Read Meg Nicholls' Blog At betmgm.co.uk Classified Stakes

Lingfield (AW)

16:12

Date 2026-02-25

Distance 1m1y

Class Class 6

Going Standard

Type Flat

Surface AW

Age Band 4yo+

Prize £3,140

Weather Mainly Clear

Temp 7.3°C

Wind 4mph E

Rain 0%

Winning Time 1m 38.11s (slow by 3.21s)

Result

Pos	Horse	SP	Btn
1st	First Encounter (GB) Luke Morris · John Gallagher	15/8F	Won
2nd	Unknown Journey (IRE) William Carson · Tony Carroll	12/1	.5
3rd	Monks Mead (GB) George Bass · Mark Usher	7/2	1.5
4th	Spirit Charmer (GB) Charles Bishop · Patrick Chamings	20/1	0.1
5th	Pyrrhic Dancer (IRE) Gina Mangan · Gary Brown	16/1	2
6th	Iftikhaar (IRE) Jonny Peate · J R Jenkins	12/1	1
7th	Nicely Curved (USA) Rob Hornby · Hayley Burton	9/4	6
8th	Back Before Dark (GB) Jude Fernandes · Andy Irvine	50/1	1.25

Runners (10)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	Odds
2 (4)	First Encounter Bay J:Luke Morris T:John Gallagher	J:Luke Morris T:John Gallagher	135	b	4-8612	49	61	49	15d	—	—	-18	8	9/4 31%
First and second in this grade on last two outings; should be in the thick of it again
6 (7)	Nicely Curved Bay J:Rob Hornby T:Hayley Burton	J:Rob Hornby T:Hayley Burton	135	ht	37/9-2	50	58	42	15d	—	—	-13	13	9/4 31%
Second over C&D in a similar race on her British debut 15 days ago, looking a tricky ride
5 (1)	Monks Mead Grey J:George Bass T:Mark Usher	J:George Bass T:Mark Usher	135	—	4-5124	49	60	51	17d	—	—	-12	5	9/2 18%
Running well in 1m2f classified events in recent weeks; one to consider back at a mile
3 (5)	Iftikhaar Bay J:Jonny Peate T:J R Jenkins	J:Jonny Peate T:J R Jenkins	135	v	088-25	48	59	49	25d	—	—	-6	2.5	9/1 10%
Solid course efforts (1m2f) on last two starts; strike-rate of 1-36 is offputting
10 (8)	Unknown Journey Bay J:William Carson T:Tony Carroll	J:William Carson T:Tony Carroll	135	—	99-735	45	54	33	15d	—	—	-5	2	12/1 8%
19-race maiden; needs to step up on recent C&D form to trouble the principals
9 (6)	Spirit Charmer Bay J:Charles Bishop T:Patrick Chamings	J:Charles Bishop T:Patrick Chamings	135	—	006-63	47	54	46	15d	—	—	-5	1.7	14/1 7%
Modest maiden; latest C&D 3rd was a fair run but work to do with runner-up Nicely Curved
7 (2)	Pyrrhic Dancer Bay J:Gina Mangan T:Gary Brown	J:Gina Mangan T:Gary Brown	135	b	3/04-6	45	56	33	44d	—	—	-3	3.3	14/1 7%
1 (10)	Back Before Dark Bay J:Jude Fernandes(7) T:Andy Irvine	J:Jude Fernandes(7) T:Andy Irvine	135	—	4020-5	47	56	36	54d	0W/0P 1 run	0W/0P 1 run	-2	0.8	33/1 3%
Inconsistent sprinter for former stable; stamina to prove starting out for new connections
NR (9)	Man Is King Bay J:Oisin McSweeney T:David Flood	J:Oisin McSweeney T:David Flood	135	t	-05193	50	61	47	2d	—	—	—	8	—
NR (3)	Saved Lizzie Chestnut J:Sean D Bowen T:John Butler	J:Sean D Bowen T:John Butler	135	—	306-56	44	54	47	14d	—	—	—	0	—
0-23 but has shown promise, including C&D; not at her best this winter though

Horse	bet365	William Hill	Boyle Sports	Ladbrokes	Unibet
First Encounter	9/4	9/4	9/4	9/4	9/4
Nicely Curved	9/4	9/4	9/4	9/4	9/4
Monks Mead	9/2	9/2	4/1	9/2	9/2
Iftikhaar	9/1	9/1	9/1	9/1	17/2
Unknown Journey	11/1	11/1	12/1	10/1	11/1
Spirit Charmer	14/1	14/1	12/1	14/1	14/1
Pyrrhic Dancer	14/1	11/1	14/1	14/1	12/1
Back Before Dark	28/1	33/1	28/1	33/1	33/1
Man Is King	-	-	-	-	-
Saved Lizzie	-	-	-	-	-

Predictor

Scored on Official Rating (max 30), Recent Form (max 25), and Market Odds (max 20). Max score: 75.

1st

Nicely Curved

OR: 0 Form: 5 Odds: 8

9/4

2nd

First Encounter

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 8

9/4

3rd

Man Is King

OR: 0 Form: 8 Odds: 0

—

Monks Mead

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 5

9/2

Pyrrhic Dancer

3.3

OR: 0 Form: 1.5 Odds: 1.8

14/1

Iftikhaar

2.5

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 2.5

9/1

Unknown Journey

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 2

12/1

Spirit Charmer

1.7

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 1.7

14/1

Back Before Dark

0.8

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.8

33/1

Saved Lizzie

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0

—

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
Nicely Curved	50	58	42
Man Is King	50	61	47
First Encounter	49	61	49
Monks Mead	49	60	51
Iftikhaar	48	59	49
Spirit Charmer	47	54	46
Back Before Dark	47	56	36
Unknown Journey	45	54	33
Pyrrhic Dancer	45	56	33
Saved Lizzie	44	54	47

Last Run

Horse	Last Run	Status
Man Is King	2d ago	Quick return
Saved Lizzie	14d ago	Fit
First Encounter	15d ago	Fit
Nicely Curved	15d ago	Fit
Unknown Journey	15d ago	Fit
Spirit Charmer	15d ago	Fit
Monks Mead	17d ago	Fit
Iftikhaar	25d ago	Fit
Pyrrhic Dancer	44d ago	Fit
Back Before Dark	54d ago	Fresh

Draw Bias

Historical win rate by draw at Lingfield (AW) over 1m1y. Darker = more wins.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Based on 7 draws with historical results at this course and distance.