Tumbleweed Ridge outstanding

IF Brian Meehan's judgement is good then Tumbleweed Ridge is an outstanding bet for today's £50,000-added Worthington Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster.

The four-year-old has pretty hot credentials if you go back to the form he showed as a juvenile in 1995.

He finished a head second to Royal Applause in the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes at York, was a one-and-a-half-length runner-up to Even Top in Newmarket's Tattersall Stakes and then gained his reward by winning the Group Three Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury.

Things started brightly enough last term when he finished four lengths fifth to Cayman Kai in the European Free Handicap but Tumbleweed Ridge subsequently struggled in good company.

But the handicapper looks to have taken a massive chance in dropping the four-year-old 28lb since the start of last season.

Meehan, who learnt his trade with Richard Hannon, is one of racing's up-and-coming trainers. He notched 43 winners last year in only his fourth frills season with a licence.

And interestingly, he's made no secret about his enthusiasm for Tumbleweed Ridge's chances.

After seeing his Blueridge Dancer win the Tote Benvenuto Brocklesby Stakes on Thursday, Meehan declared: "He's back working the way he was when he was a two-year-old and he's well handicapped."

"He had a wind operation and the whole of the summer off last year but I was pleased with the way he ran in a little race at Leicester last back-end.

"He's been trained for the Lincoln and he's god a reasonable draw with a bit of speed around him."

Although the very fancy prices about Tumbleweed Ridge have gone, punters setting their alarm clocks should be able to find a spot of 12 to 1.

But please don't play into the bookies' hands by accepting odds of below 10 to 1 about Tumbleweed Ridge or any other horse for that matter.

This is a terribly difficult race and plenty of ridiculously short-priced favourites have perished, such as Well Rigged (4 to 1) in 1986 and Selaah (5 to 1) in 1991.

Later, Barry Hills has prospects of a double with Wilawander, sixth in last year's St Leger, in the Midland Copying Doncaster Shield and Royal Applause in the Cammidge Trophy.

The latter was a little disappointing last season but his defeat of Russian Revival over course and distance illustrated that he has the potential to be a high class sprinter.

At Lingfield, punters can bank on Seattle Alley in the Newleaf Juvenile Maiden Hurdle.

The four-year-old ran a blinder to finish eighth of 28 to Commanche Court in last week's Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.