A Maiden Stakes over 1m 2f on Standard going.
Six three-year-olds take part: three colts, two geldings and one filly who is the only debutante in the field.
A varied mix of trainers.
Very interested in Solajan. This son of Lope De Vega is trained by Ed Dunlop. He ran a promising race on debut when finishing runner-up. Saeed Jaber's charge cost 200,000G when purchased at two & fancied in the betting on debut when competing over one mile and half a furlong. He was denied by a head in a gritty finish. If you love Horse Racing Betting I'd advise this as a hot tip.
Dunlop is a superb talent & this step up in distance looks ideal. To be fair, the betting odds today may not leave much meat on the bone but this will be a tough horse to beat.
Definitely worthy of an interest especially if drifting in the betting.
Denis Quinn is making a name for himself in the training ranks. Arsenio Lupin has raced twice finishing third and fourth. This bay colt was purchased for just 9,000G when almost putting a smile on bookmaker's faces when beaten less than one length. He was priced 100/1.
By all accounts, even a place looked unlikely after a slow start, toiling in the rear, but finished with verve - not quite reaching the leaders. With a few extra yards, this son of Delegator would have won. Racing over the same distance of one mile on his second start at Lingfield, bookmakers were more fearful priced 6/1. This April foal dropped in class, by race type, being at auction race. He ran a fair race in fourth.
The only filly in the field is Cookie's Star. Philip McBride is a sharp-eyed trainer who knows his horses. This daughter of Kyllachy was a very cheap purchase at just 2,500G and part owned by McBride [& Howard Cooke]. It is slightly concerning this bay filly has such a paltry price tag although it isn't a damning sign for every horse. The betting is the best guide. If seriously backed, I would take note. Although, the trainer's debutantes often improve for the run unless the money is down.
I often give Richard Hughes a hard - because, in my opinion, he was a better jockey! He has many fancied horses which disappoint. Waterville Dancer is a son of Nathaniel who wasn't fancied on debut start at odds of 33/1. This 50,000G yearling purchase finished third of five. There should be improvement stepping up in distance but a difficult horse to assess.
John Best has lost horse numbers over the last few years, which is a shame because he has achieved great success in his career. Padrinho raced twice last year, down the field over seven furlongs, unplaced both starts at odds of 100/1. This bay gelding hasn't been seen since September when racing at Ascot. That may indicate Best holds this horse in some regard. This step up in distance will help. Not the easiest horse to assess but worthy of note if fancied in the betting.
Jose Santos is one of few trainers to have a winner priced 200/1. Flying Flynn has been relatively fancied compared to that surprise package. A couple of well-beaten placed effort see at horse rated just 60.
Conclusion: Time may tell this isn't the strongest race. Solajan will take some beating. If drifting a touch in the market, will be a worthy wager.
Good to see Great Yarmouth back with its racing after the mile straight has been leveled and re-turfed. Let's hope this encourages the high-profile trainers who complained about the surface. Personally, I find it strange ARC found £300,000 to do this work when other courses such as Ripon are much worse. It makes me wonder what they have in mind for this seaside course.
I half intended to go today but with our annual pilgrimage only a couple of weeks away it would be something of an anti climax. Makes me smile to see they start proceedings with a decent two-year-old contest.
Alqubbah is a decent juvenile for Ed Dunlop, one of the better two-year-olds in his stable. This Irish-bred daughter or Arcano was fancied on debut at Newmarket over 6f on good to firm going. She was backed to 7/2 second favourite but seemingly disappointed when trailing behind Mark Johnston's Lumiere, who is a class act. The form of that race has been franked with Sharja Queen and particularly Shadow Hunter, who ran creditably at Listed class when contesting the St Hughes Stakes at Newbury, then triumphant at a similar grade in the Julia Graves Stakes at York. Those initial thoughts that something may have been amiss that day are mostly unfounded. I had my eye on this bay second start and intended to have a decent bet. However, the fact that Hamdan Al Maktoum had Jadaayil priced favourite in the first colours slightly skewed the betting for the lesser fancied in the market. Both juveniles were there on merit and Alqubbah would have gone close if not for being short of room in the closing stages. That was another fine effort and it will take a smart performance to beat Hanagan's mount on the Norfolk coast. Short odds but a worthy favourite.
