Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Novice Stakes (Plus 10)

Off time: 19:03 | Winning time: 2m 37.8s

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Selected odds by:

(1)

Baltic Wolve²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: G Boughey| OR: 75

20/1

Left John Gosden for 20,000gns (Newmarket Autumn Sale); faded inside the final furlong on his first attempt at this trip (over C&D) four weeks ago; has plenty of work to do in order to reverse placings with Marcela De Vega.

Form: 07-3

(4)

Indigo Lake^p1⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden

4/1

Frankel colt; hasn't appeared to be anything remotely special so far (0-2); his much respected trainer introduces headgear over a new trip seeking a sharp upturn in fortunes; shouldn't be written off just yet.

Form: 55-

(5)

Kingswear¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: A Kirby| T: C Appleby

3/1

Dubawi colt; brother to the Grp 2 winner Dartmouth (1m-1m6f); stable second-string on debut (outpaced when finishing in excess of 5L fourth to the John Gosden-trained To Nathaniel); progress/improvement probable; key player?

Form: 4

(7)

Regal Legacy^p1

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: J Mitchell| T: C Appleby

6/1

Dubawi gelding; sixth foal from the 1m2f Listed winner Marie De Medici; it'll be interesting to see how he compares in the market to his more experienced stablemate Kingswear; the gelding/cheekpieces combination raises a red flag.

Form:

(2)

Marcela De Vega²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R Kingscote| T: R M Beckett| OR: 77

1/1

Daughter of Lope De Vega (65,000gns yearling); ran her best race to date when going down by a neck to the Roger Varian-trained Waleydd (Baltic Wave third) on her first attempt at this trip here four weeks ago; sets the form standard.

Form: 85-2

(3)

Pummel¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Luke Catton⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hannon

100/1

Lethal Force filly; was soon struggling when finishing down the field on debut (40-1) at Kempton (7f) 17 days ago; on pedigree this longer trip could suit as a half-sister to Fire Leopard (1m2f-1m4f) and Kip (1m4f); others more likely.

Form: 9

Non-Runners

(6)

Nicks Not Wonder²⁴

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: J A Osborne J: Nicola Currie

Forecasts

Marcela De Vega (1/1), Kingswear (3/1), Indigo Lake (4/1), Regal Legacy (6/1), Nicks Not Wonder (6/1), Baltic Wolve (20/1), Pummel (100/1)

The filly Marcela De Vega sets the form standard on the basis of a much improved effort over C&D four weeks ago (holds Baltic Wolve) and should be afforded plenty of respect accordingly. However, it's safe to say that the newly-cheekpieced Indigo Lake has under-performed for John Gosden and there are also a couple of Charlie Appleby-trained runners worth considering. Of that duo the gelding operation and cheekpieces provide potential warning markers about the newcomer Regal Legacy. Therefore, the safest option is to chance further improvement from the more experienced and well-related KINGSWEAR (second-string to stablemate Royal Castle on Kempton debut).