An EBF Maiden Stakes over 5f 10y on good to firm going. An intriguing race with a few well-touted two-year-olds. Alkhor is a good-looking son of Exceed And Excell costing 230,000GNS at the yearling sales. He was very weak in the betting when making his debut at Goodwood, when second string to Hannon's favourite, which went on to win in good style. Al Shaqab Racing will be expecting more today and this horse will take all the beating. A recent Listed race entry indicates the regard this juvenile is held.
A few of those with race experience are worthy of consideration and could be interesting each way bets. If the favourite fluffs his lines you may get more than a place. Ron Harris doesn't train many talented two-year-olds but he does know how to win and connections clearly expected a bold show from Just Glamorous (NR) when making his debut at Chepstow. There was good money for this son of Arcano, who is a fair-looking juvenile. At 55,000eur he is no bargain buy and related to a horse the stable done well with in Glamorous Air. He showed good pace then tired in the closing stages beaten by Sahreej, who is a capable sort. Harris has this chestnut colt entered for the Windsor Castle (Listed) & Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) at Royal Ascot. They may be lofty entries but this horse doesn't lack for pace and if slightly in need of the race on debut could well blaze a trail.
Another colt who is all speed is Raj To Riches. David Evans' chestnut has been unlucky not to have tasted victory with a two narrow defeats in his first starts and performing to a standard in all his five runs to date. This drop back to the minimum trip should help but there is a concern that after so may hard races he may regress at some point. In addition, he is quite a small, lean, juvenile who will look the poor relation to some of these. An admirable horse - but one I would watch.
James Given has done well with his two-year-olds this season - in fact it must be his best string in many many years. He has a number of talented juveniles heading to Royal Ascot and must have a good line to Girls In A Bentley. This daughter of Acclamation cost £60,000 at the yearling sales and a decent-looking filly. The Cool Silk Partnership have done remarkably well with Givens this season and this horse showed exceptional pace on debut at Catterick before tiring out of contention. She actually touched short odds in running, travelling well. The finishing position makes this February foal look much worse than she is and priced at 25/1+ could well be backed. If in need of the run on debut she would have good each way claims at those odds.
Stormflower has been something of a thorn in my side this season but John Bridger's filly has a lot of pace if they endeavour to lead. It is difficult to second guess race tactics because they have the knack of doing opposite. However, from a low draw it may be the day they go to the front and try to hang on to an easy lead. I can't see her winning, but this filly is likely to huge odds on the exchanges and may touch short odds in-running.
Conclusion: An interesting race. Alkhor will take the beating but a the odds represents little value. Just Glamorous will make a bold show and must have fair each way claims. Girls In A Bentley could go well at big odds and may well be backed. She has a hell of a lot of speed and likely to travel well in this race so should trade shorter in-running.
Couple of non runners have taken away from this race.
An EBF Maiden fillies Stakes over 5f 10y on good going. Ten runners: three raced, debutantes from a mix of trainers.
Dream Dreamer is a good-looking daughter of first-season sire Dream Ahead out of a Listed placed and group raced mare. This February foal looks a bargain yearling buy at £35,000. Jamie Osborne always buys a good, physical specimen and this bay is held in some regard by connections. There was talk of this juvenile going to the Marygate Listed Stakes at York so this looks an realistic detour. She ran well on debut over course and distance in a fair race and then a little keen when setting the pace for a long way in a strong Ascot maiden. If available at each-way price is a decent bet.
John Bridger doesn't train many two-year-olds but a capable handler when given the ammunition. Stormflower has ability but too keen to do herself justice on both starts to date. Temperamental horses can be hard work and betting on them is something you should only consider only at big odds. It will be intriguing to see which tactics are employed as stall one is a perfect draw to try and lead all the way. This daughter of Arcano has the pace to give a bold show but it would greatly improve her chances if settled. That looks unlikely, which is a shame as she has enough ability to win a small race. The tissue odds on Sporting Life detail she will be a 13/2 shot. That doesn't inspire. I would rather lay this horse at 1.01 in-running and hope she gains an impressive lead and tires rapidly.
