Lingfield best bet 1900: Piranheer can step up to next level under Oisin Murphy
Al Agaila ridden by James Doyle at Lingfield
Lingfield offers a varied mixed-surface card on Tuesday evening, and this 1900 middle-distance race around the all-weather track has plenty of betting options for race-goers to consider.
19:00 Lingfield: Get Raceday Ready Classified Stakes (1 mile 4 furlongs)
In a line-up of modest quality, last-time-out winner Red Cloud stands out after backing up a couple of runner-up spots at Brighton with maiden success over 10 furlongs at Chepstow ten days ago.
After building up from a six-furlong sprinter in juvenile campaign, connections clearly see longer-distance capabilities, although whether that justifies such a short price on his first attempt at 12 furlongs on his polytrack debut is open to debate.
That question mark could open the door for more proven performers over this distance, with Velvet Vulcan likely to give Tom Marquand a good ride as he returns to his favourite track, on which he finished first and second on his last two visits.
Even more intriguing is Piranheer, trained by Jim and Suzi Best, whose ambitions for their five-year-old is reflected by the significant booking of Oisin Murphy for his second attempt over this trip.
Having shown little in ten sprinting attempts during the previous three years, this lightly-raced gelding gave a glimpse of his potential last time out in an 11-runner event four weeks ago over this course and distance.
Suggested best bet: Piranheer each-way in the 19:00 at Lingfield
Sent off as a massive 150/1 outsider, Piranheer belied those odds by making solid headway over the final furlong to emerge from mid-division to finish with only the short-priced favourite ahead of him.
Having only been previously tried over five, six and seven furlongs, that first attempt over such a relatively long distance was an eye-opener for connections, who clearly see the presence of Murphy as the impetus required to take their charge to the next level.
The former champion jockey is in red-hot form, and arrives fresh from two more wins at Windsor on Monday night, one of which was our evening racing tip. Not everything he touches turns to gold, of course, but he might just be the missing link for Piranheer on Tuesday night.
