4:30 – Lingfield – FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @LINGFIELDPARK HANDICAP (CLASS 4) (3yo 0-85) Good To Firm 1m2f
The Sir Michael Stoute trained Debating Society comes into this race on the back of a very cosy win at Epsom 8 days ago and consequently carries a 6lb penalty. The race looks super competitive as the field looks like a who’s who of top training talent. However, with his yard in such good form Debating Society gets the tentative vote this afternoon.
Debating Society has run seven times to date and his win at Epsom last time out was the first career victory for the 3 year old bay colt. He has been stepped up to middle distances on his last three starts and was tried over 1 mile 3 furlongs at Kempton three starts back. Not only was it his first run over a distance longer than 1 mile but it was also his all weather debut and Debating Society ran well to finish 3rd just ¾ length behind the winner. His first run over today’s trip of 1 mile 2 furlongs was at Sandown on 18 July and he failed to give his running. The going was Soft and on his only other run in soft ground he has finished 4th so is probably not suited by the going.
His last run at Epsom over the same trip saw him in a much better light. The going at Epsom was Good and Debating Society was initially dropped into midfield before taking up a more prominent position 3 furlongs out. He closed smoothly on the leaders to lead over2 furlongs out before being ridden under pressure inside the final furlong. Although he had to be kept up to his work as he idled in front he ran on well enough to be eased down towards the finish to win by 1 length.
Although Debating Society carries a 6lb penalty for his Epsom win he ran with real promise and suggested that he has more improvement to come over this trip. The fact that he idled in front shows that he could have won by a bigger margin and in any case he was doing enough to be eased down towards the finish. He runs in a much more competitive race today and with 5 winners from 21 runners in the last 7 day’s, Kieren Fallon who takes the ride for the first time is in great form. Fallon is also very strong when riding out a finish and well make up Debating Society’s mind for him when push comes to shove if he again idles when he hits the front. Debating Society’s yard are going even better and with Sit Michael Stoute sending out 5 winners from just 9 runners in the last week a chance is taken that his 3year old colt can step up again today.