Nidnod hasn't been seen on course since making her debut at Newmarket over 5f. Hugo Palmer does well with his two-year-old string and talented. This Irish-bred daughter of Myboycharlie cost 30,000GNS at the yearling sales. She was quite fancied on debut, showing good pace before being bumped and eased in the closing stages. The most prominent thought from that day is that she is a very small filly. The form of that race has been franked in some respects. A difficult filly to assess. Hugo Palmer does pretty well with his juveniles when fancied on their second start when priced 13/2 & less. If within this betting guide this horses would have fair each way claims but if weak in the market I would take a watching brief.
The first juvenile of the season for Hughie Morrison. It is interesting to see him have an early two-year-old because they have proven to be future winners although very few win on debut. Cinders is a daughter of Lilborne Lad and cost 62,000eur at the yearling sales [70,000gns foal]. The only exception to the rule that this stable's juvenile debutantes can win is if they are priced 14/1 & less in the betting if not 10/1 & less. They have a fighting chance. In addition, it is worth noting that just about all of Morrison's early horses go on to win in their two-year-old careers. I would definitely take note of this juvenile on its second start at any odds.
One trainer who can be a powerhouse with debutantes is Roger Varian. Gwendolyn, a January foal sired by Invincible Spirit out of a twice-listed winning mare was fancied in the betting when making her debut at Ascot in a very hot race. She was withdrawn after refusing to go in the stalls. I would be surprised if this bay filly didn't have ability. If priced 13/2 & less has sound each way claims.
Richard Hannon needs little introduction at this course - it's a hunting ground for winners. Stroke Of Midnight is a daughter of Dark Angel owned by Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds who always register with top-flight horses. They are not the kind of people to have two-year-olds in training unless they can win. This yearling cost 45,000euro. A wide draw isn't ideal but a stable to respect.
Robert Eddery is a canny trainer and is worth noting with his two-year-olds. He has fielded one debut winner this season. Bedazzling Lady was purchased by the trainer at the Breeze-up sales for £16,000. In general, the stable doesn't have first time out winners and unless seriously backed I'd take a watching brief.
Bourne Symphony, Clever Divya & Q Ten Girl are best watched.
Conclusion: A fascinating race. Dream Dreamer sets a decent standard and if prices allow is a sound each-way bet. Gwendolyn wasn't on her best behaviour at Ascot when withdrawn. However, we have an opportunity that day to glean she was one of the major fancies. I can't imagine Varian sending her there without knowing she has ability. If priced 13/2 & less I'd be quite fearful of this juvenile. Difficult to assess Bedazzling Lady but respected. Cinders is worth noting for the future. Nidnod may have each way claims if 13/2 & less. A small horse who is difficult to assess. I'd lay Stormflower in-running at short odds. If an huge outsider I may have backed her to win but at short odds this horse looks a good lay bet to me [1.2 & less]. Dream Dreamer & Gwendolyn look the best bets.
A Fillies' Conditions Stakes over 5f on firm going. Six two year olds take part: three raced, including two debut winners, and a trio on their race course bow . Interesting that the winners carry no penalty for winning at class 5, while those making their race course debutes have a three pound allowance. Both winners have been entered to run in the Lily Agnes (6th May), which they are unlikely to compete [although you can never quite tell with David Evans].
Last year this race was won by Tiggy Wiggy [pictured] on her second start after an effortless victory at Kempton on the first day of the 2014 Flat season. Her greatest achievement - from a string of wins - came when taking the Cheveley Park Stakes (Group 1). Ultimately, crowned Cartier Champion Two-Year-Old Filly. An exceptional talent.
