An EBF Maiden stakes (Plus 10) over 7f 3y on good to firm going.
Not bad prize money for this contest. A few of these come with big reputations. Charlie Appleby has a number of talented two-year-olds in this year's string and Salsabeel is high in the pecking order if my information is correct. This bay colt is a son of Exceed And Excel and homebred for Darley racing in the royal blue silks. As with all juveniles making their debut, it can be a difficult test. However, this February foal is held in high regard and expected to go well.
Jeremy Noseda has been quiet with his two-year-olds this season but he is a class trainer and capable of sending out a debut winner although they often fare better second start. Intrepidly is an American-bred son of Medaglia d' Oro racing in the familiar silks of The Honourable Earl Mack & T Hind Racing. This $200,000 yearling comes from a good family with expensive siblings. This is the only horse Noseda has sent to the course and only ride for Jamie Spencer. Those factors alone give the impression they mean business and add to the interest of this maiden.
Novoman represents William Haggas. This chestnut son of Sir Prancealot was relatively fancied on debut at Epsom when placed third. A slow start didn't help but it is worth noting that was at auction class which means this is in race type a step up in class. This 90,000G yearling purchase will need to do better today but has valuable race experience.
James Tate is a superb trainer and he can go very well with juveniles making their racecourse bow. In addition, I consider this Newmarket trainer sends his better horses to race at this venue. Law And Order is a bay colt sired by Lawman racing in the familiar silks of Saeed Manana. At 40,000G this juvenile is a relatively cheap purchase.
Conclusion: An intriguing race. Law And Order may have claims but I would be looking at just two colts here: Salsabeel & Intrepidly. The former, trained by Charlie Appleby, is held in high regard and for me the horse to beat. Whether 2/1 or so is value is another thing. Time may tell it is a fantastic price. Intrepidly is an expensive purchase and it catches the eye that it is the only horse sent to the course by Noseda and solitary ride for Spencer. I very much doubt they will be coming here just for the seaside air. It could well be a match between the two talking horses. I would favour Salsabeel.
An EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes over 6f on good ground. Last year, this race was won by Sky Lantern, trained by Richard Hannon, who went on to victory in the 1,000 Guineas. Nine juveniles contest this race: three with form and a mix of debutantes from leading stables.
Kiyoshi will take a lot of beating.
Charles Hills has had a slow start to the two-year-old season. However, this Irish-bred daughter of Dubawi is out of a Listed-placed mare. Qatar Racing Limited [owners] usually buy winning juveniles but this could well prove a superb yearling buy at 80,000gns. This strapping bay filly started her career at Newmarket, a maiden which has been franked by numerous winners. This youngster is held in high regard and I would be amazed if connections don't have Royal Ascot penciled into their schedule. Kiyoshi showed signs of inexperience on debut but finished the race with real vim. This step up to 6f will be a plus and a high draw looks appealing, especially with one of the major fancies poorly birthed. Kiyoshi is the horse to beat.
As detailed above, Richard Hannon fielded Sky Lantern, a true talent, to make a winning start to her career. The stable have always sent some of their leading lights to this course and it is not beyond the realms one of their two representatives will shine.
I often find Hannon's debutantes difficult to assess and this will be made no easy task with Kiyoshi being favourite, which slightly skews the price of Mildenhall & Royal Connection.
A wide draw for Mildenhall is not favourable and newcomers often run into space. If losing valuable ground it would make life very difficult. This daughter of Compton place needs to be fit and wise.
Royal Connection is slightly better draw and purchased at the yearling sales by Peter & Ross Doyle, who paid £30,000. This early foal is out of a mare who enjoyed a trip and may appreciate a test of stamina in time.
Movie Magic was very slow away from the stalls on debut and needs to find substantial improvement.
Memory Styx has raced five times and a fair juvenile, certainly capable of winning most maidens. She is a determined sort who will make that race experience count against many of the debutantes. However, the likes of Kiyoshi look too strong. One with each ways claims but may need the favourite to disappoint to taste victory.
Of the debutantes, *Kendal Mint hails from Clive Cox's stable, who not only has a fair record at this course, but a talented filly at home in the shape of Beldale Memory. The betting is key to this youngster's chance. If priced 13/2 & less it could be a positive.
Chesturo is another who is best assessed by the market. Very few of Mick Channon's juveniles win when priced over 8/1. However, this is a course he often sends a decent two-year-old.
Ihtimal is trained by Saeed Bin Suroor who never lacks for talented horses. This daughter of Shamardal is bred to enjoy a stiffer trip although well drawn.
