Daily Placepots / Adam Brookes / 25 February 2011 /

For what looks a tricky day across the board, we turn to Lingfield for 'Placepotting' purposes, where the difficulty of the task in hand means the prospective financial gains are highly attractive.

14:00 - The opening 6f handicap is a trappy, low grade affair, so the idea of finding a single selection never looked feasible, in which case, the percentage call would appear to be to overlook the somewhat lazy Silver Wind, and fire three other darts around the Lingfield bend. The first of those has to be Radiator Rooney, who, despite having his resolution questioned, is in good form and gives us the best possible chance of surviving the first leg. Back-up in the shape of Espy, who won a course-and-distance handicap off 1lb lower in November, and old stager Namir, who is still capable off his current rating, and we should be able to breathe a sigh of relief.

14:30 - The next is a completely different test of judgement but, sadly, doesn't look any easier. Nevertheless, as it's impossible to know how much ability and, indeed, enthusiasm, Mutamaleq retains, we can cast him aside in favour of Come on The Irons, who had future winner Materialism just in front of him when fourth last time and is open to a bit of improvement for his new stable. Full Bloom didn't come on for her debut as expected and, therefore, it could be worth giving another chance to Crinian Classic, who, as a half-brother to fairly-useful handicapper Kostar (who improved greatly with age), can be expected to build on his modest efforts so far.

15:05 - A third tricky contest, but one in which two stand out for Placepot inclusion. Indian Violet is the first name on the list as he bumped into two well-handicapped rivals last time, but shaped as if he's still very competitive off his current mark and can be expected to go close again. He's joined by the veteran Chief Exec, who is still good enough to be involved in races of this nature and looks to be coming to the boil of late.

15:40 - This looks like the make-or-break race, provided we've already negotiated the first three legs, and Placepot tactics were always going to come into play here. Do you single out one to minimise your stake, or play it safe and include them all? In the end, it seems sensible to fall directly in between and settle for two, namely Malice Or Mischief, who won a similar race with plenty in hand last time, and Paco Belle, a modest but consistent filly who just can't get her head in front of her current mark in handicaps.

16:15 - Only after four legs do things start to look a tad easier with Adoyen Spice the most attractive option in this fillies' handicap, after she got her year off to a great start last time. Admittedly that was her second win at Kempton, but the fact that she was a close third at Wolverhampton on her penultimate start, instills confidence that she doesn't have to go right-handed to be at her best and she is fancied to go close again here. Of the others, it's disconcerting that the previous connections of The Blue Dog only deemed she was good enough to return in a seller, even if she did win it comfortably, and therefore she joins the list of those excluded, along with the free-going Buona Sarah.

16:45 - In the final page of the test, we're presented with a puzzle that usually takes more brainpower to crack than the Enigma Code - a maiden race for horses aged four years or older. Thankfully, this one appears to be relatively straightforward as, on all known evidence, the only horse we can safely include is the ex-French horse, Wily Fox, who, despite getting soundly beaten on his British debut, did have recent winner Caravan Rolls On behind, and is still lightly-raced.

Selections - 24 Lines

14:00 3, 7, 10
14:30 1, 6
15:05 6, 9
15:40 2, 3
16:15 4
16:45 13

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