Back Meehan’s Opinion
The Singspiel colt made a belated first racecourse appearance just three weeks ago at the Surrey venue when runner-up to the much more experienced Chief Exec.
He only went down by half a length in a seven-furlong novice event and may well have won had he known more about the racing game.
Trainer Brian Meehan has wasted no time in stepping Humble Opinion up to a mile for division two of the Carpetman London Ltd Maiden Stakes and the contest is there for the taking.
The first division can fall to the John Gosden-trained In The Know, who also shaped well on his bow early last month.
That came in an end-of-season maiden on turf at Doncaster, where he was 11th of 21 to Bow Wave after being made 13-2 joint-favourites.
That only tells half the story as he lost all chance at the start by being slowly away. He did, however, stay on to some effect in the final two furlongs and was only eight lengths down at the end of the six-furlong contest.
Like Humble Opinion, the son of Desert Prince should relish today’s extra distance.
Compton Drake can register his third course success in the First Co Acquisitions Handicap.
The five-year-old’s two previous wins at Lingfield came over 10 furlongs, but Gerard Butler’s charge has won over this trip of a mile.
And he showed he was in good shape when a close third to Red Spell over a mile and a quarter here three weeks ago.
Gallery God can win for the third time at Fontwell this jumps season by taking the Poker@bluesq.com Novices’ Hurdle.
This former useful Flat performer when trained by Geoff Wragg is also proving a fine servant for Simon Dow, having won two novice events at the Sussex track in the last two months.
He could not quite cut it in decent company at Sandown last time out when he was fifth to Ladalko, but he will be a different proposition back in this class.
