Lucy Stevens 30th Birthday Celebrations EBF Novice Auction Stakes (Plus 10)

Off time: 18:27 | Winning time: 1m 20.29s

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(3)

Sword Beach²³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: Eve Johnson Houghton

5/1

Runner-up to one with experience (has won again since) on debut and second again since at Salisbury behind another subsequent winner. Solid claims with more improvement likely.

Form: 22

(6)

Tomfre²²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-4| J: R Kingscote| T: R M Beckett| D

5/4

Shaped with plenty of promise on debut when third of 15 at Windsor and the front two pulled clear when he won at Newmarket last time, getting the hang of things late on again. Could be even better over further but respected here.

Form: 31

(7)

Hooroo

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁵⁾| T: K R Burke

20/1

Hallowed Crown gelding, cost £26,000 as a yearling. Half-brother to an Italian Group 2 winner and dam a half-sister to a juvenile Group 1 winner. Gelded in April and may need both further and more time.

Form:

(1)

Pop Dancer

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

7/4

Kodiac colt, cost 88,000 gns as a foal and 28,000 gns as a Breeze-up purchase. Half-brother to 1m winner. Dam a 6f winner who went on to place in Listed class. Worth a market check on debut for the yard that won this last year.

Form:

(4)

Spiritofthenorth

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: S H James| T: K A Ryan

16/1

Bated Breath colt, cost €21,000 as a yearling. Half-brother to a French 5f juvenile winner. Dam a French winner at 1m1½f. Suitable test for debut but likely best watched against some rivals with experience.

Form:

(2)

Honnold²³

Age: 2| Weight: 8-12| J: G Lee| T: D McCain Jnr

40/1

Sea The Moon gelding, cost €8,500 as a yearling. Half-brother to a French 1m1½f juvenile winner. Dam a winner at 1m3½f and half-sister to a 6f juvenile winner. Likely to be in need of further and his debut at Carlisle suggested as much.

Form: 6

(5)

Bertie's Princess

Age: 2| Weight: 8-9| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁵⁾| T: N Tinkler

50/1

Lawman filly, cost €1,000 as a foal and £16,000 as a Breeze-up purchase. Dam a half-sister to 1m4f AW winner and a juvenile sprint winner. Likely to need more of a stamina test and others make more appeal.

Form:

Forecasts

Tomfre (5/4), Pop Dancer (7/4), Sword Beach (5/1), Spiritofthenorth (16/1), Hooroo (20/1), Honnold (40/1), Bertie's Princess (50/1)

Racecourse experience could be the key to the opener here and while the top two have to give weight away to their rivals, they could prove a step ahead at this stage of their career. Minor preference is for TOMFRE who produced an eye-catching debut before staying on in game fashion to win at Newmarket last time out. Sword Beach gives weight to all his rivals but there's been enough to like about both his placed efforts to date to think he'll hit the frame here. Of the newcomers, Pop Dancer makes most appeal for a yard that won this last year.