18:55 Nottingham

Tuesday 7 August 2018

All17:2017:5018:2018:5519:2520:0020:30

Smarkets Novice Stakes

Off time: 18:57 | Winning time: 2m 11.57s

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Selected odds by:

(7)

Ecole D'art²⁰⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: A Mullen| T: J Balding

66/1

Second in a French conditions event (1m5½f, good to soft) last year. Had one start over hurdles for Malcolm Jefferson and has since joined this trainer and is now dropped in trip. Market check probably prudent.

Form: 8542-

(4)

Bay Dude^h¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: George Wood| T: M Keighley

100/1

Well beaten in both starts to date. Probably one to watch again today with handicaps in mind.

Form: 54

(3)

Gates Pass⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: J A Osborne

4/1

Improved on his debut when beaten less than 4L over C&D (good to firm) in June. Will need another step up here, but that is possible and he enters calculations.

Form: 43

(2)

Needs To Be Seen⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Morris| T: J Ryan

12/1

Went close in a Down Royal maiden on his second and final start for Joseph O'Brien, in June. Changed hands for 70,000gns since then. Form looks very solid in the context of this race and he is considered.

Form: 32

(8)

Sextant

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute

9/4

Half-brother to winners Pythagorean (7f-1m GB/Australia), Maths Prize (7f-1m2f inc at two) and Longside (1m3½f). Dam 1m3½f winning full-sister to Oaks second Flight Of Fancy. Top trainer can saddle debut winners. Good run likely.

Form:

(1)

Spanish Archer^h⁸⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe

15/8

50-1 but a creditable 4L fourth of 14 over 1m½f here on debut in May. Should be better both for that run and this step up in trip. Stable form a slight concern at present, but otherwise he could be more closely involved this time.

Form: 4

(5)

Side Effect⁶⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: S De Sousa| T: M Appleby

11/2

Produced two similar efforts for Johnny Murtagh in the spring, before being sold for 18,000gns and joining this trainer, for whom she makes her debut. Improvement needed, but good pilot up and a market check looks advisable.

Form: 53

Non-Runners

(6)

First Call⁵⁷

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: Ian Williams J: M Dwyer

Forecasts

Spanish Archer (15/8), Sextant (9/4), Gates Pass (4/1), Side Effect (11/2), Needs To Be Seen (12/1), First Call (50/1), Ecole D'art (66/1), Bay Dude (100/1)

A tricky contest to call. Sextant is clearly an interesting newcomer and it would be no surprise to see him oblige, though some of his trainer's debutants do come on for their first run. The market should be a good guide to his chance and also that of Side Effect. SPANISH ARCHER is the suggestion after a good debut here and a step up in trip, although the stable form has to be a slight concern. Gates Pass and Needs To Be Seen are others of interest.