Lingfield best bet: Course-distance winner Shalfa can bounce back in fillies contest
![Runners and riders start the Read Katie Walsh On Betway Insider Handicap during day two of The Winter Million Festival at Lingfield Park Racecourse, Surrey. Picture date: Saturday January 22,](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.planetsport.com%2Fimage-library%2Fland%2F700%2Fl%2Flingfield-racecourse-22-jan-2022.webp&w=3840&q=75)
It might be a quiet Monday at the races, but this fillies’ handicap promises to offer a competitive finale that should give race-goers something to talk about on their way home from Lingfield.
17:00 Lingfield: Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 519 Fillies’ Handicap (1 miles 2 furlongs)
Early market leader Ciara Pearl appears to be the one to beat if able to build on the promise shown when landing a novice stakes over a mile here in October, in between a couple of respectable runner-up outings.
She will be of interest as she makes her handicap debut after a six-month break, but any potential question marks about her likely form at such a short price leads us to think better value might be found elsewhere.
Belleplaine and Meleri both look well-equipped to run the favourite close, but catching the eye of a number of Tipstrr’s each-way pundits is the Lydia Richards-trained Shalfa.
Planet Sport Bet Daily Special: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Shalfa finishes in the first 3 places, get a £5 Free Bet
She concluded last summer with a tidy win on Brighton’s turf, before converting steady progress on synthetic tracks into a 1¼-length success over this course and distance in January, kicking on two furlongs out and always holding her eight rivals at bay.
She has been found wanting in her two subsequent outings against male company, so she can be expected to give amore characteristic account of herself now back against rivals of her own sex.
Equally significant might be the return to her saddle of Saffie Osborne, who was on board for last summer’s win at Brighton, and who comes for just two rides at Lingfield, fresh from landing 6/1 winner Duty Of Care in her last ride at Kempton on Saturday.
Suggested best bet: Shalfa each-way in the 17:00 at Lingfield
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