SPANISH VOICE CAN ANSWER THE CALL AT LINGFIELD

By Nick Robson, Press Association

Spanish Voice has obviously been a difficult horse to train but he can light up a midweek card at Lingfield in the Midnite Ain't Your Grandad's Bookie Novice Stakes.

Originally sent to Sir Michael Stoute, upon his retirement Andrew Balding was the beneficiary but he only managed to get him to the track once as a juvenile.

That was a race full of promise, though, as he finished a two-length third to First Principle, now rated 92, and the Godolphin runner-up who is now rated in three figures.

That was in December 2024 and he began life at three in April at Newmarket's Craven meeting where he won a 10-furlong novice event.

It could barely have worked out any better as the horse he beat, Push The Limit - while admittedly getting weight - has really franked the form and is now rated 103.

At the time Spanish Voice held entries in the Dante and the Derby, but a problem ensued which has kept him off the track until now.

Nevertheless, the 210,000 guinea purchase can make up for lost time on his return.

Far Too Fizzy has a 10lb rise to overcome in the Bet #10 Get #40 With BetMGM Handicap, but there is a good chance he may be able to.

Previously he had only won one of nine starts before absolutely blowing his opposition away at Lingfield last month.

He won by five lengths but was value for double that, however the handicapper did not miss him.

To offset most of the rise, though, David Loughnane has booked 7lb apprentice Conor Whiteley so he could still prove well in.

Loughnane and Whitely also team up in the Betmgm Supports Safer Gambling Handicap with Lexington Jet, who is out for a hat-trick.

Whiteley took over from Hollie Doyle last time out so knows the four-year-old well enough, but a 7lb higher mark will test him out.

At Chelmsford another hat-trick seeker, Al Baahy, looks the best bet in the Valentines ``Hands And Heels'' Apprentice Handicap.

Trained by Kevin Frost, the seven-year-old has hit a rich vein of form with wins at Wolverhampton and Lingfield.

He went up 4lb for the first of his wins and is up another 2lb, but a horse in form at this level is usually worth sticking with.

The Richard Hughes-trained Manly Fireball has run three respectable races to date and can get off the mark in the Heartstrings Restricted Maiden Stakes.

Brentford Hope can stamp his class on the Royal Bath & West Show Handicap Hurdle at Taunton.

Harry Derham's stalwart won at Haydock in handicap company on his penultimate start before finishing only a length and a half behind The New One in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The handicapper had to leave him alone after that and this represents a significant drop in class.

Milan Tino only has three to beat in the Kube - Leicester's Premier Events Venue Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at Leicester.
He has never quite hit the heights that first looked likely, but he did win two starts back at Ludlow. Last time at Doncaster he was in quite deep, but this is more his level.

Top tips for today’s UK meetings

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.

TAUNTON: Race 1: 15.05 Marhaba Prince, Race 2: 15.40 Five Bar Gate, Race 3: 16.15 Cooler
Than Me, Race 4: 16.50 Call Me Arthur, Race 5: 17.25 Brentford Hope, Race 6: 18.00 Golden
Son.

LINGFIELD: Race 1: 15.23 Rising Force, Race 2: 15.58 SPANISH VOICE (NAP), Race 3: 16.33 Far
Too Fizzy, Race 4: 17.08 Kento, Race 5: 17.43 Everest, Race 6: 18.15 Lexington Jet, Race 7: 18.50
American Rose.

LEICESTER: Race 1: 15.30 Moor End, Race 2: 16.05 Milan Tino, Race 3: 16.40 A Little Something,
Race 4: 17.15 Leech, Race 5: 17.50 Rosscahill, Race 6: 18.25 Paul Marvel.

CHELMSFORD: Race 1: 18.55 Al Baahy, Race 2: 19.30 Manly Fireball, Race 3: 20.00 Aberama
Gold, Race 4: 20.30 Carlton, Race 5: 21.00 Stay Salty, Race 6: 21.30 Crimson Rambler, Race 7:
22.00 Captain Parma.

ALL TO COME: Spanish Voice (Lingfield, Race 2) and Brentford Hope (Taunton, Race 5)

For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab.co.za