Horse Racing: Five-year old primed to secure another victory at Lingfield

Oasis Dancer ended a lengthy barren streak at Wolverhampton last month and he can follow up in the lingfieldpark.co.uk Handicap at the Surrey venue.

The five-year-old had not won since July 2010 before he dropped back to six furlongs and romped home at Dunstall Park last time. Tackling conditions company there, the Oasis Dream gelding demonstrated a potent turn of foot as he accounted for some fair rivals by more than four lengths. He was previously second to Primaeval over seven furlongs at Kempton, form which reads pretty well given the winner’s previous exploits. The handicapper has raised Oasis Dancer 6lb for his Wolverhampton verdict but, given the ease of his victory, that extra weight might not be enough to stop him.

Nibani’s confidence will be high after a recent win at this track and he can make it a double in the Forest Row Handicap. Alastair Lidderdale dropped him back to claiming company and that allowed Nibani to win for the first time in 16 races.

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Colour Squadron, meanwhile, can make the leap to Grade One level with victory in the 32Red Hurdle Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown. The race, better known as the Tolworth, has lost a little of its lustre in recent years but Colour Squadron has real potential. Winner of a Chepstow bumper on his racecourse bow in October, he was found slightly wanting when switched to hurdles at Newbury. Philip Hobbs’ inmate was beaten just half a length that day but the six-year-old did not enjoy the best of passages and his battling attitude was a definite positive as he finished second. The Old Vic gelding then stepped up on that effort to claim victory back at Newbury last month, benefiting from both softer ground and a switch to front-running tactics. This looks a trappy contest, but Colour Squadron is open to any amount of improvement now connections are getting to grips with him and the likely easy conditions will certainly be in his favour.

Hold Fast made a decent return when fourth on his seasonal bow and he can build on that in the 32Red Handicap Chase. The eight-year-old is now with Paul Nicholls after winning two hurdles and a chase for Howard Johnson. A Media Luz is worth another try in the 32Red.com Mares’ Hurdle despite being withdrawn after playing up in the preliminaries before the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last time, but connections reckon she may have been coming into season and she should appreciate this opportunity against her own sex.

Ashfield’s Dream drops back in trip after a creditable third over three miles at Newcastle last time. Trying the distance for the first time, Ashfield’s Dream was just four lengths adrift of Hey Big Spender after trying to make all. The return to two miles and five furlongs in Wincanton’s Bathwick Tyres Handicap Chase should suit.

Soul Angel made a winning return at Musselburgh before Christmas and can add to his tally in the digibet Handicap Chase at Newcastle.

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