Shalaman Looks Overpriced On Return To Lingfield

Dominium ran a cracking race for us at Kempton on Tuesday and he was a whisker away from getting the win at 16/1. After breaking well he raced in a more prominent position than usual, and he travelled best of all 2f out as he moved to the inside to make his effort. However, he probably got there just a bit too soon and he came out third best in an exciting blanket finish. His mark will likely go back up a pound or two after that effort and that could scupper his chances of winning for a few runs, but I am sure he will pop up again at some stage for Jeremy Gask later this year.

After studying the race line ups for the big money card at Lingfield on Good Friday only one horse really jumps off the page as being criminally overpriced. As an aside I will be looking forward to seeing Giles Bravery's super mare Subtle Knife taking her chance in the opener, though on the figures she has an awful lot to find and she will be doing very well to pick up some place money.

The horse that I reckon is overpriced at 33/1 is Shalaman, a 7yo son of Oratorio who is now in the care of David Marnane. He turned up here last year when he was trained by Matthew Smith and he ran an absolute cracker in the Middle Distance race (10f) when he was 4th, just a length behind Grendisar who was 3rd. Grendisar is a hot favourite for that race this year and Shalaman was closing on the leaders all the way to the line after being trapped out wide and outpaced coming into the last couple of furlongs.

It is no surprise to see connections stepping him up in trip on his return to Lingfield and he showed on his penultimate run at Dundalk (16f), when 2nd to Mandatario, that he gets the trip. He was a bit keen early on in that 4 runner race, which probably cost him the win, but it will likely be a truer gallop in the Marathon at Lingfield and that will suit this strong traveller. His official rating of 99 means he only has 3 or 4lbs to find with the best of these and he looks a huge price at 33/1. After his excellent effort here last year this has likely been the target, and he is worth of a couple of quid each way on what should be an appetising afternoon of racing on Good Friday.

STEVOS' SELECTION: 2.40 LINGFIELD-SHALAMAN E/W 33/1