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POKE THE BEAR is expected to prove a major irritant to the bookies by landing the Win £250,000 With BetMGM's Golden Goals Handicap (2.20) at Lingfield Park today.

The Hayley Burton-trained son of Eqtidaar missed the target on his first 10 starts – including six when in the care of Amy Murphy – but now travels from Newmarket to Surrey having won two of his last four.

My selection enjoyed a red-letter day over this course and distance with a three-quarter-length call over Bear To Dream on December 8.

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And, on the back of defeats at Lingfield and Southwell, Poke The Bear was back in business over seven furlongs here last Saturday.

Things didn’t look too promising when Tyler Heard’s mount was squeezed out at the stalls but Poke The Bear powered home once in line for the judge, leading half a furlong out to hold My Boy Harry by one length.

The return to a mile is a definite plus for the in-form top weight, who should shrug off a 5lb penalty for a third career triumph.

At Wincanton, MUTLEY CREW is the choice to gain atonement for a nose defeat over course and distance on Boxing Day by defying six rivals for the Travel Incentive For British Buyers Novices' Handicap Chase (2.03).

Newsboy's selections
WINCANTON
1.33 COOLANNA
2.03 MUTLEY CREW (NB)
2.33 POURQUOIS PAS PAPA
3.03 BRADMAN
3.33 JUPITER ALLEN
4.03 MR GLASS
4.33 SECRET DES LUNE

AYR
1.13 COOLKATIE
1.43 FOLLOW CHARLIE
2.13 WENDIGO
2.43 STEDE BONNET
3.13 ADVERAM
3.43 CARCACI CASTLE
4.13 KATAGAT

LINGFIELD PARK
1.20 CAPTAIN KINSELLA
1.50 MASKATTO
2.20 POKE THE BEAR (NAP)
2.50 ROYAL JET
3.20 ALTA RICA
3.50 SAKURA SPIRIT
4.20 ALL TOO BEAUTIFUL

CHELMSFORD CITY
5.00 FOREVER NOAH
5.30 SECRET HISTORY
6.00 DUBAI MAGIC
6.30 TWILIGHT FUN
7.00 EDERGOLE’S GIFT
7.30 TARANJERINE
8.00 H KEY LAILS

DOUBLE: POKE THE BEAR and MUTLEY CREW