Stellar Group Nursery

Off time: 15:18 | Winning time: 1m 1.93s

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(5)

Raahy^v1²³

Age: 2| Weight: 10-1| J: Seamus Cronin⁽⁵⁾| T: George Scott| OR: 96| D

3/1

Improved on form of 5f Lingfield novice win when a 3½L sixth in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood. Well held sixth in a valuable yearling stakes at York since. First time visor applied and he's on a feasible mark for handicap debut.

Form: 32166

(6)

Praxeology²⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 88

9/2

Won back-to-back novices and ran to a similar level when fourth on handicap debut at Goodwood. Ran in a tough nursery last time and now looks worth the drop back to the minimum trip. Pacey enough to get across early.

Form: 231140

(1)

Vintage Times¹¹

Age: 2| Weight: 8-11| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 78| BF| D

3/1

Made all to land a gamble on a much improved third start at Ripon over this distance. Very disappointing on quicker ground at Catterick next time and now makes handicap debut on a probable more ideal surface. She'll still need more off this mark.

Form: 7217

(2)

Dark Optimist^h,t²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 8-10| J: Harry Bentley| T: P D Evans| OR: 77| D

8/1

Salisbury maiden winner over this distance has been disappointing twice over 6f but fared well when third at Newbury over 5f in between. He blew the start there and he can be much quicker away. With a clean break he looks very well handicapped.

Form: 381734

(4)

Hot Heels³³

Age: 2| Weight: 8-10| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 77

9/2

Stepped on AW debut when second over this C&D in July. Returned to the AW latest and went back to the level of his debut without being disgraced. Likely there's more to come back here on handicap debut.

Form: 424

(3)

Ainsdale²⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 8-8| J: A Mullen| T: K R Burke| OR: 75

11/2

Pacey type has raced solely over 6f in three starts. Improved from debut with a Pontefract second but a well held third on a softer surface at Carlisle. On a reasonable mark on handicap debut and drop in trip may help but drying ground would also.

Form: 423

Non-Runners

(7)

Dazzling Des²¹

Weight: 9-0| Age: 2

T: D O'Meara J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Vintage Times (3/1), Raahy (3/1), Praxeology (9/2), Hot Heels (9/2), Ainsdale (11/2), Dazzling Des (6/1), Dark Optimist (8/1)

An interesting race with plenty of pace on show. A chance is taken with DARK OPTIMIST who, while he's shown he can be erratic from the stalls, he's also shown he's tactically versatile and is potentially on a smart mark back at an ideal distance. He'll be suited a fast run 5f as will Praxeology and with an early battle for the lead it wouldn't be the worst thing over this lesser distance for him to take a sit on the leader. Raahy is respected while Hot Heels is a likely big improver back over this C&D,