Follow At The Races On Twitter Novice Stakes

Off time: 17:46 | Winning time: 1m 0.76s

Settings

Selected odds by:

(3)

Hassaad³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Adam J McNamara| T: A Watson| D

11/8

Faced with a straightforward task when winning a three-runner novice stakes at Brighton last month and hard to assess what she actually achieved. Still, she's going the right way and her pedigree says the AW won't be too much of an issue; player.

Form: 31

(5)

Desert Land^p1¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Dylan Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: D M Simcock| OR: 73| BF

7/2

Consistent and an obvious candidate given his current rating of 73 would mean he'd be giving weight away if this were a handicap. His form is the best on offer and the gelding must enter calculations. Drop in trip and headgear concerns on AW bow.

Form: 4-73242

(2)

Spirited Guest¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: T P Queally| T: G G Margarson| OR: 68

5/4

Both efforts last year were modest but he learned plenty by the look of things and can build on a couple promising runs in 2019; last month's return to action at Yarmouth (6f, good) can be expected to have sharpened him up; one for the shortlist.

Form: 00-32

(4)

Maerchengarten²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Jane Elliott⁽³⁾| T: E De Giles

25/1

Hampered before fading to finish last on debut here (7f) last December and only seen out once since; when making his belated seasonal bow over 7f at Chepstow last month. He should be fitter for the run but the drop to 5f isn't an obvious move.

Form: 0-5

(6)

Miss Gradenko³⁵⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: R Kingscote| T: R M H Cowell

50/1

Half-sister to 5f winner May Girl and also positive her dam was successful over this tip. However, the filly needs a dramatic step forward from her two previous starts and she's not hard to overlook this time. Qualifies for a mark after this run.

Form: 80-

Non-Runners

(1)

Hellofagame¹⁰

Weight: 9-3| Age: 4

T: R J Price J: Sophie Ralston

Forecasts

Spirited Guest (5/4), Hassaad (11/8), Desert Land (7/2), Maerchengarten (25/1), Miss Gradenko (50/1), Hellofagame (100/1)

A tight one to call between Hassaad, Desert Land, and SPIRITED GUEST on the form posted so far; but the last named might just be the best suited (of that trio) to racing over the minimum distance and edges a slender vote of confidence. Desert Land sets the standard just now and is rated as the main danger to the selection. Hassaad won well last time but this is a much tougher assignment under a penalty. The rest need to improve but it's feasible that Miss Gradenko will go on to better things when she qualifies for a handicap mark after this.