14:30 Beverley

Monday 1 May 2017

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:2517:55

Mayday Raceday Novice Median Auction Stakes (Div 2)

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 1m 2.0s

Settings

Selected odds by:

(2)

Havana Star

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan

10/1

Not a particularly likely type on debut but goes for some respected connections and is bred with plenty of speed in his pedigree, so it wouldn't be the biggest shock if he got involved even if he isn't the recommendation.

Form: 1

(6)

Leeshaan

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: M Harley| T: J Tate

5/1

£60,000 yearling, the first foal out of a half-sister to Rip Van Winkle. Has an interesting pedigree, then, but will be entitled to build on this debut and may appreciate the experience of this first run.

Form: 3

(8)

Mount Hellvelyn¹²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Sullivan| T: C A Mulhall

50/1

Outran huge odds on debut to finish sixth over C&D last month. More would be needed to get properly involved here and he may more be one to watch in handicaps going forward, but he showed there that he can run with some merit in this company.

Form: 6

(3)

Rockin Fella¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: P J McDonald| T: K R Burke

9/4

Third on debut at Redcar and couldn't really build on that when filling the same position at Musselburgh last time (5f, good to firm). Low draw will help him here but others hold more potential.

Form: 332

(1)

Rock On Bertie¹²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: T Eaves| T: N Tinkler

16/1

Finished eighth on racecourse debut over C&D last month, finishing two places and 2L behind 200/1 shot Mount Hellvelyn, who reopposes here. Has the lowest draw but would seem to have less potential improvement in him than some of the rest of these.

Form: 88

(7)

Ventura Gold²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey

3/1

Finished sixth on debut at Redcar but that was a fairly close finish and he showed signs of his inexperience early on in that race. If able to put in a more professional performance and focus his energy in the right place then he should be feared today.

Form: 66

(9)

St Helens Gate¹¹

Age: 2| Weight: 8-11| J: G Lee| T: R Menzies

66/1

Well beaten on debut at Ripon over this trip last month, and would need to show something else in order to get involved here.

Form: 8

(4)

Thrifty¹⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 8-11| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby

9/2

Second in an all-weather maiden over the same trip which is working out well, with the fourth from that having won since in France. It could be that a replication of that form is easily enough to take this, depending on how smart some of the newcomers are.

Form: 2

(5)

Villa Tora

Age: 2| Weight: 8-11| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston

8/1

Well-bred Excelebration who cost 11,000gns as a yearling and makes her debut over what may prove to be a little shorter than ideal, but who goes for a trainer with a good record with his juveniles. Not ruled out.

Form: 4

Forecasts

Rockin Fella (9/4), Ventura Gold (3/1), Thrifty (9/2), Leeshaan (5/1), Villa Tora (8/1), Havana Star (10/1), Rock On Bertie (16/1), Mount Hellvelyn (50/1), St Helens Gate (66/1)

As with the first division of this race, it may pay to side with the relative experience of those who have already had a race as oppose to the newcomers. THRIFTY was a very eye-catching second on debut at Newcastle in a maiden which seems to be working out well and if able to build on that (or possibly even replicate that form) then she rates the most likely winner here. Ventura Gold, who ran a better race on debut than the form suggests, and Rockin Fella, who has finished third twice so far in his career, could be next best.