Lingfield preview: Solar Flair poised to follow-up

Solar Flair scored in impressive style last time out and can make light of a 6lb penalty to follow-up in the 7f handicap on today’s seven-race card at Lingfield (15.10).

The William Knight trained colt raced prominently before taking up the running two from home and quickening clear at the furlong marker to beat Gun Case by six lengths in a class 4 contest at Newmarket six days ago.

Solar Flair scored with any amount in hand, and it was a performance which suggested the son of Equiano was miles ahead of the assessor and needed keeping firmly onside.

It’s no surprise to see connections turn out the three-year-old quickly under a penalty, as he is due to race off 5lb higher in future engagements so is effectively very well-in at the weights.

The three-year-old is also 1-1 over course and distance, and now drops down a grade into class 5 company.

With Jim Crowley once again in the saddle, everything suggests Solar Flair is going to be very hard to beat for a stable that is bang in form at present.

In the 1m handicap (16.10), Cosmic Ray can take advantage of a drop in class to land the spoils.

The Andrew Balding trained gelding opened his account last October in a 1m handicap at Windsor of a mark of 73, and has run well in three starts this season off 77.

They include a sixth of 13 to Stravagante last time out in a class 2 contest over 1m 2f at Epsom.

That form is very strong in the context of this lower grade class 4 affair, and Cosmic Ray is now able to race off a mark of just 72.

That is 1lb lower than when scoring at Windsor and gives the three-year-old major claims from a handicapping perspective.