All Weather Championship Final Selections

Throughout the winter the aim for most horses was to qualify to run at this meeting at Lingfield on Good Friday. The All-Weather Championships have gone from strength to strength since their introduction in 2013, and this year’s event promises to be the best yet. I have already put up two selections for Mybettingbonus, and below are my thoughts on the other five races.

Saeed Bin Suroor has his string in stupendous form.

RACE 1

I fancy one at a decent price for this contest and you can find out why here.

RACE 2

The stayers race looks a very competitive contest and a case can be made for plenty. One that appeals as possibly being overpriced is the Saeed Bin Suroor trained Winning Story. He comes into the race on a rating of 104, and he pulled too hard when he was beaten by Watersmeet at Chelmsford last month. He was also returning from a 3 month break that day, so he will strip fitter tomorrow.

However, he was mightily impressive on his previous start when he beat First Mohican by almost 2L at Newcastle (16.5f) and this 4yo gelded son of New Approach could well have more to come at this trip. This should be a truly run race, and that should enable De Sousa to settle Winning Story. If he can get a decent start from his wide draw he could be dangerous, and at odds of 9/1 he looks a solid each way bet.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: WINNING STORY E/W @ 9/1 NAP

RACE 3

I have already put up a selection for this race and you can find out what it is here.

RACE 4

Stuart Williams is one of the shrewdest operators around, and he runs two in this. Royal Birth beat Lancelot Du Lac here in a listed contest (5F) last time out, and he should have no problem with the extra furlong in this 6f contest. However, I think Realize could be capable of producing a big run, and he was only beaten around 3L in this race in 2016.

This 7yo son of Zafeen has been a tremendous horse for connections, and he has a fine record on the all-weather. He has had 25 starts on artificial surfaces, winning 10 and placing in 6. Sean Levey takes the ride and he has been on board for 3 of his last 4 victories. This horse is probably best at 7f, but there is loads of early pace in this race and that could bring his stamina into play if they go off too hard. He can be backed at odds of 22/1 and he is the each way selection.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: REALIZE E/W 22/1

RACE 5

The milers take centre stage in this race, and if Ennaadd is in peak condition after a few months off the track he will be hard to beat as he goes in search of a five timer. He is versatile tactically, he is well drawn and he deserves to be the 6/4 favourite. However, at a much bigger price I think Steel Train might be of interest for Lincoln winning trainer David O’Meara and Shelley Birkett.

This fella also ran in the Lincoln, and given he was drawn on the wrong side on the day he ran a cracking race to be 7th, staying on well to be eventually beaten less than 3L. He has yet to run at Lingfield, but he has won on the all weather at Newcastle so he should be fine on the surface. He is admittedly the lowest rated in the race on 99, but he should be finishing fast when others have cried enough, and hopefully he can sneak a place at odds of 40/1 with Paddy Power.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: STEEL TRAIN E/W @ 40/1

RACE 6

Tomily is the one that appeals at a half decent price here, and this son of Canford Cliffs won his only previous start over this course and distance. Richard Hannon’s 3yo lowered the colours of Sutter County that day, and I am surprised to see that horse has been priced up at just 9/2, whereas Tomily can be backed at odds of 15/2.

Sutter County had the run of the race that day, and he went on to win next time out. Tomily, on the other hand, headed to Tyneside for his next run, and he wasn’t suited by the patient tactics employed by Sean Levey in that contest. He is drawn wide enough in stall 8 so he can’t afford to be tardy at the start, but if he gets away quick he could make a bold bid. At odds of 15/2 he looks overpriced and he is the each way suggestion in an open looking race.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: TOMILY E/W @ 15/2

RACE 7

Grendisar won this race at odds of just 4/6 last season, but he hasn’t been in the same form this year and his odds of 13/2 reflect that. The 3rd home that day, Metropol, is back for another crack and the 6yo son of Holy Roman Emperor shouldn’t be discounted. He was beaten only a length in this last season, and he also ran a cracker when 5th here in a Listed contest back in November (10f).

He was only beaten 2.75L that day behind Team Talk, and he was only a head behind Grendisar who finished 4th. He was given an outing over an inadequate trip of 7f at Chantilly last time, and that will have put him spot on for tomorrow. He likes to race prominently so he will need to break smartly, and if he does I think he is more than capable of giving each way backers a run for their money at odds of 22/1.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: METROPOL E/W @ 22/1