Conclusion: Kiyoshi really caught my eye on debut for both performance and physical stature. She is a beautiful filly who will improve for that first start. A prime draw and step up in distance will make this very hard work for the newcomers. It will take something special to beat this juvenile and for a debutante to lower her colours it seems unlikely. The betting is the best guide to those making their racecourse bow. With a mix of leading trainers it may be foolish to view them negatively. Richard Hannon has a superb record at this course and if one of his pair are leading lights they could go well. However, a wide draw for Mildenhall doesn't inspire confidence and she looks the better bred. Of the others, if priced 13/2 & less it would bring hope. Memory Styx could well hit the frame at speculative odds because she has ability and experience to test most. I expect Kiyoshi to win and head for Royal Ascot.
*NR
The Breathe Spa At Marriott Lingfield Maiden Stakes over 6f. A small field of four runners but a fascinating race in its own way. Three raced juveniles, from leading stables, with one debutante. Two colts race two fillies on this standard surface.
Star Of Rohm is a familiar horse to many punters, mostly for being beaten favourite, which has happened on three of his seven starts to date. In fact, bar his debut, he has started 7/1 or less on all contests. By all accounts this son of Exceed And Excel has plenty enough ability to win a maiden but he's clearly a quirky character. He has gone close on numerous occasions, but never quite looking as though he will prevail at the business end. This chestnut gelding cost 32,000gns as a yearling and it is a positive Michael Bell's charge is still in the ownership of Whitehead & Lomas. There have been plenty of sales to have given up the ghost so that must be taken as sign they envisage victory this season.
He was a beaten favourite on his last start at Wolverhampton back in October. After an absence of over one hundred days you have to take his fitness on trust. However, Bell has stated that their horses are in fantastic form and this youngster has been ridden at home by Jamie Spencer on the Al Bahatri gallops. Star Of Rohm's strength is his natural pace. On a number of starts he has traveled with ease and has certainly traded at short odds on a regular basis.
This trip looks ideal and it could well suit him racing on this turning course. There is no doubt this gelding is a the type of horse which could turn your hair grey overnight. However, this looks a fine opportunity to get off the mark. Even though he is likely to start one of the favourites I would be tempted to place a lay bet in running at huge odds on just in case he looks a certainty and throws in the towel.
Conclusion: To be fair this looks a fine opportunity for Star Of Rohm to win his first race but at short odds he is probably a watching brief unless you want to get your heart racing. I can see him traveling like a winner but the question is whether he has that winning attitude.
The Bath Spa At Marriot Lingfield Median Auction Stakes. This contest is run over one mile with seven runners, most lightly raced.
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King Bertie, trained by Peter Chapple-Hyam and ridden by Jamie Spencer, must have strong claims after a narrow defeat on debut over course and distance. This bay gelding, a son of Clodovil, was bought by the vendor at the Doncaster Breeze Up sales at two for £13,000, after fetching 5,000gns as a foal. The mare was a limited horse who ran in France over this trip. King Bertie may be no super star but he has plenty enough ability to win a moderate race of this nature. Clearly the stable expected a bold show on debut when he was well backed, starting second favourite to the eventual head-winner, Shaolin. A combination of bad luck and inexperienced proved costly as he was carried wide on the final bend and then showed signs of greenness when running on well but failing to catch the leader. On another day he would have won a shade comfortably. Jamie Spencer will have this youngster sitting handy and I am expecting a win.
Of those with form, Fearless Lad had shown ability on both starts to date. This step up in distance is likely to bring improvement. It is interesting to see Hayley Turning partnering this colt for the third time. He may have his work cut out if the favourite has progressed.
A number of those to have races have related form lines. Excellent Puck, trained by Jamie Osborne, finished behind Shaolin when racing on debut at this course over 7f. This son of Excellent Art cost 38,000eur as a yearling and hails from a trainer who deserves respect with runners on their second start. There was much to like about that initial start as this bay colt stayed on well after a slow start. This extra furlong looks a positive move and if priced about the 5/1 mark would make a fair each way selection.
Another trainer who often has an ace up his sleeve is Sylvester Kirk. Landau ran as though in need of the race when finishing all too late over course and distance. This grey son of Aussie Rules may need a little more time but could well progress to win this winter.
Flamingo Beat and Kingston Eucalypt will need to be primed to win on debut and would need to be substantially backed to bring encouragement.
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Conclusion: King Bertie will be all the rage here but he will need to be wiser for that first start. In truth, he was an unlucky loser and improvement should be forthcoming. Jamie Spencer is a fine rider on the all-weather and it will be intriguing to see whether he presses on or sits just off the pace. This son of Clodovil is the horse to beat although at short odds I wouldn't imagine he makes great value. A couple of his opponents are making their second start and ample improvement could be on the cards. I would respect the chances of Excellent Puck and if priced about the 5/1 mark could make a fair each way bet. If the favourite drifts in the betting he would be a fair win bet but most probably a watching brief with fears that Osborne's charge could throw down a challenge.
