Monday Racing Tips: Wedgewood to take advantage of drop in class

Flat racing holds sway across Britain on Monday with four meetings taking place across the afternoon and into the evening. First off is Newcastle before they go to Lingfield and Wolverhampton, while Wincanton showcases the sole jumps card.

Among our Monday racing tips is one for trainer Tony Carroll, who ran a big race in a much better contest than this one at Lingfield.

15:38 Wincanton - Hatos @ 8/1

Five runners are set to go to post for this 1m7½f handicap chase, and bottom weight HATOS has a golden opportunity to bounce back to form for trainer Anthony Honeyball with Richie McLernon in the saddle.

A dual winner over fences this season, the seven-year-old brought up the double over course and distance in February off a mark of 101, going away in the closing stages to beat Paul Nicholls' Toothless.

He is only 4lbs higher in the weights now after being dropped 2lbs for a poor effort here over 2m4f last month. Unable to see out the trip, Hatos is without doubt far more effective over two miles and the drop in trip could be a huge help.

His form on heavy ground reads 11124 and, with everything in his favour, he can get involved in the shake-up here.

16:30 Lingfield - Wedgewood @ 3/1

Carroll's horses have been running very well the last few weeks, and WEDGEWOOD showed enough on her most recent start to make her a worthy favourite for the 5f handicap under William Carson.

The filly traded very short in-running when third at Wolverhampton last month, with the winner going on to record another victory since. She again went well for a long way in a 0-68 at Southwell, only beaten a couple of lengths off a mark of 56.

Dropped 1lb by the handicapper, she edges into a 0-55 here and if the four-year-old blasts out and tries to make all, she will be difficult to reel back in. She has a massive chance on these terms and is a confident selection.

17:00 Lingfield - Comedian Leader @ 22/1

COMEDIAN LEADER joined Jim & Suzi Best from Gay Kelleway early this year, and although the filly is yet to impress on two starts for her new yard, she is a big danger to all if she can run anywhere near her best in Lingfield's closing 1m2f handicap.

This is her first try at this sort of trip so she comes with obvious risks attached, but won well over a mile at Kempton in January and there's every chance she could see out the extra two furlongs.

A winner off a mark of 60 on that occasion, she is now 2lbs lower and with a good inside draw in stall three, the four-year-old should be able to get a good early position. It's a competitive race but she's a contender.