Baby Strange fancied to land Lingfield feature

By Stephen, bettingexpert.com | Edited 07:25 12.06.2012

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Baby Strange has been hinting that he is primed to strike winning form recently and is selected to land the Lingfield Owners Group Handicap at 3.50.

Derek Shaw's veteran 8-y-o has been a terrific stable servant down the years, winning eight times in total and running consistently well in competitive sprint handicaps. Receiving weight all round will suit Martin Dwyer's mount very well and he is fancied to make all the running from a decent draw in stall four.

The £15,800 prize has attracted several in-form contenders with Ducal perhaps feared the most. Mike Murphy's 4-y-o was progressive for Sir Mark Prescott and continued in the same vein for this yard, landing a brace of 7f Kempton handicaps in March. He was only collared in the dying strides back there last time and ought to go well again, although a wide draw in nine is little help and he has yet to prove himself at this venue.

Shifting Star bounced back from three quiet runs when winning a bunched Goodwood handicap 18 days ago, gamely getting up in the closing stages under a strong ride. He won a course and distance handicap in January but may now be in the grip of the assesor and others appeal more.

Sacrosanctus seems certain to go close if building on his runner-up position in a warm 6f Epsom sprint 10 days ago. Scott Dixon's 4-y-o won four times in 2011, including on the polytrack and is proven over this 7f trip in the past.

Piscean is a tricky hold-up performer who needs the cards to fall just right. He is upto a career high mark after readily winning at Wolverhampton and Kempton earlier in the year, and will need all of Jamie Spencer's finessing skills if he is to swoop through late on.

Caldercruix has not been seen out for 72 days since finishing a creditable sixth at Doncaster and that has to be a concern, while topweight Mia's Boy has been well below par on turf recently and may need dropping a few pounds in the ratings.

In summary, a typically tight all-weather handicap with none of the runners safely eliminated from calculations. Baby Strange has suffered ill-fortune lately, either from bad draws or trouble in-running, and can bounce out and make all the running here from a decent draw. At around 8-1 this morning a sizable each-way wager is recommended.

Stephen's Tuesday Nap It's A Privilege 2.15 Lingfield

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