Lingfield preview: Cape Castle fancied to follow-up

Cape Castle looked well ahead of her mark when bolting up last time out and can make light of a 6lb penalty to follow up in the 1m 4f handicap on this evening’s card at Lingfield (20.05).

The Clive Brittain-trained filly left her maiden form well behind when cruising home by seven lengths in a 1m 6f contest at Wolverhampton six days ago.

Cape Castle was always travelling strongly, and after making smooth headway to take up the running two from home shot clear to make a mockery of her opening handicap mark of 62.

It was a performance that suggested the four-year-old filly needed keeping firmly onside, and it’s no surprise to see the daughter of Cape Cross turned out quickly under a penalty before the assessor has his say and a revised rating kicks-in.

Cape Castle also has the services in the saddle of the highly talented Louis Steward who is terrific value for his 3lb claim, and taking into into account Cape Cross looks thrown-in at the weights.

There is also no reason why the drop back in trip will cause any problems, and with further improvement looking assured Cape Castle is going to be extremely difficult to beat.

Diletta Tommasa caught the eye last time out and can take advantage of a drop in the weights to land the 1m 2f handicap that closes proceedings (20.35).

The mare is a course and distance winner who was in good form last summer when scoring at Redcar and Yarmouth.

In the last of those successes, the David Marnane trained five-year-old stayed on strongly after a slow start to win going away by 1 3/4 lengths off a mark of 66.

Diletta Tommasa is now able to race off just 1lb higher, and comes into the contest having shaped as if returning to form over course and distance eight days ago when keeping on under tender handling to finish third to May Queen.