Stick with proven Polytrack sires to unlock competitive handicap

Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap | 1m2f | 4yo+ | Sky

No sire has a better record at Lingfield than Toronado in the last five seasons. His progeny have a 25 per cent strike-rate (16-64) in that period on the Polytrack surface and a £1 bet on all of his representatives would have yielded a profit of £32.21.

Toro Dorado is certainly a true son. The Ed Dunlop-trained runner has won two of his three starts on Lingfield's Polytrack, but both victories were achieved over a mile and this is two furlongs further.

However, Toro Dorado does stay this far, with his last victory achieved over 1m2f at Newcastle in October, and that is a stiffer test than presents itself on Lingfield's tight turns.

Toro Dorado is not the only son of Toronado lining up. Sans Logique has the same sire and reverts to the all-weather following four disappointing efforts over hurdles for David Pipe.

He has yet to run on Polytrack in Britain, but did win on an artificial surface when trained in France, and the booking of Cieren Fallon catches the eye, his first ride for the stable.

Makfi is the next best on the list of sires and his son Ranco is interesting, also for Pipe.

Ranco is another who appears to have underachieved over hurdles since joining the stable, but he won his last two on turf on the Flat when trained in France and might have more to offer.

He has run only once on the all-weather without success, but is evidently bred for the job and is another who could spring a surprise. Rossa Ryan is having his fourth ride for the yard.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

David Pipe: runs two in this eventCredit: Harry Trump

What they say

Mick Appleby, trainer of Oslo
I think a mile-two is more of his trip as he barely gets a mile and a half. I think he should take all the beating on his last run and coming back in trip is in his favour too, while he's been in decent form recently.

Tom Clover, trainer of Ritchie Valens
He won off 81 on his first start for us at Chelmsford last year and I think you can put a line through his last run as he had a lot of weight to carry and I'm not sure how easily he carried it. He seems in really good form so hopefully he can run a nice race.

Michael Scudamore, trainer of Ajax Tavern
It's his first run on the Flat for us. We tried him over hurdles, but he hated the soft ground. He was bought to go hurdling and will do that on better ground, but he's a likeable type who did nothing wrong in his runs for Richard Hannon. We're hoping a step up to a mile and a quarter might eke out some improvement. He's won at Lingfield so handles the track and the all-weather, and while that win was over seven furlongs, he's a relaxed horse so there's no reason to think he wouldn't get further, while George Rooke taking off 5lb will also help.
Reporting by James Burn

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