A very restricted auction race over the extended five furlongs.
This looks a poor race.
Leiba Lieba sets the standard here and will probably go on to an easy win although this bay colt does have a chink in his armour. To be fair, on both starts Marco Botti's youngster has travelled with ease and traded at big odds on only to be defeated. The form is good enough to win a race of this nature but the tactics they employ today will be of great importance. If Sanders tries to force the issue and lead all the way it could be a possibility this two-year-old stops in front as he definitely struggles to get to the finishing line and looks a short runner. I would be tempted to lay his juvenile at big odds-on in-running and hope he gets caught after an easy lead. With past experience, Botti may employ more holding-up tactics which would scupper such plans but an interesting angle that may pay dividends.
The rest of the field look a motley crew with the majority having shown limited ability. The Best Mode has speed to burn but struggles to finish his races, while Dotty Dorroch finished third to a talented juvenile in Excel Bolt but probably achieved little.
The most interesting candidate for a place could well be Blade Pirate. A decent-looking colt by Needwood Blade, he was backed on debut but done little, however, the stable had reported a problem since and their string may be returning to form. Although beaten a long way fourth at Newmarket, that was a strong contest and Ryan's youngster showed good speed for a long way. That basic level of form is pretty ordinary but this is an ordinary race and he may scrape a place at decent odds.
In addition, Volcanic Dust is worth noting as this bay filly by Ivan Denisovich is a good-looking sort and travelled quite well at Newmarket until tiring rapidly in the final furlong. Connections, Byculla Thoroughbreds, often send out their juveniles needing the run and dropping back in distance this youngster may show more today. Certainly one of the best looking juveniles in this field.
Other races:
2:50 Haydock
6:50 Kempton
7:05 Hamilton
