Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Novice Stakes (Plus 10)

Off time: 17:45 | Winning time: 1m 13.67s

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(5)

Behind The Wall

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

12/1

€120,000 foal. Half-brother to 5f winner Rozene and middle distance winner Mara Magdalena. Dam an unraced half-sister to three Listed winners over middle distances. Trainer's AW 3yos 3-12 so far this year, so no surprise to see good debut.

Form:

(4)

Never Dark⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: G Lee| T: A M Balding

4/5

9-4 on debut at Kempton (6f) last month, when showing promise in finishing just over 3L third. The fourth that day has since made that run look solid, and this colt can also improve and go very close.

Form: 3-

(6)

Raadea²⁰⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Theodore Ladd⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby

16/1

18-1 and beat just one home on debut at Salisbury (7f) last June. Changed hands for 4,000gns in October and makes debut for stable that is 6-11 with AW 3yos this season. A big improvement would not surprise.

Form: 8-

(1)

Tommy de Vito⁷⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: B A Curtis| T: C Hills

3/1

Half-brother to a sprint winner. 4-1 and ran well on debut when just over 1L second over C&D in November. Has been given time before this return to the track, and probably wouldn't need much improvement to come out on top.

Form: 2-

(3)

Cock A Hoop³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: B Haslam

22/1

40-1 and was plenty green enough on debut here over C&D last month. That was not without promise, but she may well be one to keep in mind for when she goes handicapping.

Form: 5-

(2)

Mountain Brave¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston

9/1

33-1 and made a promising debut when 1½L this in a fillies' novice event at Wolverhampton (6f) in December. Not as good over 7f last time, but drops back in trip again now and has to be taken seriously.

Form: 2-4

Forecasts

Never Dark (4/5), Tommy de Vito (3/1), Mountain Brave (9/1), Behind The Wall (12/1), Raadea (16/1), Cock A Hoop (22/1)

An interesting novice event. Raadea hails from a stable whose AW 3yos are in fine fettle, but he does need a lot of improvement. Mountain Brave should appreciate the drop back to 6f and can go well along with Tommy De Vito, while Never Dark looks capable of another big run. However, BEHIND THE WALL represents a good team whose 3yos are in good form and he might trump them all with a winning debut.