The betting for this nursery is dominated by last-time-out winners Henrythenate and Guernsey Angel, and both will have their supporters. The former scored over C&D last time and will probably shade favouritism, but given he was able to dictate terms, I was a little disappointed with the time figure he achieved in beating Excelerate, with the runner-up not helping his finishing effort by arcing very freely.
It may be that the winner had plenty in hand, but on the face of it, he has a stiffer task here and he’s twice been beaten off lower marks in nurseries prior to that win.
Guernsey Angel also won a nursery over C&D last time, making most and rallying when headed to beat Mwaki and Pull The Rug by half a length and the same. The third has won since to give the form a solid look and a 3lb rise looks fair, so she is preferred of the pair, but this is not a two-horse race by any means.
Mwaki reopposes Guernsey on 2lb better terms so is weighted to go close, but my idea of the winner is MORETONS, who has shown promise on occasions and finally saw his race out when beaten under two lengths in a similar race to this at Lingfield last time.
Moretons went close on debut at Yarmouth behind a 76-rated rival and belatedly built on that when a close fifth of 11 to Cashbox in a 6f nursery at Lingfield last time. He finished as well as anything as he made a big move from a poor position at Lingfield, but I’m not convinced he hit the line as hard as that suggests, his fast-forward move beginning to flatten out at the line.
He drops back to 5f now which will be viewed as a negative in some quarters, but I think this is his trip and if he can hold a pitch in the early stages, he has the turn of foot to be a big player, and the signs are that he’s ready to take advantage of a mid-season gelding operation.
Backing Ed Walker’s horses isn’t a bad decision in most circumstances, but runners having a second start for the stable are particularly worth following with such horses winning at a rate of 25% and often at good odds.
Accademia isn’t easy to fancy having beaten only one home on debut. Still, the truth behind the stats quoted is that Walker’s debutants improve more than most for their initial experience. Accademia was very green when beaten 11 lengths at Leicester and the race has already thrown up Group 2 Rockfel Stakes winner Zanthos as well as impressive next-time-out winner Lady Roisia.
It’s clearly strong form and Accademia is worth a chance to build on the mild promise of that debut and is sure to be much more clued up this time.
Low draws are best over 7f here these days and DILIGENT HENRY looks to have solid claims from stall 2. One of a handful of C&D winners in this field, Diligent Henry comes from s stable finding some form in the autumn, and is now 1lb lower than when making a winning reappearance over track and trip in April.
Diligent Harry is now reunited with Lewis Edmunds, who was onboard for a pair of second-place finishes here last term.
He was backed as if back to his best here last time, but faded late after leading to finish a respectable fourth to the unexposed Sands of Dubai, possibly kicking for home too far out having dictated the pace. He will be fitter for that run and is more than capable of dominating a moderate contest.
Preview posted 0945 BST on 06/10/25
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