It's never a bad idea to latch onto a small yard that can't stop firing in winners and Jim Best's Lewes stable certainly fits that description at the moment, hitting the target seven times from 16 runners in the last fortnight, including two from two yesterday. So it's with some concern that I'm taking on Best's only runner of the day, Mannello, who is definitely worth a look in the third at Lingfield, despite having preserved her maiden status through 21 starts.
Still, I prefer Grand Palace (1.20), a course and distance winner last time out. The very capable Patrick Hills takes off all but one of the 6lbs Grand Palace has been raised and he also comes from a yard that has hit its stride since the end of the turf season.
Peter Bowen is another trainer in form but the odds are that Tom O'Brien still won't be thanking him for the leg-up on Contact Dancer in the fourth at Hereford. The eight-year-old's fencing appears to be getting worse with experience and he goes for a hat-trick of unseateds today. This should be the race that allows Over The Creek (2.10) to get off the mark over fences - he's been beaten by some useful types since his chase debut in February, when he looked all over the winner until unseating. Having jumped round Cheltenham on his last two starts, he should cope with this relatively straightforward circuit. Ma Yahab is an interesting prospect but this is probably too far for his suspect stamina.
For the day's good thing, let's go back to Lingfield. Classic Fortune (1.50) must be pretty good, having been a rare first-time-out winner for trainer David Elsworth here last month, when he was well-backed to do so. Main rival Pretty Ballerina has been running in some decent races but has yet to score and appears to be regressing.
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