1:55 Thirsk -
A Maiden Stakes over 5f on soft going. Nine two-year-olds take part. Just the one horse with race experience and significant entry Wasntexpectingthat. Richard Fahey has started the season with verve. Certainly, a few winners have gone in. Sabre looked impressive at Newcastle. Mr Buttons was the stable's first juvenile success. A class trainer who is able to ready debutantes like no other.
Wasntexpectingthat ran well when making his debut in the Brocklesby Conditions Stakes at Doncaster. In the ownership of the Good, Bad, Ugly and Deaf syndicate (sounds like a fun crowd) this son of Foxwedge cost 28,000G at the yearling sales. He was pretty fancied at 7/2. This bay colt wasn't best from the stalls and made good progress throughout the race to be the closest at the line. He finished third, beaten by a couple of lengths. The form of the race has been franked by the winner [Izzer] and fourth [Lihou] and eighth [Arthur's Spirt] who, to be fair, disappointed on debut. Fahey should have this colt primed and the ground shouldn't pose a problem. Personally, I wouldn't be betting at even money because you just never know who is in opposition.
5:10 Nottingham -
A Novice Stakes on soft going. Just four horses so not too much going on here.
Richard Hannon hasn't hit the winner mark with his juveniles this season. He has had a few runners at short odds but only a matter of time before one hits the mark.
Hua Hin is just one of two horses noted by the stable so far. Dixieland was fancied on debut at Kempton but had little chance after being badly hampered. It will be interesting to see how this chestnut goes. This son of Dandyman cost 70,000 Euros at the yearling sales.He has a tongue tie for this first start. I will be taking a watching brief.
From a statistical point of view Majestic Appeal has claims. He showed little on debut and would have need to have disappointed to hold any hope today. Horses disappoint on debut all too often so Karl Burke's charge could be seen to better effect.
Step Hollinshead's Tizwotitiz wasn't fancied in the Brocklesby Conditions Stakes and finished 7th. More is needed.
Mark Johnston has been a little bit hit and miss with his two-year-olds this time of year. It isn't a surprise as they can be a touch unreliable. Blown By Wind looked a decent type when stretching clear at Windsor. Delft Dancer has no significant entries at present but fancied in the betting.
This looks a trappy affair on testing ground.