A mix of two-year-olds including a couple of winners with penalties. The betting would suggest Copinet and Castana Dia are the major hopes. Both ran well on their last starts giving the impression much better will be seen today.
Chris Wall is a consistent trainer of juveniles - although not the biggest string - and the stable must have been disappointed last time out at Wolverhampton when starting favourite. A slow start made this daughter of Dandy Man's chances remote. She couldn't catch Bravado, who was similarly slow from the stalls, but ran on with gusto and looked almost certain to have won if starting on terms. There's always a fear she will be tardy once again although I'm sure Wall will have been working on this problem at home.
I'd expect this March foal to go well and being running on strongly to the line.
James Fergusan has done well this first season and proven he can send out a debut winner. Talented two-year-olds such as Zoetic and Francesco Guardi have raced at a high level, the latter winning on debut. Copinet will do well to achieve the standing of those two horses but daughter of Mehmas didn't do much wrong on her debut over course and distance when just half a length behind Isle Of May who is a decent horse at best. Copinet was nibbled at in the market from 10/1 - 7/1 and connections must have fancied their chances. Very similar to Chris Wall's filly, she was slow away and looked out of contention until making 'eye catching' progress in the final furlong. There should be more to come. Another horse who wouldn't want to be slow away against a few experienced juveniles who have proven they have ability.
Course and distance winner, Tattoo, shoulders a win penalty but has the apprentice onboard to help negate that burden. She has proven to be unreliable on one or two starts, and a horse who has been prone to slow starts but seems to like this all-weather surface. A disappointing last start and an absence of a couple of months bring question marks.
David O'Meara has a decent string of juveniles and Millie's Angel was half fancied on debut when beaten by hot favourite Hello me who was a 4/11f. She ran on as if in need in the experience and looks the type to improve well for this initial start. A good draw is a positive and I do like horses on their second start because they are often primed to win.
Of the others, Brazen Belle would be carrying 10-stone if it wasn't for the fact of Tyler Heard on her back. This daughter of Brazen Beau has raced nine times and achieved a couple of wins in her first three start, but struggles under the weight and a 25/1 shot here which probably tells the story.
The rest of the field are big odds and need to sprout wings to give the judge something to think about.
Conclusion: Castana Dia and Copinet are progressive horses and both could already be winners if it wasn't for shuffling their hooves. Ferguson's filly isn't much of a price and could go off at odds-on. I'm not sure if I'd want to be taking short odds against Castana Dia who comes from a canny trainer in Chris Wall. If touching 11/4 I would prefer her out of the two. Miller's Angel needs to improve but has the possibility of doing so. Tattoo isn't out of the equation and should hold each-way claims if back to something like the form she showed here previously. On balance, I would favour Castana Dia but there doesn't look too much value unless drifting near the off.