Lingfield and Sandown previews: Comedy to have last laugh

The Shaun Lycett trained gelding has won three times and been placed on four occasions from 13 starts at the track.

Malaysian Boleh enjoyed a terrific 2014/15 when winning four times, and in the last of those successes easily beat Dominium by 2 3/4 lengths in a class 4 contest at Chelmsford off a mark of 74.

The six-year-old is now able to race in this lower grade class 5 affair off 73, and comes into the contest having returned to form on his penultimate outing over course and distance when a fine third to Black Dave.

Malaysian kept on strongly after a slow start to be gaining all the way to the line and be beaten just 1/2 a length, and given how the race panned out it was a cracking effort.

Although not so good last time out at Kempton when again blowing the start, it would be no surprise to see Malaysian bounce back at a track which clearly suits his run style.

Selections

14.20: Malaysian Boleh (NB)
14.55: Start Seven
15.30: Tommys Geal
16.00: Slovak
16.35: Carry Me Home
17.05: Comedy House (NAP)

Jennys Surprise can strike Gold at Sandown

Jennys Surprise can make the most of the weight she receives from her rivals to land the Royal Artillery Gold Cup at Sandown today (15.20).

The Fergal O’Brien trained mare was a dual winner over hurdles, and has shaped really well to make the frame in three runs over fences this season.

After finishing third in a hot Listed contest at Carlisle, Jennys Surprise put in a much improved effort when beaten just 1 1/2 lengths at Lingfield.

The eight-year-old backed that up with a solid third to Racing Pulse at Chepstow, and those runs suggest that a mark of 127 is very exploitable.

Jennys Surprise has the second highest rating in the line-up, yet the conditions of the race mean that she receives weight from all her rivals.

Connections appear to have found a golden opportunity for the daughter of Hawk Wing to get off the mark over the larger obstacles, and another plus is that Jennys Surprise has the services of Brodie Hampson in the saddle who is terrific value for her 5lb claim.

Rath ready to rumble

In the 2m handicap chase (14.10), Fairy Rath looks weighted to go well at a big price now returned to the scene of his last success.

The Nick Gifford’s gelding scored in good style over 2m 5f at the track 13 months ago when pulling clear to win by 3 1/4 lengths off a mark of 122.

Fairy Rath put up to 131 for that victory, and ran a blinder of it on his final start of last season when second of 30 to Rajdhani Express in the valuable an ultra-competitive Topham Chase at Aintree.

That run resulted in Fairy Rath starting this campaign off on 132, and having managed to make the frame in two of his five starts the 10-year-old is now able to race off a reduced rating of 126.

It makes Fairy Rath look nicely treated on the pick of his form, especially the run in the Topham, and with underfoot conditions holding no fears everything points to a big run.

Selections

13.30: Lochnagar
14.10: Fairy Rath (NB)
14.45: Katie Too
15.20: Jennys Surprise (NAP)
15.50: Protek Des Flos
16.20: Beg To Differ
16.50: Rushvale

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