Brighton preview: Golden chance for Silver Lining

Silver Lining posted a career-best effort when runner-up last time out and looks weighted to go one better in the 1m handicap on today’s card at Brighton (16.30).

The Marcus Tregoning trained gelding went down by 1 1/2 lengths in an amateur riders’ contest over 1m 2f at this venue, looking all over the winner until collared deep inside the final furlong.

After travelling well the the rear of the field, Silver Lining’s young jockey made a decision to switch to the middle of the track rather than stick to the favoured stands’ side rail when the going is soft.

It was a costly decision at the three-year-old raced on the worst of the ground and seemed to lose concentration racing away from the main group.

In the circumstances, Silver Lining did well to finish so close and the son of Dark Angel is now able to race off 1lb lower.

That gives Silver Lining a massive chance at the weights, and another plus is that he now has the professional services of Jim Crowley in the saddle.

The stable are also in good form at present, and this looks a golden opportunity for Silver Lining to open his account.

In the 1m 1f handicap (15.30), Gone Viral is a fascinating contender now eased slightly in grade.

The gelding had some useful form to his name in Ireland when winning twice, with the last of those successes coming at Gowran off a rating of 78.

Gone Viral then joined trainer George Baker for the start of this campaign, and ran really well on debut for his new handler when a 2 1/4 length sixth of 18 to Mica Mike in a decent class 4 handicap at Doncaster off 80.

Although the four-year-old has failed to build on that effort in three subsequent outings, the assessor has been quick to cut him some slack.