Betway Hever Stakes
The Betway Hever Sprint Stakes is a fast and furious five furlong dash that has attracted 11 entries at the five day stage. Of those entries, the most notable include Moss Gill, who was placed in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes behind the mighty Battaash at York in August. He’s a relatively lightly raced five year and was clearly still improving last season, so he’s going to be on plenty of punters betting slips.
Nahaarr is another fascinating entry. Hailing from William Haggas’ stable, he hasn’t been seen since his impressive “last to first” success in the Ayr Gold Cup in September. It’s worth noting that he is 1/1 at Lingfield as he a novice race on his second career start, so there would be no qualms about him not liking Lingfield tight turning track.
Add in Blue De Vega, who improved 19lb last season as a seven year old, the flying Ornate who will no doubt break out in front and go like the clappers and the improving Tone The Barone for Stuart Williams, it looks set to be another cracking edition of the Betway Hever Stakes.
Betway Winter Derby
The feature race on Saturday is the Betway Winter Derby and while there is only a field of seven entered, it’s a really open looking contest. Felix, who was narrowly beaten in the Betway Winter Derby Trial last time sets the standard and his beating of Bangkok at Wolverhampton on his penultimate start reads very well.
Forest Of Dean has seen the back of Felix on his last two starts but has bridged the gap on each occasion and his connections will be hoping that he could pass his rival at the third time of asking.
Roger Varian won this race in 2013 with Farraaj and this year has entered Father Of Jazz who is three from three since joining his yard. He was very impressive over course and distance and is still very unexposed, so they question is to be asking…how good could he be?
Betway ambassador Andrew Balding had originally entered Bangkok but he took up a declaration to run in Saudi Arabia last weekend and is instead reliant on Johnny Drama, who has taken to a synthetic surface like a duck to water. He was fifth in the Betway Quebec Stakes on his last start and has been freshened up since and can be expected to go very well. Ryan Moore has been booked for the ride.
