Quebec Stakes preview...

After all the National Hunt abandonments, all-weather racing takes centre stage on Terrestrial TV this afternoon with racing from Lingfield Park.

The highlight of which is the Quebec Stakes over 10f due off at 2.40.

The favourite for the race is Henry Cecils Tranquil Tiger, a winner over Course and Distance exactly 4 weeks ago. He earned a speed figure of 103 for that race, beating the well regarded Presvis into second on his only polytrack start. Although one thing of note is Presvis was not cherry ripe on that occasion, using the race merely as a stepping stone to the Hong Kong Cup, in which he finished 3rd.
Tranquil Tiger also appears to be best when fresh, and the four week break may just not be enough.

The Irish raider Settigano is interesting after his win on the Dundalk polytrack last month, however he has never won over a distance this far, and this son of Sadlers Wells may just be found out in the final furlong if the pace is a strong one.

Making that pace will surely be the Richard Hannon trained Plum Pudding, who may also be taken on by Suits Me. With those two likely to cut each others throats up front, the race could be set up for a deep closer.

Wille Muir's Saphiras Fire fits into this category, she has been running admirably in defeat recently, earning a big speed figure of 107 when 3rd to Les Fazzani at Kempton on her latest start over 12 furlong.

However, the horse I like in the race is French raider Sky Crusader. Available at 9/1 with Ladbrokes this horse began life in the UK with Roger Ingram before shipping to Europe to become something of an All-Weather specialist in Germany under Christian Von Der Recke and more recently in France under the guidance of Marcus Nigge. He ran well on his most recent visit to the UK finishing 4th behind Kirklees in a Group 3 at Kempton in September, earning a speed figure of 101. He has since recorded a fairly easy listed victory at Deauville and is clearly in good heart. I anticipate him sitting off the pace towards the rear of the field while the front runners go at it, and taking aim in the straight - incidentally 39% of races at Lingfield since 1st November have been won by runners coming from well off the pace, this statistic bodes well for Sky Crusader, and he is the reccommendation @ 9/1 Each-Way (2 places).

Elsewhere on the card, Mister New York is the clear speed figure pick in the last race. This race has a Class Par of 86, with Mister New York bettering that figure in 2 of his last 3 starts. The pace angle of this race is less clear cut however, with the majority of the field employing hold-up tactics and only Lyras Daemon a confirmed pace setter. With so many horses held up, there could be traffic problems entering the straight and Mister New York could be trapped on the rail from Box.2, however if a split appears he should have the speed to get through it. He is an each way proposition at a general 4/1.

Hollywood_G