Best bets for today's racing from our Starform expert Jon Lees

FIRST ENCOUNTER (2.18, nap) can claim a second success of 2026 at Lingfield today.

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The five-year-old was well placed by John Gallagher to land a Classified Stakes for horses rated up to 50 at Wolverhampton last month.

He led 2f out and battled on gamely to repel all dangers and score by neck under Luke Morris.

Gallagher has booked Morris again and retained the blinkers which were deployed for the first time in four starts for an identical opportunity at Lingfield over half a furlong shorter, which can only be to First Encounter’s advantage.