Lingfield best bets: King Of Scotia can reign again over preferred trip

16:30 Lingfield: Download The Raceday Ready App Handicap (1 mile)

With barely a couple of betting points covering the top five in the market, it would appear that this race is very much up for grabs.

Identifying which horse will grab it is another matter, but while Hul Ah Bah Loo, Delta Legend, Harry The Haggler and Hakuna Babe all clearly have their backers, it is the Jamie Osborne-trained King Of Scotia who has received our final nod of approval.

It’s just over a month since this four-year-old gelding last visited the winner’s enclosure at Brighton, where he was produced late to win readily by over a length from seven capable handicappers.

Suggested best bet: King Of Scotia each-way in the 16:30 at Lingfield

A five-pound hike, softer conditions and a shorter trip conspired against him next time out at Ffos Las, but he looked close to his best again when last seen over this course and distance a fortnight ago.

Back over his preferred mile trip, he looked much more at home and although no match for the shorter-priced winner that day, he kept on gamely to hold off the challenge of his nearest rivals by a neck.

After King Of Scotia was piloted by a variety of jockeys earlier in the year, it appears significant that this will be the third straight time that he teams up with Saffie Osborne, who has won on four of her last 10 rides, including a tidy hat-trick at Haydock on Friday.

• Tip advised by DWL Tipsters on Tipstrr

While the top of the market is congested, it could also be construed as being weak, which possibly opens the door for a so-called outsider to gatecrash the principals’ party at a decent price.

Red Treasure and Maysong look interesting prospects, but catching the eye at double-digit odds is Roger Teal’s eight-time course winner Swiss Pride.

The most recent of those successes was over this very trip three outings ago in April, and although his two subsequent appearances failed to match up, there could be excuses for his last-time-out sixth of nine, when he was left poorly placed under a claiming jockey.

This time the reins are taken by David Probert, who is enjoying a stellar campaign and the fact that he has ridden winners at 28/1, 14/1 and 11/1 over the last week could suggest that Swiss Pride is no forlorn each-way hope here.

Alternative each-way punt: Swiss Pride each-way in the 16:30 at Lingfield

 

 

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