20:45 Ripon

Friday 12 May 2017

All18:0018:3019:0519:4020:1520:45

SIS Streaming Content Globally Maiden Stakes

Off time: 20:48 | Winning time: 1m 12.5s

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Selected odds by:

(5)

Black Salt²⁰⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P Makin| T: T D Barron

14/1

Gelded prior to his Redcar debut in October when he raced keenly and was spent at the business end. He is the first foal of a 1m winner, whose half-sister won over 1m4f in Listed company and his pedigree points towards a career over middle distances. Can continue his education here.

Form: 6-

(10)

Hitchcock¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan

7/1

Made a promising debut at Newcastle in February over this trip, despite being beaten favourite and endured a troubled passage on turf at Pontefract last time. Related to winners over a mile, so may do better over further, but still can't rule him out today with those experiences under his belt.

Form: 25

(9)

Noble Sword¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe

25/1

Half-brother to three winners, including useful 6f scorer New Bidder and 5f-7f winner Captain Noble. Always in rear on his debut at Pontefract last month but could improve a fair bit for that and a much better effort is not ruled out. Market check suggested.

Form: 6

(11)

Silk Mill Blue¹⁹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Phil Dennis⁽⁵⁾| T: R M Whitaker| OR: 59

33/1

Had he not dwelt, he may have finished much closer in a C&D maiden last season, though he has been comfortably held from marks in the 60s in handicaps since. Reappears after a winter break and with stable not fully firing yet it takes a leap of faith to see him winning this.

Form: 760467-

(2)

Wild Acclaim¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P Hanagan| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 72

4/1

Well in front of Noble Sword at Pontefract last time when he was beaten less than 2L (6f, good to firm) on his reappearance. That was an improvement on both his runs last year and in context it was smart form. Handicapper looks to have given him a fair mark and connections opt to continue to try to break his duck in a maiden. Should go close.

Form: 29-2

(6)

Yalawin^h1¹⁹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Harry Bentley| T: R Varian

4/9

Half-brother to a 1m winner out of a mare who won over the same trip. Also some sprint success in the genes and the way he ran last time when being overhauled over 7f, this drop back to 6f may be more appropriate for now. Has the best form in this field, though there is concern that both his parents were better on good ground or slower.

Form: 32-

(7)

Zone In¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: T Hamilton| T: R Fell & S Murray

20/1

Bred to be best at 1m, he is a half-brother to several winners including Arrowzone and Arlecchino's Leap. Refused to go in the stalls at Nottingham first time, but consented at Thirsk when beaten 9L a couple of weeks ago (1m, good). Weakened that day, so drop in trip may be fine for now but plenty to prove.

Form: 86

(3)

Poet's Time³⁸⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby

33/1

Cost 5,500 gns as a yearling, Sixth foal and half-sister to two winners (1m as a 2yo and 7f AW). Dam won over 1m and is a full-sister to 1m/1m2f winner Calorando and half-sister to 1m2f and 1m6f Flat and Grade One 2m hurdle winner Pittoni, out of a Yorkshire Oaks winner. Yard not red hot at present and its debutantes tend to need their first run.

Form: 9-

Non-Runners

(8)

Harwood⁶

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: D O'Meara J: D Tudhope

(1)

Kings Will Dream

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: Micky Hammond J: P J McDonald

(4)

Butterworth Brow

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: B Smart J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Yalawin (4/9), Wild Acclaim (4/1), Hitchcock (7/1), Harwood (10/1), Butterworth Brow (12/1), Black Salt (14/1), Zone In (20/1), Noble Sword (25/1), Silk Mill Blue (33/1), Poet's Time (33/1), Kings Will Dream (33/1)

There have been stronger maidens at the track and this should chiefly concern Wild Acclaim and YALAWIN, with the latter getting the nod. Roger Varian is often successful when raiding from Newmarket and his colt has the best CV in the field here. The drop back to 6f and application of a hood looks a good move and can pay dividends, though there is slight concern about him on the forecast fast ground. Wild Acclaim looks next best of those to have raced and does handle the grounf, while Noble Sword and Hitchcock can improve. Unusually, there doesn't look to be an obvious debut threat in the race, although Butterworth Brow is perhaps the most interesting and merits a market check.