19:30 Newcastle

Friday 25 October 2019

All17:2518:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Ladbrokes 'Play 1-2 Free' On Football Novice Auction Stakes

Off time: 19:33 | Winning time: 1m 40.98s

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Selected odds by:

(1)

Cliffs Of Freedom³⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: S P Davis⁽³⁾| T: Kevin Coleman

8/1

Unable to build on his promising debut effort in which he finished runner-up at Down Royal (7f; yielding) when last of seven at Southwell (6f; standard). May appreciate switch to tapeta surface, but now has something to prove.

Form: 27

(9)

Cold War Steve

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: C Lee| T: R Fell & S Murray

40/1

One of a handful of newcomers in the line-up. £10,000 two-year-old. Gelded son of Lope De Vega. Half-brother to stayer Valkenburg. Interesting, but stable are out of form which slightly tempers enthusiasm.

Form:

(11)

Home For Half Past

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara

100/1

Gelded ahead of debut which is slightly concerning. By Elusive Pimpernel. Cost €5,000 as a yearling. Full-brother to a 7f AW two-year-old winner, and half-brother to another two winners. Should win races further down the line.

Form:

(3)

Jahrawi

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan

16/1

Unraced colt. By Fed Biz. Sales price rose from $10,000 as a yearling to 31,000gns as a two-year-old. Half-brother to a couple of winners in the US. Would need to be useful to win this on debut. Stable are out of form.

Form:

(7)

Nicks Not Wonder³¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Nicola Currie| T: J A Osborne

10/1

Described as "never in it" when midfield on debut at Lingfield (1m; standard). Unlikely he'll improve enough to feature in this contest, and he will be of more interest when entering handicaps. Best watched.

Form: 8

(10)

Provocation²⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Dane O'Neill| T: C & M Johnston

8/1

Fourth on debut behind the subsequent Zetland Stakes winner Max Vega at Pontefract (1m; good to soft). Doesn't look to be anything as exciting as that horse in this race, and he is one of the leading contenders if improving.

Form: 4

(8)

Spanish Persuader

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston

16/1

Newcomer for top yard. By Motivator. Cost 22,000gns as a yearling and is a half-brother to the talented Group 2 winner Forest Ranger. Deep race to make debut in, but should have a bright future.

Form:

(5)

Hua Mulan¹⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: K Dalgleish

9/2

Only found one too good (hot-favourite Alix James; 11/10f) when taking another step forward from debut effort to finish runner-up at Musselburgh (7f; soft). Major claims on that form, and could make it third time lucky on AW debut.

Form: 32

(4)

Sky Lake³¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: David Egan| T: M Botti

18/1

Midfield on debut when eighth at Chelmsford (7f; standard) last month. This looks a slightly stronger contest on paper. Difficult to fancy and looks more of a sort to do well in handicaps.

Form: 8

(2)

Trinity Girl¹¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| BF

15/8

Should confirm the form with Untouchable Beauty after finishing over three-lengths in front of that rival on debut last time out. Half-sister went close on her only run over this C&D. Should make a bold bid to get off the mark at the second attempt.

Form: 2

(6)

Untouchable Beauty¹¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: R Havlin| T: H Palmer

10/1

Progressed from debut effort when behind Trinity Girl (2nd; 5/2f) at Wolverhampton (7f; standard) most recently. Difficult to reverse form with that rival. Place claims at best as she steps up to 1m for the first time.

Form: 53

Forecasts

Trinity Girl (15/8), Hua Mulan (9/2), Cliffs Of Freedom (8/1), Provocation (8/1), Nicks Not Wonder (10/1), Untouchable Beauty (10/1), Jahrawi (16/1), Spanish Persuader (16/1), Sky Lake (18/1), Cold War Steve (40/1), Home For Half Past (100/1)

An interesting novice auction stakes in which Mark Johnston holds a strong hand with Provocation and Trinity Girl. The former was only fourth on debut but the subsequent Zetland Stakes winner Max Vega was in front of him then, and there doesn't look to be anything as talented in this contest. The latter showed more when narrowly failing to justify favouritism at Wolverhampton. She is likely to make a bold bid to go one place better but preference is for HUA MULAN given that he has the better form to his name after progressing from his debut to finish second behind the well-supported Alix James at Musselburgh.