A Conditions Stakes race over 5f 16y on good to soft going. Good prize money with £20,000 guaranteed and over £12,000 to the victor. From an original thirteen entrants nine take part: six colts, three fillies. Half a dozen winners, a trio unbeaten.
Last year Mukhmal won this race on his second start after victorious on debut. Mark Johnston's colt was made 4/1 for the Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) at Royal Ascot but disappointed. His best performance came in the Molecomb Stakes (Group 3) when fourth, beaten less than three lengths.
Astley Hall defied his inexperience on debut at Redcar to win in the style of a fair juvenile. Racing in the colours of David Armstrong, this chestnut son of Dutch Art is a home bred out of a winning mare similarly owned and trained. Richard Fahey trains his two year olds to run well on debut - a point exemplified by his statistics. However, this February foal veered markedly to his left [from a wide draw] at Redcar but had the talent to catch his foe and although looking rather unaware of what racing is all about ran to the line with purpose. The form of that race has been franked. Furthermore, this good-looking colt is likely to improve. A low draw is particularly important on Chester's turning track and stall five is just fair. He most certainly wouldn't want to be tardy from the stalls but those cobwebs are likely to have been blown away on that racecourse bow.
Rah Rah hasn't been seen for over one month since winning over 5f on debut at Kempton. It was a day where Mark Johnston's stable made the headlines with three two year old winners. Clearly Kingsley House have made it their business - with a larger string of juveniles - to show the way. This stable have a lot of very expensive horses and it shows in their physicality - big, strong, beautiful. This daughter of Lonhro (AUS) out of a Group placed mare. She won well on debut by just under four lengths. The form of that race has taken a knock with the second struggling to win. A filly with ability.
Silver Swings was very well backed on debut and won in a race that will turn out a few winners. David Evans grey colt, a son of Zebedee, has a plum draw in stall one and was sharp away at Windsor on his first start so he is most likely to take advantage of this favoured position. He looks a great purchase at 17,000 [yearling]. Connections have high hopes this two year old is heading for Royal Ascot and a bold show will be needed to justify those ambitions.
Lone Irish raider An Duine Uasal heads from County Kildare to the Roodee. Adrian Keatley is owner-trainer and a cheap yearling buy at just 5,000. This bay colt won on his second start and wouldn't have any problems with the ground. The blinkers have been applied for the first time no doubt in an effort to hit the gates running.
Bill Turner hasn't made a mark with this year's crop of two year olds and the majority have shown limited ability. Thee And Me wasn't fancied on debut and after showing pace faded out of contention. The form of that race has been franked to some extent. This son of Canford Cliffs was a big drifter in the betting second start in a four-horse race at Wolverhampton. It looked a poor race for a maiden. Turner's charge travelled with panache, winning with ease at odds of 18/1. He won in something next to a canter which sounds impressive however I just think it was a akin to an egg and spoon race. The betting suggests bookmakers have similar thoughts. I'd take a watching brief.
Mick Appleby is a talented trainer, the type to prove he can go places and City Of Stars jumped in the deep end when making his debut at Stakes class, taking on a previous winner in Ravehoe, trained by Mark Johnston. This Irish bred son of Lilbourne Lad was well backed that day and I have little doubt the stable fancied him to go very well. He was bustled along for mot of the way and given a pretty hard race for a horse having its formative start. I wouldn't expected this bay colt to improve a great deal. The form looks fair although I just wonder if he will be quite pacey enough to stick with a few of these and a wide draw doesn't help.
Eve Johnson Houghton knows her horses and always has a fair two year old in the ranks. In Haste is an Irish bred son of Clodovil out of a winning mare who was trounced when tried at Group class. This grey colt was purchased by the trainer at the yearling sales for 16,000. The debut at Bath was in a very restricted race type and pretty ordinary contest. I imagine connections were disappointed not to win that day because I'm sure they expected a tidy victory. In Haste had little luck stuck behind a wall of horses and rallied well in the closing stages with John Fahey vigorous in the saddle, realising he could win if not running out of time. He finished an unlucky second. This is a rise in class and more is needed.
Fashionable Spirit is an Irish bred daughter of Invincible Spirit who cost 85,000 at the yearling sales. She ran well on debut at Chelmsford City behind Silk Bow, who won well but showed little on debut in the Brocklesby Stakes. Time may tell that was a fair race, and finishing second, in front of Anwar who was beaten easily by Rah Rah, shows ability although this is a stiff contest.
David Evans has a second representative in Nag's Wag who ran at the weekend at Stakes level after a debut win at Bath at odds of 16/1. This daughter of Approve ran well at Salisbury, Sunday, if not showing a little too much pace and perhaps not finishing her race. This January foal is a compact horse, with a fluent stride. She has a wide draw but could well hold a decent position.
Conclusion: A tricky race to make me want to rush down the bookmakers for a mega bet. Stakes races are difficult to assess with progressive juveniles, winners that have not been tested. Chester throws into the mix a draw that can define your chance - win, lose or draw. A low stall can be a marked advantage to a horse with pace. Silver Wings is likely to hold his rail position and if a few of the fancied runners with wide draws have any issues it will make their life difficult. Astley Hall is a good-looking colt and could be a nice two year old but needs to be wiser today. A tardy start would make this a tall order. Rah Rah has a good draw and will be battling for the lead. A watching race to enjoy.