As always, there are very few easy races these days and two or three opponents are notable.
Aberlady has done nothing wrong in both her starts to date for K Abdullah, trained by Sir Michael Stoute. This home bred daughter of Arch out of the class mare Visit, who won at Group class and was placed multiple times at Group 1, suffered narrow defeats at Newmarket and Kempton, respectively. She was quite well backed on debut when staying on to finish third behind Palenville, who disappointed in the Albany Stakes Group 3 at Royal Ascot. Aberlady was made a 1/2f at Kempton in July but couldn't withstand the late charge of Justice Angel. That filly ran well but defeated next start with an official rating of 77. Connections will be hoping an absence of over fifty days will bring about further improvement. Based on that effort, this bay/brown filly will need to find a couple of lengths to scare the favourite. There is a possibility she was not on song last start or better suited to turf. If available at each way prices there may be a little meat on the bone or a bet to nothing if hitting the frame. I would go with the favourite.
Very interested to see David Lanigan sending Thrilled to make her debut at Yarmouth. He is a difficult trainer to judge and, in general, his debutantes are very hit and miss. They can win when priced at 10/1 & less and a few have won at huge odds. In the good old days at this seaside course he was known to send his better two-year-olds and that aspects in itself gives some confidence. This daughter of Kodiac is out of a multiple-winning mare, who was Listed placed and campaigned at that level although never prevailed. This filly was purchased at the sales by Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd for 460,000GNS and still in their ownership. They race Duntle, trained by David Watchman, who won at Group 1, an exceptional talented and consistent mare. I know Thrilled has ability and held in high regard by the stable. As with so many debutantes I wouldn't want to jump in at short odds and the bookmakers have this bay filly priced at 4/1. That seems a very skinny price. It may reflect the high regard she is held but it does temper my enthusiasm. Lanigan's debutante record doesn't fill me with confidence and over six furlongs, against decent, fit and ready juveniles, being tardy from the stalls would make this hard work unless a true talent. I have some conflict about this horse with pros and cons. I would take a watching brief but it wouldn't be a surprise to see a sparkling performance.
Roger Varian had a smart winner in Taneen at Newmarket on Saturday, a horse with a string of flashy Group entries. Fourth Way is a daughter of Iffraaj out of a a winning mare who was trained by John Weymes. She was a fair sort who raced at Listed class. This May foal doesn't have any smart entries which may bring slight concerns. The betting is the best guide and if priced 13/2 & less has respectable win and place claims. If weak in the betting I'd take a watching brief.
The last of the interesting juveniles contesting this race for me is Rose Marmara. This home bred daughter of Exceed And Excel is owned by Jaber Abdullah. Richard Fahey is a fine trainer of debutantes. The mare was a sprinter for Mick Channon and won at Listed class and ran at Group level. Has fair win and place claims if fancied in the betting although I'd take a watching brief.
The others are best watched.
Conclusion: A great start for Yarmouth - back on course. I'm excited about this race if not from a betting perspective just to see how a few of these go. Alqubbah sets the standard and will take the beating. She is a talented juvenile who has proven ability and will be fit and primed to run well. The odds are cramped but she is the horse to beat. Aberlady has each way claims although I would take a watching brief. The betting is the best indicator for Fourth Way and Rose Marmara. They would need to be 13/2 & less to register with me. The latter could win outside this betting guide but if both are weak in the betting I'd watch and learn. Thrilled is interesting and I can't wait to see how she fares. Lanigan doesn't strike me as a trainer to win on debut although he can, especially with a talented horse. It is encouraging that he likes to send his better two-year-olds to Yarmouth. That does give more hope than not. A huge price tag and lovely breeding are pointers. This filly is held in high regard at home but can she win on debut? On balance, I would have to take a watching brief at the odds. The favourite is the horse to beat.
A Median Auction Maiden Stakes over 1 Mile.
Twelve two-year-olds take part, the majority lightly race, two debutantes. Three fillies take on the colts.
