DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
MONDAY JANUARY 12
12.40 LINGFIELD
A complex opening sprint handicap made trickier on account of five of the seven participants being C&D winners, but DIOMED SPIRIT could well turn out to be the answer if he can run to the level that he achieved here two starts ago.
Stuart Williams’ inmate wasn’t exactly on fire heading into the contest at the Surrey venue back in November, but his lack of form didn’t prevent him from coming through strongly in the closing stages of a well-run affair to post a career high speed figure.
Up in grade at Chelmsford a month later, the six-year-old ran perfectly respectably despite finishing just outside the placings and now back to the scene of his most notable success, he can continue the general theme of his stable in recent weeks (6-22).
DIOMED SPIRIT – ½ point each-way@6-1 (three places)
1.30 HEREFORD
Not a bad novice hurdle by the track standards and LOOPING d’ARC can continue the upward curve he has carved out for himself after just two runs.
His first effort in a bumper when chasing home Bass Hunter (16-1 for the Champion Bumper) looks even better given the exploits of his conqueror since and there was nothing wrong with his opening gambit over hurdles at Southwell last time out.
Settling better than he did on his debut, Warren Greatrex’s inmate picked up the running with a circuit to go at the Midland venue and steadily winding up the pace from half a mile out, he gradually turned the screw on all his opponents bidding to hunt him down.
The way he hit the line suggested he had plenty left to offer if required and with the speed figure backing up the visually aspect of his display, the son of Jeu St Eloi has the data behind him to hint that he is the one to beat.
LOOPING d’ARC – 1-point win@5-2