Nine two-year-olds take part, four with racecourse experience. A restricted race type, which often favours form horses.
Richard Fahey has been firing out runners. Not too unusual, hey. He is a very talented trainer. A number of debutantes keep winning at decent odds which is perplexing in ways. Probably due to having two horses in a race and the outsider winning.
Bengali Spirit has run twice to date. A small field of just three runners at Musselburgh and then this British-bred son of Garswood finished second at Pontefract. The form of that race has been franked to a point. He is one of two horses in this field to have received a significant entry. Although the winner, Carey Street, couldn't defy a 7lb win penalty next start (not easy). Bengali Spirit sets a decent level for this grade but vulnerable to a horse with a touch of ability.
The other horse to receive a pointer is Mark Johnston's Victory Command. The Racing Post has this one priced at 16/1 with Race Bets. That's either a mistake or you will get about £1 each-way. This son of War Comman cost just 6,000G at the yearling sales, which doesn't inspire confidence. Interesting to see how the betting goes. I see the populous have him priced about 4/1.
Ben Haslam is a decent trainer. Blazing Dream showed very good pace on debut at Ripon before dropping back as if someone was hanging on his tail. A big price at 25/1. Will need to be much fitter to sustain that pace to the line.
Bouncing Back, Melgate Magic & Lorton are best watched.
Amy Murphy has sent out a few two-year-olds. The Newbury performer, Thegreatestshowman, looks a fair sort. She has Mazeo Lad making his debut in her silks. A recent £19,000 breeze-up purchase, she will be hoping for a good run and new owners in due course.
Fastman hails from David O'Meara's stable. He is a talented trainer who can win with debutantes. They are a gambling stable, so they find it hard to keep their hands in their pockets if one has been flying up the gallops. This son of Elzaam cost £25,00 at the yearling sales. The betting is the best guide.
Dragon Beat is one of two fillies in the line up. Tony Coyle has Broken Spear, who has been placed on all three starts. It should give him a line to this daughter of Dragon Pulse. The winner that day, Vintage Brut, looks a decent prospect winning by seven lengths. The runner-up wasntexpectingthat won next start and a few in behind have franked the form (although improved on their initial start). The form of Dragon Beat isn't too bad. And, although, she may be vulnerable to a couple of these could hold each-way claims at double-figure odds. Might be worth a small speculative bet.
Conclusion: Bengali Spirit sets a fair level for the limited nature of this race but no world beater. Probably has enough ability to win this unless something pops up. Victory Command hails from a good stable. Mark Johnston's debutantes are either easy winners or poor losers. The significant entry does give hope. The price tag doesn't suggest he is a great prospect. Dragon Beat isn't without a chance. She has to take on the boys but looked professional on debut, showing decent pace and then beaten by better horses. Could hold each-way claims at fair odds.