Lingfield best bet (1510): Behind The Scenes can steal the limelight in Winter Oaks
Lingfield racecourse
Saturday’s depleted card allows the spotlight to shine brighter on the feature race at Lingfield’s Winter Million Festival, with a high-class field lining up to contest the biggest prize of the day.
15:10 Lingfield: BetMGM Winter Oaks Fillies’ Handicap (1 mile 2 furlongs)
Four wins in her seven career outings since June have justifiably put Oh So Grand on top of the betting pile, and looks to be the one to beat if able to replicate the performance that saw her beat the opposing Queen Regent in the Oaks Trail here last month.
Connections of Queen Regent will hope that first-time cheekpieces will help make up that gap, but the favourite’s main threat is likely to come from stablemate Twirling, on whom Ryan Moore makes a rare and potentially significant all-weather appearance.
Planet Sport Bet: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Oh So Grand wins by more than 2 lengths, get a £5 Free Bet
There’s an argument to be made for all eight runners in this high-quality field, and that means it would be unwise to rule out George Boughey’s Storymaker, whose form has surged since the application of a tongue-tie.
After finishing third of 12 in three consecutive outings in November, this lively four-year-old won four races either side of the festive period, digging deep to land a five-runner handicap at Southwell 11 days ago.
She goes back up in trip here, and she should not be taken lightly under the seven-pound claim of Tommie Jakes, who has been on board for the last three of those four successes.
Outsider punt: Storymaker in the 15:10 at Lingfield
- Tip advised by Soul Spirit Tips on Tipstrr
For those not convinced by Storymaker’s prospects, then the James Tate-trained Behind The Scenes might look a little more appetising.
A career-debut winner at Kempton in August 2022, she confirmed her progress a year later when landing a seven-runner handicap at Wolverhampton, despite being allowed to wander her way to the line in the final furlong.
She has run equally well, albeit in defeat, in her three subsequent appearances, and was last seen finishing sixth of 15 in Listed company at Deauville a month ago.
She can give another good account of herself here in the capable hands of all-weather specialist Rossa Ryan, and from a yard that has been producing runners in good shape just lately.
Suggested best bet: Behind The Scenes in the 15:10 at Lingfield
- Tip advised by Interesting Method on Tipstrr
READ MORE: Lingfield racing tips: Best bets for Saturday January 20
