Mountain Bell can get her year rolling at Lingfield

Ralph Beckett seems to have found a good opportunity for his five-year-old to get her year rolling in this 12-furlong heat, after she signed off 2017 with a win in December.

That victory came in a similar event at Newcastle, albeit over two miles, and while Mountain Bell took a fair bit of coaxing by Josephine Gordon, when she eventually got in the game, she won with ease.

She will have to be a bit sharper in the early stages here over this shorter trip and actually has a length and a half to find with Red Verdon, who had her back in fourth over this distance in November. Mountain Bell was getting 5lb that day, but she will be in receipt of a further 3lb this time and that might be enough to peg back her old rival.

Poetic Imagination changed hands for 48,000 guineas at Tattersalls at the start of the month and offered an immediate return when third on her debut for Archie Watson.

The filly failed to strike in five starts for John Gosden, but certainly has a smidgen of ability and was good enough for third dropped back to five on her first effort for Watson.

She did not look quite quick enough for the minimum trip, but stepped back up to six furlongs and lining up off a mark of 74, she is not one to discount in the 32Red.com Handicap.

Warren Greatrex does not have that many Flat horses but Great Return has proved a nice money spinner for the yard since joining the team in December.

Great Return hit the target in the hands of the trainer’s son, Edward, when romping home by seven lengths at Wolverhampton last week. The application of first-time cheekpieces clearly worked wonders that day and a swift return to Dunstall Park under a 6lb penalty looks a smart move, as the handicapper is sure to hike him a fair bit in the weights now.