North Lincoln might just be one of those heavily-backed Sir Mark Prescott-trained ‘specials’ in a compelling seven-runner Novices’ Stakes over six furlongs of Lingfield polytrack this afternoon when two most interesting rivals are already noted!
Magical Dias and Income have been recent losing naps (both unlucky seconds!) but neither has achieved the time-handicap mark posted by North Lincoln first-up over a similar distance on Wolverhampton tapeta sixteen days ago when this Acclamation colt ran on strongly under stable jockey Luke Morris to be third (13!) behind Aasser, a 4/7 chance, and another newcomer, Cityjet, in a fast-run dash; distances were a length and one and a half;. I doubt either of the principals would ever beat North Lincoln again on similar terms.
That finishing effort must have had thousands reaching for notebooks in the ‘next time’ page because North Lincoln went off at 25/1!
Doubtless Sir Mark was surprised (or whatever!) but I’ll be glued to the Betfair betting exchange on which Prescott’s ‘clients’ have been winning millions on his celebrated certain ‘shorties’ and no other scribe ever mentions it. They are probably so tied up with pretentiousness to notice but I’m a betting man, through and through, probably nothing like yesteryear and yet ‘the story’ was always in the betting ring where money talks the language.
Morris rode a baffling race on Misscall at Dunstall Park, Monday night; as expected he rousted his mount to ‘hit the gate’ superbly from stall 10 but, just when we expected him to rein in and track the leaders alongside Luke sent his mount clear on the final turn.
‘What’s going on?’ I thought and sure enough approaching the final furlong Misscall nigh on collapsed and finished well beaten by five lengths!
‘You can’t beat the draw’ and certainly not ridden in such a manner and so I’ll also be keeping a close eye on the next mission for Misscall.
At this point I’m loath to criticise jockeys because, for the most part, they have to do as instructed!
Nowadays I’m not in control, in the distant past my instructions were firm and explicit; incidentally Prescott also preaches ‘chapter and verse’ to jockeys and like those footballs in the goalmouths all those years ago, I’ll watch every move of North Lincoln.
Football was my absolute passion as a teenager when I played alongside Lineker and the F.A Cup last weekend was a wonderful reminder of a great competition which must never be demeaned again; none better, fact.
Rest of the Lingers card looks hopeless but during the obligatory ‘Wednesday-nighter’ on Kempton polytrack Godolphin-owned Tranquil Night is massively-fancied for a nine-runner Novice Stakes over seven furlongs, five are unraced!
Selections, Lingfield, 1.35 North Lincoln (e.w); Leicester, 1.50 Nurse Susan; Kempton, 6.00 Tranquil Night.
Jeffrey Ross, horse-racing correspondent for WMN since 1983 when winning the most prestigious racing journalist award, Sporting Life Naps Table, before winning it a record number of six times collectively in the Racing Post, the current ‘trade’ paper, including 2019