Great Page will start a short priced favourite after a stylish debut win at Windsor two weeks ago. This bay filly was made market leader that day and although it was seemingly a lowly race judge by class I could well turn out to be a fair juvenile contest. There were a number of nice physical specimens, which says something as fillies look good, bad and ugly. This Irish bred daughter of Roderic O'Connor ran well, held up just off the page, which was set by one of today's opposition, a good number too keen throughout the race. Middleham Park Racing will be holding their breath in hope she can emulate last year's victress. It is never wise to limit the talent of a winning thoroughbred. Great Page showed ample promise at Windsor and if aspiration of Royal Ascot are to be realised she will need to win well.
Hannon has a second representative, Illuminate, a debutante sired by Zoffany out of an unraced mare. She was purchased at the yearling sales by Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock for £95,000. This bay filly is in the ownership Denford Stud. Hannon has been known to pull a few aces from his sleeves when it comes to talented ''second strings'' turning up to spoil the party of favourite backers. It is unlikely to be the case today but if seriously backed take note.
John Bridger isn't known for training two year olds and those which could be termed as talented are very very few. Wait long enough and a good horse may come along, I can imagine connections hold those thoughts about Stormflower. This daughter of Arcano may have been a cheap yearling purchase at 4,200GNS. She looks a good purchase. A filly with size and scope to progress with racing, her Achilles' heal was her delight in pulling for the majority of the race. Make no mistake, this juvenile has ability and if learning to settle could make her presence felt. The betting will be skewed because Great Page gave his April foal a fair beating. In addition, being trained by what some would consider a ''less fashionable stable'' she could well be tagged as the outsider of the field. Stakes races can be competitive affairs - you can never quite tell who is eyeing-up the prize. If huge odds are available on the exchanges I'd be tempted to have a small bet and try and lay at considerably sorter odds in-running. Interesting.
David Evans is a shrewd trainer who knows the strength and weakness of his juveniles. Nag's Wag is an Irish bred daughter of Approve and purchased cheaply by the trainer at the yearling sales. This January foal wasn't fancied in the betting on debut at Bath but showed a professional attitude, always in front rank and battled to regain the lead in the closing stages. That was a very restricted race type which may hold the form down. The second that day - Rogue's Gallery - was second next start but it was a similarly race type, although the winner is fair. Once again, it is difficult to limit a winning horse. On balance, I would imagine Nag's Wag is set a fair test by the likely favourite.
Charlie Hills has sent out a couple of two year olds to date and it is interesting Komedy is starting her career at stakes class. It is probably a sign his daughter of Kodiac will be victorious this formative season. She is half-sister to Jane's Memory, trained by Rae Guest, who has been placed at Group 2. Komedy cost 70,000eur at the yearling sales. The betting is the best guide and if priced 13/2 & less has fair win and place claims.
Sixties Sue is trained by Mick Channon, who has been relatively quiet this early season. This daughter of Sixties Icon is out of a mare similarly trained and full sister to Scargill who wasn't the best talent but a gritty character winning twice at plating class. Sixties Sue cost 40,000gns at the yearling sales. The betting is the best guide. If priced over 8/1 I would take a watching brief.
Conclusion: A fascinating race. Stakes race can often seem predictably straight forward - other times an enigma. Great Page could well start 1/2f. She sets the standard and after a stylish debut could be earmarked for Roayl Ascot. She is a good-looking filly and with Tiggy Wiggy winning this race last punters will have a bee in their bonnet. The horse to beat but not one I would back at odds-on. Nag's Wag didn't win a great race on debut but win she did. On balance, I would consider she has something to prove but it pays to respect a winner. The debutantes are best watched, especially if priced outside 13/2 SP. Stormflower is one of those horses that excites and traumatises in equal measure when betting. John Bridger may have a horse with an element of ability but will she pull keenly as seen on debut? That wouldn't help her cause. She has pace and if stealing an easy lead could take some catching. If touching fancy odds on the exchanges she must be worth a small bet and try to lay your stake in-running and hope the wind is blowing in the right direction. Being beaten by Great Page predicts she could be over priced [contrast theory]. It would be a speculative punt at 20/1+.
