Citrus Star ready to shine
Citrus Star has become very well treated and if handling the all-weather surface looks the one they all have to beat in the 3.10 at Lingfield.
Chris Wall’s gelding has never run on the polytrack before but won a class 2 7f handicap at Glorious Goodwood last year off a mark of 99 and now runs off just 92.
The four-year-old, who was also rated as high as 102 last season, has also shaped as if coming back to form in his last two starts.
He kept on well to finish an excellent fifth of 15 to Sirius Prospect in a very competitive 7f handicap at Doncaster two starts ago and followed that up with another solid run at Newmarket when a close up 6th of 14 to Golden Desert.
Both those races were class 2 contests and he now drops down a grade this afternoon.
This is by far the easiest opportunity he has had for some time and there is little doubt that he is handicapped to score.
The only negative is a high draw in stall 14, but given his run style that should not be too much of a problem and granted luck in running he must take all the beating.
At 13/2 with Victor Chandler he looks overpriced and an each-way steal.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts each-way Citrus Star (13/2 Victor Chandler – BOG)
9/1 Birdolini a cracking each-way bet
Birdolini gets the step up in trip she has been crying out for in the 4.40 at Lingfield and makes plenty of each-way appeal at 9/1
Alana King’s filly proved her ability to act on the surface when winning a maiden here on her second start last December in good style, and although she has not get her head in front in five starts this year she has been running with great credit in decent handicaps.
The daughter of Bertolini ran a cracker over 7f at Kempton two starts ago when staying on strongly to be beaten a length by The Guru OF Gloom and followed that up with a really eye-catching effort at Nottingham last time out.
That race was over a mile, and after being held up at the rear of the field she made good late headway to finish a never nearer fifth of 14 to Chokurei.
She was doing all her best work at the finish that day, suggesting that a step up in trip to the 1m 2f journey she tackles this afternoon was what she needs to get back in the winners’ enclosure.
To my eyes she still has more to offer now upped in trip, and her mark of 73 does not look harsh.
She receives weight from all her rivals today, and at 9/1 looks a solid each-way play.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way Birdolini (9/1 Hills – BOG)
Kai Mook can score overdue success
Kai Mook has not won for nearly two years but he has plummeted in the weights as a result and holds outstanding claims in the finale at Lingfield today (5.10).
Roger Ingram’s filly is a consistent sort on the polytrack surface and was last successful over course and distance back in December 2009 when officially rated 70.
She was then far from disgraced in her first try in a handicap when fifth of 11 at Kempton off a mark of 76 and although she failed to build on that in subsequent runs last year she has been running much better this time round.
On her last run at this track two starts ago he was beaten just a length by Kipchak off 59 and she runs off just a 1lb higher mark this afternoon.
She was off the track for four months after that effort and looked sure to benefit for the run when reappearing at Kempton three weeks ago.
A slow start meant she could never get competitive, but she was not knocked about at all and is sure to be much sharper this afternoon.
Given that she is now 10lb below her last winning mark this represents a really good opportunity for her to score an overdue success.
At 6/1 she looks an each-way steal.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way Kai Mook (6/1 bet365 – BOG)