Lingfield Tips: Tom Collins has four selections on SBK Derby & Oaks Trials day

We have sponsored a thrilling edition of the SBK Clarence House Chase and kicked off this flat season in fine style with the SBK Lincoln at Doncaster.

Johan was tipped in this column at 50/1 for that big-field handicap, so the bar is set high! Hopefully the good fortune continues as we head to Lingfield for SBK Derby & Oaks Trials day on Saturday!

2.05 Lingfield, 7f SBK Handicap

The first of four SBK-sponsored races on the Lingfield card is a rather trappy six-runner handicap, in which you can make a case for every runner except Starry Eyes, who has only beaten six of her 61 rivals across eight races so far this year. 

Verreaux Eagle is the formsetter after her nose defeat at Brighton recently. A 2lb rise for that effort seems fair and William Buick’s presence in the saddle is a big positive, but she’s only won once from nine starts on turf - a weak Carlisle maiden last summer - and is perhaps seen to better effect on synthetic surfaces.

I’d rather back bottomweight Ajrad at the prices. This William Knight-trained gelding remains a maiden after 14 runs but his 2020 and 2021 form strongly suggested that he could be much better than this level. He wasn’t beaten far off a mark of 71 in a deeper race at Newmarket in the autumn and now finds himself competing off 6lb lower. 

Selection: Ajrad @ 6.6

2.40 Lingfield, 1m3½f SBK Derby Trial Stakes

Punters tend to stick to what they know and most believe that the 2,000 Guineas and Dante are best trials for the Derby. Judged on recent evidence, they would be wrong. Anthony Van Dyck scored a notable success in this race before his Epsom victory in 2019, while last year’s star three-year-old Adayar finished second to Third Realm in this heat before striking on the Downs.

The downhill left-handed turf track at Lingfield bears some resemblance to Epsom, so coming here with leading contenders has become more popular in recent years, and it is plausible to assume that we may see the latest Derby hero run in this race.

Walk Of Stars is the horse in question. This son of Dubawi has impressed on his last two outings - a four-length maiden win at Nottingham was followed by a narrow victory in small-field conditions event at Newbury - and has catapulted himself to the top of Charlie Appleby’s pecking order.

The added distance he will face here is sure to see him to better effect and he looks the clear standout. He’s a short price, but rightly so.

Selection: Walk Of Stars @ 2.06

3.15 Lingfield, 1m3½f SBK Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes

Secret Gesture went on to finish second in the Oaks after winning here in 2013, while Anapurna completed the double in 2019, so this trial tends to have a bearing on the fillies’ Classic next month.

Saying that, this year’s edition lacks a classy standout performer. In fact, aside from the top three in the market who are yet to be given an official rating, every other filly would need to improve upwards of a stone to win an average renewal of this race and consequently put themself into the Oaks picture.

Focusing on the market protagonists seems wise and, although I respect the unbeaten Belt Buckle and Rogue Millennium, they only ran to marks of 71 and 81 on debut and backing either would require great faith. Improvement is likely, but how much is the question.

Emily Dickinson is by far the most solid option. She has been ridden patiently on all three career starts with connections clearly believing she won’t be seen at her best until she tackles this trip. Nevertheless, she got off the mark when last seen at Naas with a late surge and now appears mature enough to compete at this level. By Dubawi out of Irish Oaks winner Chicquita, she could be a Group 1 contender in the making.

Selection: Emily Dickinson @ 2.5

3.50 Lingfield, 7f SBK Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes

Most of the fillies in this Group 3 contest have questions to answer, not least Wren’s Breath, Symphony Perfect and Pearl Glory, all of whom are yet to prove that they stay this 7f trip.

Another horse you can chuck into that category is Chocoya, who has been primarily campaigned over a furlong shorter with rare forays over this distance. She strikes me as a six-and-a-half furlong filly who stays this trip just not overly strongly, but with doubts about most of her rivals, her class might get her through.

She has three-quarters-of-a-length to make up with likely favourite She Do from the Listed Boadicea Stakes in the autumn, but the Hugo Palmer-trained filly raced furthest away from the rail bias at Newmarket that day and did well in the circumstances. Ryan Moore has ridden out of his skin all week and is fancied to notch another victory here.

Selection: Chocoya @ 4.5

Recommended bets

Ajrad (2.05 Lingfield) @ 6.6
Walk Of Stars (2.40 Lingfield) @ 2.06
Emily Dickinson (3.15 Lingfield) @ 2.5
Chocoya (3.50 Lingfield) @ 4.5