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| Clive Cox - Horse Trainer |
Eight juveniles take part, five raced, with three debutantes including one four-year-old.
Bouyrin, trained by Michael Bell, has fitness on side having raced twice this year. To be fair this daughter of Invincible Spirit must be something of a disappointment to connections after costing 120,000gns as a yearling. Bell trained the mare who was very much a sprinter and winner at Listed class at two and short-head loser at Group 3 at Maisons-laffitte. A recent gallop report on the Al Bahatri said: ''Bouyrin certainly caught the eye in the first group to come up and she traveled nicely. She has entries this week at Kempton.'' With an official rating of 66 some may consider she is handily weighted to go the nursery route. This bay filly has been placed on all starts bar her debut. Although well drawn she is most likely to sit with the pack and try to make her challenge in the final two furlongs. This bay filly has her limitations and in what looks a poor race must have claims.
Clive Cox fields ex-Irish filly Scent Of Roses. Quite a well bred filly, sired by Invincible Spirit, her first two starts were on heavy ground. A narrow defeat on debut saw her step up to Group 3 class. In training with Dermot Weld, she was readily outpointed when a major fancy in the betting that day. A recent 54,000gns purchase in December by Blandford Bloodstock proves that her new owners feel she has potential. Scent Of Roses was quite weak in the betting that day and 7f may have been a step too far and, perhaps, not fully fit. I would suspect this drop back in distance, Kirby in the saddle, means business. A weakness in the betting would give cause for concern but conversely strong support would make me consider this is the horse to beat.
Sally Bruce went close to winning last time out after showing little ability in nine previous outings. With an official rating of just 47 it would be something of a surprise if victory came her way.
The debutantes could prove a threat in such a lowly affair. However, experience counts for a lot on this turning track and a slow start is usually part and parcel for those making their racecourse bow.
Gift Of Silence has the burden of top weight, being the only four-year-old in the field. She is a recent purchase for John Berry at 800gns. A watching brief is advised.
Racing the familiar silks of M Khan is Meetha Achar. This home bred is trained by Jim Boyle who is a talent but his horses usually progress with experience. With the 5lb apprentice taking the ride it suggest this horse isn't primed for today. It would give greater confidence if substantially backed.
The most intriguing of the debutantes is Seymour Place, trained by Roger Charlton. This daughter of Compton Place is a home bred out of a twice-winning mare who was similarly owned & trained. The stable can ready a horse to win on debut and they have fair each way claims when fancied in the betting. However, home breds can be a little slow to learn what is required of them, although at three that might be negated. Unless substantially backed, I would suspect she will be on the back foot and finish with spirit.
Conclusion: A tricky race in ways. There may not be a great deal of value on offer. Bouyrin is no world beater but has fitness and experience onside. Bell's horses are in decent form and I would be surprised if she wasn't in the first two. If there is a dark horse in this field it has to be Scent Of Roses. On her best form this would be an easy target and for connections to dig deep into their pockets to purchase her at the sales suggests her trainer holds some hope. This drop back in distance looks ideal and if steady in the betting I would make this my selection. A major drift in the betting would be a concern.
