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7:10 Kempton -
An EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes over 7f on standard to slow going. Eight two-year-olds take part.
Summer Blossom has raced three times for Archie Watson. This Irish-bred daughter of Society Rock races in the familiar silks of Clipper Logistics. She ran well on debut at Chepstow when finishing third place, losing by just half a length. Starting 4/1, connections must have expected a bold show and she was given a pretty hard race suggesting she was fit and ready to roll. Second start, she was far from disgraced in fifth, in what has tuned out to be a fair race. Done little wrong last time out over course and distance, hitting the frame behind Fire Light and Shorter Skirt. A recent Lowther Stakes (Group 2) entries details a juvenile who is held in some regard by the stable.
Roger Varian has been quiet this season. Certainly, the juveniles he has run have not achieved a great deal. Gleeful is a home bred daughter of Pivotal in the ownership of Cheveley Park Stud. Always worthy of respect. Interesting to see how this January foal fares in the betting.
Another trainer who hasn't hit the heights with his juveniles this year is Hugo Palmer. Blonde Warrior is about the best of the lots. Interesting to see how Deira Surprise goes here on her third start. She cost 50,000 guineas when purchased at the yearling sales. Racing in the silks of Dr Ali Ridha, this chestnut daughter of Slade Power proved a surprise package when runner-up at odds of 40/1. Her followers were left scratching their head second start when she was beaten into fourth at odds of 4/11f. She was entered to run at Goodwood earlier this month (2nd August) when withdrawn with a vet's certificate.Interesting to note that Deira Surprise beat Summer Blossom on debut. Perhaps that second start was due to an issue.
Ralph Beckett fields a debutante called Sand Share. This British-bred daughter of Oasis Dream is well related in the ownership of K Abdullah. The stable can ready a newcomer and they often go well at Kempton.
Paul Cole doesn't have the powerful string of old but he always finds a few two-year-old winners each season. Nguni is a British-bred daughter of Mount Nelson. Very few of Cole's debutantes win when priced over 8/1 although it can happen with their better prospects. Unless this home bred is seriously backed, I would take a watching brief.
Sukalia, Mandy The One & Indian Sea are best watched.
Conclusion: Not the easiest of races to assess. Summer Blossom is a consistent sort who looks the ideal type to put in an each-way double. Deira Surprise has something to prove after a nasty 4/11f shocker. She beat Summer Blossom on debut and could well do the same here unless that was something of a fluke. The 40/1 price tag may have indicated a surprise. Gleeful and Sand Share will need to be fit and ready to roll to upset a couple of fair juveniles. They both hail from stables who can win with debutantes. The betting should tell the story. Nguni is best watched unless very well backed. The others are unlikely to figure.