RACE PREVIEWS & TIPS (WEDNESDAY)

16:00 Southwell Excellent Aim hasn’t won since December 2015 in a six-furlong handicap here but his looks like a real opportunity for George Margarson’s ten year old to score again. He’s now 3lb below that winning mark and also has Jane Elliot taking off a handy 7lb in the saddle. His second at Chelmsford two starts back reads well and his last attempt over this track and trip he was second of 14 taking him to four runs over five-furlongs here with a win and three placed efforts. Red Flute is the likely pace angle into the race and he’s drawn in stall five right next to Excellent Aim, so hopefully Jane Elliot tracks him to get a nice tow into the race before putting it to bed. Red Flute has ran well off this mark the last twice and is himself 4lb below his last winning mark. Roy’s Legacy has won off a mark of 63 in the past and he’s off 52 here. He went close at Lingfield last time and has been similarly consistent to Red Flute. When he ran on this surface for the first time last month he didn’t look entirely in love with it and soon weakened. Novabridge is interesting for Karen Tutty making his fibresand debut. Excellent Aim (WIN)

16:55 Lingfield A five-furlong sprint where eight go to post, including last time out course and distance winner Mossgo. Kieren Fox was able to dictate a slow gallop that day, which saw him make all and hold off all comers. He enjoys it around here and has only gone up 4lb in the weights but here he may be taken on for the lead with Powerful Wind and Menelik in the field. The latter of that pair has been in good form with two wins at Chelmsford over a furlong further and was second here over seven furlongs. It’s interesting to see him down to this minimum trip as he’s never tackled it before but given his success over six-furlongs then a strong gallop that brings his stamina to the fore would suit Des Donovan’s charge. That said with that amount of pace in the race it could set it up for a closer in the shape of Milton Bradley’s consistent Temple Road. The nine year old’s last win came over track and trip back in December off a mark of 60. He is off 67 here and ran well when a close up third at Chelmsford last time but I expect a return to this track to suit him with his record over course and distance reading 13 starts with four wins and two places. He enjoys it around here and this could be ran to suit. Temple Road (E/W)