Mubtadi at Lingfield .....................................................

Mubtadi – Lingfield Monday

Being a pragmatist is vital when placing horses. You should instantly know when looking at the entries of a race whether you genuinely feel, injuries or setbacks aside, you have a decent chance of success.

As soon as the 5-day decs came out for Mubtadi’s event at Lingfield I was happy. He has been a revelation since a few things were tweaked, most noticeably his balls! He is a much sweeter animal and his work at home has been quite amazing.

On form, this step into a 0-70 represents his hardest task to date. this season.  He is also creeping up the handicap. Yet there is plenty to suggest he is still ahead of the handicapper. He was running in 0-80’s last summer when he was having issues with his knee and was still an entire.

He is still only rated 67 (13lbs below a mark he has run well off) and his homework has improved each week. He ran all over Educate in a gallop a couple of weeks ago and then dismissed the promising Magic Lando last Friday with contemptuous ease.

Tactic-wise he is also much more versatile now and the step up to 10f has helped. He made virtually all on his first two starts this season but was held up when winning even easier last time at Wolverhampton.

With three potential front runners in the race those tactics are likely to be employed again, especially as he has a lovely draw in stall 2. Star apprentice Tom Brown has struck up an amazing understanding with Mubtadi and he is now the only jockey that the owner wants to ride him. He rides him perfectly.

There isn’t anything else in the race that is handicapped to be a major worry and the plan is to run Mubtadi back at Yarmouth next Monday with a penalty, if the ground isn’t on the slow side, if he wins at Lingfield.

This will be Mubtadi’s final run on the AW for a while. He is another horse I expect to improve even more once he confronts a fast turf surface.