A maiden for colts and fillies over 5f.
Decent prize money on offer, nearly £7,000 to the winner, so this could be a fairly competitive race.
The two standout form horses are Master Macho and Imperialistic Diva. Both are talented juveniles and unlucky not to have won by now. The former has been knocking on the door more than a postman with his hand stuck in a letter box and this bonny colt seems to have the misfortune of always finding one too good. Master Macho is probably better suited to 5f, after slightly struggling to last the 6f on a couple of occasions. He is a durable type, taking his racing well, but may be prone to having one race too many at some point. This will be a tough contest and you have to consider this could be a more competitive race than many he has lost. A battling two-year-old, without doubt, but may find one too good again.
Imperialistic Diva is a capable filly by Haafhd. Tim Easterby's charge ran a stormer on debut in a race that is working out well with the 3rd winning this week. She didn't have much go right at Ayr when bumped coming out of the stalls and then hampered in the closing stages. This juvenile has ability to win and will no doubt have the stamina to run to the line. Over such a quick 5f, even on better ground, it could be the case she is a fraction outpaced, although that is a matter of debate. She looks a willing type and quite athletic, so connections will be hoping for a strong performance today.
Tilliemint would seem to have a stiff task of reversing the form with Master Macho.
Cerejeira must have been pleasing Alston on the gallops as this bay filly by Exceed And Excel was relatively fancied on debut but after travelling in behind faded tamely in the final furlong. An entrant for the Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) at Ascot, Alston has chosen this option. A difficult horse to asses. Perhaps capable of better but a lot more needed today.
Of the debutants Smart, Fahey and Dods have interesting runners.
Brian Smart has done well with his juveniles this season and Da' Quonde, a 60,000gns purchase, is a well bred filly. Her pedigree suggests she would be better over further and although Smart has winning debutantes he doesn't feature the greatest statistics with juveniles making their racecourse bow.
Richard Fahey is another trainer to have shone from the start of the season and Mayson is worth noting. Owner, David Armstrong, has fielded some talented juveniles in his time and this colt by Invincible Spirit must have something going for it to be entered here. Fahey attains a fair win and place rate with his fancied juveniles on debut and one of the more likely trainers to have his two-year-olds fit and ready to run.
Probably the most interesting of the debutantes is Miss Mediator trained by Micheal Dods and owned by Andrew Tinkler. This combination have done well with their two-year-olds this season and this filly cost 160,000gns at the breeze-up sales. She was pencilled in to run in the Queen Mary Stakes at Ascot but connection must consider that a step too far at this stage. It will be no easy feat for any of the debutantes to give away experience to the likes of Master Macho and Imperialistic Diva, as a slow start will make this a tough task. However, of those mentioned, Miss Mediator could have place claims.
Other races:
2:10 Sandown
3:15 Sandown
6:25 Chepstow
