An EBF fillies' maiden over 5f.
Richard Hannon's juveniles are getting into gear with Lord Of The Shadows a recent winner and a second yesterday with Tell Dad. Tea Cup will be trying to follow in the hoof prints of last year's winner Penny's Pearl. This daughter of Danehill Dancer received a promising comment from the trainer's website, which suggested she has a decent chance. A 65,000euro buy, this bay filly should be respected.
Paul Cole started the two-year-old campaign in perfect style when Silverheels won on debut. Royal Blush is a home bred and half-sister to Jazz Jam, who triumphed at Listed class. A daughter of Cherry Hinton (Group 3) winner Applaud suggest this juvenile has potential. Owners, Denford Stud have done well with the juveniles sent to Cole: Rimth, Velvet Band, Jazz Jam & Elizabeth Street have all shown varied levels of ability. Very few of the trainer's juveniles win on debut when priced over 8/1 but this filly has attracted support on the exchanges. A daughter of Royal Applause, she is one for the shortlist, however, the stables juveniles do feature a much higher strike rate on their second start.
Liesl hails from a stable with a large string of two year olds. Kevin Ryan has his horses in good form and the juveniles have been running creditably. The betting is the best guide to this daughter of Iffraaj who is closely related to Balthazaar's Gift. If very well backed, it would be a sign of encouragement. However, Ryan doesn't win as regularly with his debutantes as punters imagine and can be rather hit and miss. Few of his juveniles win when priced over 7/1 when making their racecourse bow.
Dark Ages seems relatively fancied on the betting exchanges. Significant money would give place claims. However, their general win rate on debut doesn't inspire confidence.
Mick Channon has a huge string of two-year-old horses and Princess Banu was relatively fancied on debut but to be fair showed little ability. The stable's juveniles often improve for the run and if fancied in the betting more could be expected. She needs to improve from that first run to figure here. Race experience will afford an advantage over her rivals but the betting is the best indicator of her hopes today. If one of the leading fancies in the betting, this daughter of Oasis Dream has place claims but it would be no surprise to see her weak in the market.
Of the others, My Solitaire comes from a stable that can go well on debut. Another who may go well at a price is Marie's Fantasy. Kelleway often sends out some of her better juveniles early season and in previous years Beat Seven, Azif and Lady Morganna have run well on debut at Newmarket around this time and may have all run in this race. A cheap purchase at 4,500gns, this bay may have a glimmer of hope at speculative odds.
Not the easiest race to conclude. Tea Cup and Royal Blush are the most likely types.
HCE: ''Princess Banu was a different horse today. Clearly, race experience gave her an advantage but you have to consider she may have disappointed to some extent on debut because this was a much better performance. Channon's filly is small and dwarfed by many of the opposition. She is a very nippy type and would be well suited to Chester. Connections may have the Lilly Agnes penciled-in after this. Royal Blush ran on well and will be winning soon. Guru Girl is another who is likely to progress with racing.''