Lingfield and Nottingham preview: Freewheel hot stuff for on-fire Moss

The colt hinted at ability in three maiden runs last year for Barry Hills, but put in a much improved showing on his handicap debut for new handler Owen Burrows when chasing home North Creek over course and distance in March.

After losing vital ground at the start when being slowly away, Mithqaal stealthy late headway approaching the final furlong and stayed on well to be nearest at the finish and beaten 3 1/2 lengths.

The winner looks a useful sort who has since come out and run well to be second, and the third, fourth and sixth home have all gone on to taste success.

That gives the form a solid look and suggests that Mithqaal should be up to winning races off a mark of 66.

The son of Speightstown also looks the type that will go on improving, and Mithqaal can exploit a good draw in stall five and make the most of the weight he receives from the favourite Cryptic to open his account.

Lingfield selections

13.50: Poet’s Society
14.20: Raven’s Corner
14.55: Senses Of Dubai
15.25: Mithqaal (NB)
16.00: Gypsy Major
16.30: Freewheel (NAP)
17.00: Girl With A Pearl
17.35: Henry Smith

Balmusette weighted to collect at Nottingham

Balmusette was a big eye-catcher last time out and can take advantage of what looks a very lenient mark to open her account on the level in the 2m handicap on today’s card at Nottingham (15:50).

The Keith Reveley trained mare is a useful bumper/hurdle winner at up to 3m and has been rated as high as 133 over the obstacles.

Balmusette has had just five runs on the flat, and the first four of them came over inadequate trips of between 1m and 1m 4f.

This seven-year-old did manage to finish runner-up on one of those, but was always going to be the type that came into her own when stamina was brought into play.

That view was confirmed when Balmusette was stepped up to 2m and ran far better than the bare result suggest at Catterick two weeks ago when fifth of 13 to Summerlea.

The daughter of Halling was held-up off the pace and given far too much to do and, after making a move out wide rounding the home turn, kept on under tender handling to be nearest at the finish an beaten 8 1/2 lengths.

It was an effort which suggested Balmusette would have little difficulty winning races off her basement mark off 55 so, judged on her hurdles ability, she is potentially thrown-in at the weights.

Whipphound can bag overdue success

In the 5f handicap that closes proceedings (17:55), Whipphound looks to hold major claims of securing an overdue success for in-form trainer Ruth Carr.

The gelding is on a long losing run, having not scored since landing a 5f contest at Bath in April 2014 off a mark off 61.

However, that has resulted in a drop in the weights and Whiphhound is now able to race in this off just 57 having shaped really well on his first start for Carr when runner-up to Perfect Words in a field of 16 at Thirsk.

The eight-year-old showed plenty of zest to track the leaders, and after being driven to challenge a furlong from home stuck to the task well to go down by just a length.

It was an effort which suggested Whipphound retained enough ability to win a race of this nature and, if building on it, he looks weighted to take all the beating for a yard that has a healthy strike rate of 22 per cent at the track in the past 12 months.

Nottingham selections

14.10: Hakeem
14.45: In My Place
15.15: Mutarajjil
15.50: Balmusette (NAP)
16.20: Fadillah
16.50: Mokhalad
17.20: Carnageo
17.55: Whipphound (NB)

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