An EBF Conditions Stakes over 5f on good going. A decent prize. Seven two year olds take part: six colts and solitary filly. Mark Johnston fields Ravenhoe who won the Brocklesby Stakes by a short head.
Last year, this race was won impressively by debutante Mind Of Madness, trained by David Brown, racing in the lime-green silks of John Fretwell. This Irish bred son of Azamour was subsequently sold to Qatar Racing Ltd [pictured]. This two year old was kept busy with nine starts: finishing a superb second at Royal Ascot Norfolk Stakes (Group 2). Later noted efforts included winning the Julia Graves Roses Stakes (Listed) at York. A talent these juveniles will do well to emulate.
Ravenhoe hails from Mark Johnston's Kingsley House Stable, which has proven a power this early season with winning debutantes from an increased string of almost 130 two year olds. This chestnut son of Bahamian Bounty, owned by David Able, was well backed for the Brocklesby Stakes, stealing the glory in a tight finish. The second [First Bombardment] wasn't disgraced in the Scottish Brocklesby. The form of that race looks fair. Experience counts against a field of debutantes and even with a 5lb penalty this juvenile sets the standard.
While winning experience gives good reason why this colt should take all the beating, it should be noted that horses entered or competing at stakes class are worthy of respect. It is often the case a trainer will pinpoint such a race type because they have ability. This race type shouldn't be viewed the same as a maiden - they can spring a surprise.
What are we to make of the debutantes? On first sight two or three horses hail from trainers who are class acts.
Karl Burke is a talented trainer. He has fielded a couple of two year olds this season but both have been weak in the betting - they are limited or needed the run. It could well be a significant pointer to see Haughmond making his debut at this class. Burke is a good judge and most stakes-entered juveniles achieve a win. This son of Kheleyf is out of an unraced mare. He was withdrawn from the Doncaster Premier Yearling Sale. However, this January foal was owned by Mrs M Burke (10th April), now racing in the silks of T & P Hockenhull. It is intriguing that this bay was bred by Mrs Ruth Hockenhull. The betting is the best indicator and if priced 13/2 & less has fair win and place claims.
Gifted Master has just turned two years old and trained by Hugo Palmer. Kremlin Cottage Stables had a fair mix of juveniles last season including Aktabantay who won the Solario Stakes (Group 3) at Sandown & New Providence, a consistent filly, who won the Dick Poole Fillies' Stakes (Group 3). Gifted Master is a bay son of Kodiac out of an unraced mare and cost 75,000GNS at the yearling sales. He races in the familiar silks of Dr Ali Ridha who is an established owner with a number of leading trainers. His best horse was the exceptional Dubai Surprise, trained by David Loder, placed at Group 1 level before being sold to Godolphin where it achieved further success. The stable done well last year with noted performers, which is an accolade for a relatively new trainer [started 2011]. In general, their two year olds progress with racing. Any talent can defy the stats. If priced 13/2 & less it would bring hope although I would take a watching brief.
City Of Stars is trained by Michael Appleby, who has done well with his horses over the last year and Appleberry a lovely filly far from disgraced when finishing fourth at Listed class. This Irish bred bay colt is from first season sire Lilbourne Lad out of a winning mare costing 33,000GNS at the yearling sales now in the ownership of L C Bacon [noted horse - Donny Rover]. On balance, the stable have limited/fair juveniles but this colt is best watched.
Nick Littmoden has a small string of horses but a respected trainer who knows a decent horse. Poplar is a bay colt sired by Hellvelyn out of a poor French mare. He was purchased by the trainer at the yearling sales at £24,000. The Franconson Partners & Nick Littmoden had similar lofty hopes last year with Tongue Twista who was tried at Group level although, perhaps, always slightly out of her depth. With connections starting Poplar here it would suggest they hold similar ambitions.
The only filly in this field - taking on the boys. Swirral Edge is a bay daughter of Hellvelyn out of a poor, sprinting mare. She was purchased by for £10,500 at the yearling sales and still in the ownership of Brown. This factor could be a slight negative. The stable have fair win and place claims when priced 13/2 & less. Considering Tribesman beat First Bombardment in the Scottish Brocklesby [who lost narrowly to Ravenhoe on debut] connections could have a line to what it takes to beat the favourite. The booking of Atzeni is questionable as he has ridden very few times for this yard. However, he may have been ideal to make the 8-4 weight. There could be a few negatives regarding this horse. They would be dispelled if fancied in the betting. If weak in the market I would not bet.
Salt Lake Sooty is sired by Arabian Gleam out of a poor mare. This grey colt wasn't sold when sent to the sales as a foal.Trainer Denis Quinn is based at Newmarket with just one two year old to race in the last five years. Noel Garbutt takes off a valuable 5lb. Best watched.
Conclusion: In many respects this is a one-horse race with Ravenhoe achieving a winning level of ability. Mark Johnston had a few candidates for this race and although the Brocklesby form may not be outstanding he sets the level and will take some beating. A 5lb penalty may be negated by the opposition being debutantes. The betting is the best guide for those making their racecourse bow. If Haughmond, Swirral Edge & Gifted Master are priced 13/2 & less they all have each way claims. Poplar and Salt Lake Sooty are best watched.