Three horses make most appeal.
Spillway, a son of Rail Link, made an eye-catching debut at Kempton when racing over a mile. A relatively cheap purchase at 10,000gns, Eve Johnson Houghton's charge was a 50/1 shot in a similar race type. This bay colt didn't look like being competitive for most of that event but ran down the home straight with real purpose, losing by three lengths and giving the impression there would be further improvement.
The second division of this Maiden Auction Stakes over 1m.
Quite an intriguing race with a few juveniles looking to go well on their second starts.
Aussie Lyrics was sent off a huge priced on debut at Leicester when an 80/1 shot. This grey colt, a son of Aussie Rules, looks to be a bargain buy at the breeze-up sales for just 22,000euros. George Baker was in fine spirits when he chatted to seasoned pundit Jim McGrath on ATR as he is a part owner of this April foal. By all accounts the general assessment was that their charge had next to no hope. However, he ran a superb race, making up for a slow start, holding every chance at the two pole only fading in the closing stages. To finish less than two lengths behind Pythagorean suggest a win shouldn't be such a surprise. George Baker doesn't feature the best win rate at this course but from a statistical point of view they often go very well on their second start when priced 13/2 & less. From a low draw this colt should go well especially if substantially backed.
Baker has a form line with Ed Dunlop's Lucky Mountain through Nenge Mboko, who was just over two lengths ahead when running over this course at 7f. This son of Mount Nelson is owned by Mrs Roy, racing in the familiar lilac silks. This youngster cost £20,000 at the breeze-up sales. There was a lot to like about that effort. Very few of Dunlop's juveniles win on debut when priced at fancy odds and they often improve for the debut. Lucky Mountain ran on well suggesting this extra furlong will suit. The stable feature a very good strike rate with their fancied juveniles second time out. They feature a good win rate at this course and Buick a worthy jockey. A big run should be expected.
David's Secret -trained by Hughie Morrison - made his third start when just heading Lucky Mountain. This youngster should be respected. However, I would favour Ed Dunlop's representative.
John Best has had a quiet season with his two-year-olds and must have been rather disappointed with this season. *Zhuba hasn't been seen since mid June but was pretty fancied in the betting, which does give some hope of improvement. The form of that race has been franked on a number of occasions. You have to consider there has been an issue with being on the sidelines. The trainer - like a few in this field - has a much greater strike rate with juveniles on their second start. However, I wouldn't take an interest unless backed to 13/2 & less.
Paddy's Saltantes progressed from a couple of average races when finishing fourth, third start, and not far from winning. That was a pretty restricted race, which does bring concerns. This race is likely to be stronger.
Richard Hannon wouldn't train too many juveniles with the price tag of 800gns but that is the case with Aegean Whisper. This daughter of Piccolo is a difficult horse to assess. On the one hand you would have to consider she is limited but on the over side of the coin it seems strange that they would run a horse this late in the season if hopeless. I find the stable difficult to assess with debutantes and would simply suggest the shorter the price the greater the chance.
Booktheband needs to improve hugely on a disappointing debut. Best watched.
Candyman Can is related to a fair juvenile in Paladin. However, the stable have a poor win rate with debutantes and their juveniles are generally limited.
Paul D'Arcy is a trainer I have a lot of time for and a wonder with his two-year-olds. Jd Rockefeller is already a gelding and a cheap purchase at 1,000gns. The stable have a poor win rate on debut and best watched unless substantially backed. Money would be a positive but I would still rather take a watching brief against a few fair sorts at this grade.
Conclusion: Two horses make most appeal: Aussie Lyrics & Lucky Mountain. Both deserve respect and if priced 13/2 & less have strong claims. I often find that Bakers' two-year-olds are all or nothing. For that reason I would be tempted to go for a straight win if within this betting guide. Lucky Mountain doesn't figure so highly from a statistical point. This chestnut son of Mount Nelson could improve a good deal for that initial effort and the stable go well at this course. Both are strong candidates. Zhuba is best judged by the betting. If well backed it would be a positive and certainly give greater confidence. The others are best watched.
*NR
