured aboard Amadeus Wolf, will hopefully carry the same colours into the places on Everymanforhimself in the 'Super 7' Final

After four days of incessant talk of Cheltenham, or more like three months if you include the prolonged build up and hype, we get to the real highlight of the Racing Calendar in March, Winter Derby Day, and what better way to celebrate than by landing the pot? Timeform do their best to point you in the right direction...

"Everymanforhimself is the second selection, in the hope that he can get over from his wide draw to secure an easy lead - there aren't many others in the field who are likely to want to make the running and Callan is a master from the front."

1.55 - There are plenty with suspect temperament in the opener, which isn't ideal given it's a 'hands and heels' apprentice race, meaning we have to decide who will respond best to the softly-softly approach. Alfresco is one of those who isn't straightforward, but he did his best work on the bridle when winning last time and is still well treated. He'll be held up, along with Tous Les Deux, who's sure to be suited by this step back up in trip after a good fourth over 6f last time, while to cover the other angle, in case it's tactical, we also include front-runner Gaily Noble in the perm, acknowledging he'll have competition for the lead.

2.25 - Leg 2 is the final of the much-publicised 'Super 7' series, which, in truth, is not so much 'Super' as 'Ordinary', with a field of useful handicappers set to line up. It does look a competitive race, however, so we are going to have to include a couple, starting with one of those joint top-rated by Timeform, Bravo Echo, who we believe can reverse course-and-distance form with The Scorching Wind. Everymanforhimself is the second selection, in the hope that he can get over from his wide draw to secure an easy lead - there aren't many others in the field who are likely to want to make the running and Callan is a master from the front.

3.00 - All-weather revelation Greyfriarschorista has done the boys at Timeform proud this winter, as we took a punt when rating him value for another five lengths (putting him at 88p) when he broke his maiden and could have been made to look silly when he got into handicaps off a BHA mark of 72. He duly bolted up at Kempton, though, and again at Wolverhampton, and now looks worth his place in this listed field. However, with so many coming back from last year, a number of whom are held in high regard, indicated by involvement at pattern level as juveniles, we need another as a safety net. Racing Post Trophy seventh Hanson'D has a wide draw to contend with, but we have already eluded to the skill in the saddle of Neil Callan, and we're hopeful that Hanson'D will take well to polytrack and fulfil the promise he showed at two years.

3.35 - The highlight of the all-weather season, the Winter Derby. Whilst it might be run on polytrack, the Winter Derby is no poor relation to its turf Group 3 counterparts, with a smart performance needed to win on every occasion since it was upgraded in 2006. That means we can put a line through a few who simply aren't up to producing that kind of form and concentrate on those at the higher end of the ratings. Soul City (third in the Irish Guineas but off since Royal Ascot) and Fiery Lad (prolific polytrack winner in Ireland but below form in two starts in Dubai for new handler Luca Cumani) are respected but have more to prove than Tranquil Tiger, who won two listed events over course and distance (beat a rusty Presvis for the first) at the backend of last year and has presumably been primed for this, last seen doing a piece of work with the stable's Dubai World Cup hope Twice Over. Just in case Tranquil Tiger isn't the good thing we think he is, Dalradian, who is four from six at the course, also goes in.

4.10 - The pair who ran yesterday, Benedict Spirit and Sworn Tigress, have been taken out, leaving just five, and, though the four of the remaining quartet are separated by just 2 lb on Timeform ratings (Cashpoint has a stiff task from out of the weights), we can't afford to include them all with so many lines used elsewhere. So, what do we do? We cover the potential tactical side by including the one who could get a very easy lead (Becausewecan) and we include the one with the best turn of foot (Dance The Star) - and then we hope for the best!

4.45 - Having toyed with the idea of including Jaconet (unbeaten in her last five starts on polytrack) as a banker, given the way she impressed when winning from a wide draw over 6f on her return, we decided we might need another as, fast as she is, the likes of Arganil, Inxile and Glamorous Spirit could force her into going too quickly. However, having gone around and around, we came back to banking on Jaconet, in the hope that Philip Makin is sensible enough to let the others cut their own throats in a battle for the lead should they so wish.

Selections = 48 lines

1.55 - 1, 4, 8
2.25 - 1, 9
3.00 - 5, 7
3.35 - 4, 13
4.10 - 1, 2
4.45 - 7

To pick your own selections for the Lingfield Placepot you can download a racecard from timeform.com.