Lazurite returns to Lingfield Park on Tuesday aiming to secure her first victory after two narrow reverses against top-class opposition, as the all-weather programme cranks up another busy afternoon. The Frankel filly, who split Efsixteen and subsequent listed winner Crownbreaker on debut at Newmarket’s Guineas meeting, ran too freely in her next start and will now seek redemption in the Advice You Can Trust At gambling.com Fillies’ Novice Stakes. With six races live on Sky Sports Racing from 2.30pm, the card offers a mix of rejuvenated handicappers and unexposed debutants, but Lazurite’s bid for a breakthrough tops the billing.
Lazurite’s third crack at glory
Bred for speed and stamina, Lazurite showed enough on debut to suggest she can mix it with the best, yet her second outing exposed a tendency to overcook things early. Splitting two high-class performers at Newmarket was a genuine statement of potential, but the subsequent defeat at Kempton revealed a horse still learning her trade. Trainer John Gosden has opted for a fresh start at Lingfield, where the slower pace of the all-weather track may suit a filly who needs to settle. If she can replicate her Guineas form without the early exertions, the three-year-old looks primed to break her maiden mark.
The opposition in the Fillies’ Novice Stakes is far from pedestrian. Ambience, a £850,000 Tattersalls December Foals purchase, disappointed at Newmarket in May but has had ample time to mature. Aventure, meanwhile, ended Diamond Necklace’s unbeaten run this month, signalling a competitive division. Lazurite’s ability to rate kindly and finish strongly could be decisive in a race where tactical nous may matter as much as raw speed. The Newmarket debut saw her settle in midfield before making a strong late run between horses, while at Kempton she led for most of the race before fading into fourth. A repeat of either effort would leave her vulnerable, but a return to her Guineas form would make her the one to beat.
Handicappers and debutants sharpen up
The apprentice handicap at 2.30pm is headlined by Havana Touch, a progressive type who has rebounded from a winter lull with a smart victory at Kempton in June over seven furlongs. His trainer John Butler rates him a prominent fancy if he can replicate that effort, while Great Blasket—bolting up at Nottingham on stable debut over six furlongs—will look to rediscover his winning groove after a close third at Sandown over the same trip. Amused, another Sandown placed performer, adds further depth to a race where the forecasted soft ground could throw up a surprise. Havana Touch’s last run came off a mark of 89, but his Kempton win was achieved off 87, suggesting he may have been under-rated by the handicapper. Great Blasket’s Nottingham win was achieved from a mark of 82, but his Sandown effort came off 85, indicating he may have been asked to race beyond his true ability.
Among the debutants, Cotai Jaunt stands out as half-sister to five fairly good performers, including Group Three scorer Courage Mon Ami, while Thai Baht, another Burrows-trained newcomer, carries the pedigree of five- and six-furlong winners at two through his sire Dutch Art. Neither is guaranteed to sparkle, but in a thinly-run division, a well-drawn stall or a bold ride could unearth a live each-way chance. The apprentice handicap, in particular, offers a clearer narrative of progression, with Havana Touch’s recent form suggesting he can dictate terms if the pace is steady.
Tactical angles for the key races
Lazurite’s task is straightforward: avoid the early speed and let her stamina tell in the final furlong. The all-weather surface at Lingfield favours horses who can settle and quicken, a trait she showed in bursts at Newmarket. In the apprentice handicap, Havana Touch’s recent form suggests he can dictate terms, but if the pace is soft, front-runners like Great Blasket may profit from cutting off the favoured group. The key will be whether the handicapper has read the form correctly—Havana Touch’s rise has been steady, but his last win came off a mark that may not fully reflect his current ability. His Kempton victory was achieved off 87, but he has since been given a mark of 90, suggesting he is closer to that level than his official rating indicates.
For the Fillies’ Novice Stakes, the draw could matter. A middle draw might allow Lazurite to avoid traffic, while a wide draw could force early action—precisely what her connections will want to avoid. Ambience, if genuinely improved, could lurk in the pack, while Aventure’s recent scalp of a previously unbeaten rival adds intrigue. The race feels like a toss-up between a horse who learns from her mistakes (Lazurite) and one who has already shown top-level ability (Ambience), with the rest playing catch-up. The Newmarket debut saw her drawn wide, which may have contributed to her early exertions, while at Kempton she was drawn in stall five of six and led from the start. A better draw at Lingfield could be the difference between success and another disappointment.
Tuesday’s card is a reminder that all-weather racing thrives on second chances. Whether it’s Lazurite’s belated breakthrough, Havana Touch’s continued rise, or a debutant springing a surprise, Lingfield Park delivers the drama when it matters most.
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