Paul Kealy's play of the day at Lingfield after yesterday's winner

Bell Shot

1.45 Lingfield

All-weather racing during the jumps seasons is not normally my bag, but we ought to be thankful we have something to keep the show on the road when all turf racing is frozen off, and there are actually a couple of reasonable Class 4 handicaps at Lingfield. 

The first, over 7f (1.45), might well go to Bell Shot, who has so far managed only one win from 12 outings on artificial surfaces (four-time turf winner) but has been running pretty well lately while slowly slipping down the handicap.

He cut out the early pace at the track last time but was eventually fought off by Ernie's Valentine, who had himself become very well handicapped on a mark 10lb lower than he had been in mid-summer.

Bell Shot did lose two more places close home, but was beaten only a length in all, and that was just one of a string of consistent efforts since he returned to the all-weather in October.

There is not much pace in this contest and he has a draw low enough to bag a good position early. 

As is often the case with a front-runner at Lingfield, the last couple of furlongs will be a painful watch, but if Alistair Rawlinson can get the fractions right he will surely have a good chance of holding on this time.

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