Betway Novice Median Auction Stakes

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(6)

Lucky Lucky Man¹⁹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 82

13/8

Steady improver as a juvenile and ended the year with a decisive success at Carlisle (6f heavy). The handicapper didn't miss, so that's perhaps why he reappears in this type of event, but we know he's also effective over 5f on Tapeta.

Form: 04221-

(3)

Brian Ryan^h1³⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Barry McHugh| T: Mrs R Carr

8/1

Raced just once as a juvenile for Robyn Brisland (April 2017). Reappears wearing a first time hood for a new trainer who tends to do well with others cast-offs. Still early days and related to plenty of AW winners.

Form: 5-

(1)

Bustam^h¹⁷⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 82

4/1

Not a million miles off the pace in the Chesham at Royal Ascot in June 2017 (sixth), but his form tailed off towards the back-end of the campaign. Appeared to handle Newcastle well enough previously, but drops back to 5f for reappearance.

Form: 236345-

(4)

Coastal Drive¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 67

9/4

Ex Richard Hannon, but shown distinct promise on both starts for this trainer, including when edged out by Ghost (a stablemate of Bustam) in a 6f 0-65 apprentices handicap earlier this month. More to do on these terms but arrives race-fit.

Form: 3526-52

(7)

Mardy Gras

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J Garritty| T: Mrs R Carr

40/1

Unraced fifth foal by Haafhd out of a sprint maiden (Mandarin Lady). Stable also represented by Brian Ryan.

Form:

(5)

Primo's Comet³⁰⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: J S Goldie

66/1

Sixth foal by Orientor out of Primo Heights and a brother to both New Lease Of Life (5f-6f) and Tommy G (7f). There should be ability in there somewhere, but it wasn't forthcoming in a couple of starts on turf. Gelded for AW debut.

Form: 00-

(2)

Shanghai Elastic¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: B A Curtis| T: T D Barron

25/1

Her two career starts came over 10 months apart (Musselburgh and Wolverhampton), and she'll qualify for a handicap mark after this contest. Not a total no-hoper given her astute and experienced trainer, but significant improvement is required.

Form: 3-3

Forecasts

Lucky Lucky Man (13/8), Coastal Drive (9/4), Bustam (4/1), Brian Ryan (8/1), Shanghai Elastic (25/1), Mardy Gras (40/1), Primo's Comet (66/1)

Not the type of contest in which to be going overboard, with the top-rated (82) pair of Bustam and Lucky Lucky Man both making their respective seasonal reappearances. Time will tell if that pair have trained on, with a preference for the Fahey trained runner given his previous experience of racing over 5f on Tapeta. However, whilst he has plenty to find at the weights, we'll opt to stick with COASTAL DRIVE. He was also the selection on his most recent start over 6f here earlier in the month when just denied by Ghost. His trainer Paul Midgley tends to excel with sprinters and under the experienced handling of Paul Mulrennan, he is taken to step forward a notch or two.