Lingfield Preview: Glastonberry and Baker ready to rock

Trainer Geoffrey Deacon and jockey George Baker have a tremendous strike-rate when teaming up, and Glastonberry can further enhance it with victory in the 6f handicap at Lingfield today (4.10).

Baker has been successful on just over 35 per cent of his rides for the Berkshire handler in the past 12 months (six wins and three places from 17 mounts) which has produced profit of £31 to a £1 level stake.

In Glastonberry he has a partner who is at the top of her game at present and is a three-time winner at the track.

Two of those successes have come over this afternoon’s trip, with the last coming three starts back where Glastonberry beat Marjong with more in hand than the winning margin of 1/2 a length suggests off a mark of 75.

The seven-year-old now has to race off 5lb higher but comes into the contest on the back of a cracking second on nine to the progressive Varsovian at Chelmsford City which suggests she is up to defying a career-high mark of 80.

Glastonberry looked all over the winner when leading inside the final furlong only to get collared close home to be beaten a neck, and the front two pulled 3 1/4 lengths clear of the field to give the form a solid look.

The return to this venue is sure to suit, and a repeat of that effort is going to make Glastonberry tough to beat.

In the other 6f handicap on the card (4.40), Dont Have It Then can make a winning return to action following a 120-day break.

The Willie Musson-trained gelding developed into a useful sort last year, winning four times and showing progressive form on each occasion.

When last seen in action, the four-year-old showed a terrific turn of foot to come from off the pace at Kempton to beat Invincible Ridge by a nose.

That win suggested Don’t Have It Then needing keeping firmly onside, and a 4lb rise for that success looks on the lenient side given that the son of Myboycharlie can from a very poor position to land the spoils.