18:30 Chelmsford City

Thursday 27 February 2020

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:00

tote.co.uk Maiden Stakes

Off time: 18:33 | Winning time: 1m 37.96s

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Selected odds by:

(4)

Juan De Valdes²⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Josephine Gordon| T: S L Keightley

50/1

Cheap purchase as a breeze up and ability reflected on the track with two no-shows, including at Leicester (7f) in May last year. Not seen since and incredibly tough task on comeback effort.

Form: 70-

(7)

Johnny Utah¹¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: M Dwyer| T: R Spencer

50/1

Gelded son of Dandy Man who was purchased for only €30,000 and was a poor last of 10 at Newmarket (7f) in November. Plenty of improvement is required in this.

Form: 0-

(9)

King Of The South¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: S W Kelly| T: D R Lanigan

25/1

Kingman colt who is a half-brother to various winners. Slow start seemingly cost him when fifth of nine on debut at Lingfield (1m) earlier this month and entitled to improve from that effort. Mild claims.

Form: 5

(2)

Kitzbuhel

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding

9/1

Medaglia D'Oro colt out of an unraced dam who is closely related to crack stallion Street Cry. Half-Brother to two-time maiden Noble Nebraskan, so pedigree isn't much to shout about. Market check advised.

Form:

(6)

Maori Knight¹⁶⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: K Shoemark| T: R Hughes

8/11

Shaped very well in two starts to date and arguably fared with more progression when 1L fourth at Doncaster in September (7f). Step up in trip should suit and no reason why he can't improve once again.

Form: 34-

(5)

Night Voyager¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: P J McDonald| T: J Tate

5/1

Likeable sort. Made a pleasing debut at Lingfield at the turn of the year before bettering that with second over 7f here earlier in the month. Kept on well that day so may have more to offer at this trip. Claims.

Form: 62

(8)

Socialize¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Rob Hornby| T: George Scott

100/1

Poor on debut at this track (6f) at the end of January and looked to regress when eighth of nine at Lingfield (1m) last time out. Needs to step up markedly to be competitive and others are preferred.

Form: 48

(3)

Flying Fairy

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: J P Sullivan| T: D P Quinn

100/1

Sir Prancealot filly. Dam was a winner between 1m2f and 1m3f on the Flat before some modest efforts over hurdles and half-sister to seven-time maiden Adashelby. Pedigree suggests she will need further in time.

Form:

(11)

Key Look²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: F Norton| T: S & E Crisford| BF

7/2

Dawn Approach filly who is first progeny of a 1m winner. Pleasing third on debut at Kempton (1m) earlier this month and yard normally have them better for second run. Dangerous to dismiss.

Form: 3

(10)

Libretti

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: K T O'Neill| T: J & T Gosden

16/1

Noble Mission filly out of a dam who won over 1m during her career. Half-sister to one-time US winner Montauk Man so lack of winning pedigree is of some concern, but represents a powerful yard.

Form:

(1)

Zere¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson

25/1

Modest sixth on debut at Newcastle in October and offered seemingly similar performance when seventh at that venue (1m) 12 days ago. Hails from a yard who do well with improvers but needs to show more now.

Form: 6-7

Forecasts

Maori Knight (8/11), Key Look (7/2), Night Voyager (5/1), Kitzbuhel (9/1), Libretti (16/1), King Of The South (25/1), Zere (25/1), Juan De Valdes (50/1), Johnny Utah (50/1), Flying Fairy (100/1), Socialize (100/1)

Some promising form is brought to the table in this contest with plenty showing improvement and one of them sorts in NIGHT VOYAGER may make it third-time lucky. He was taking with his staying-on nature at this track last time and may be crying out for this optimum trip. Maori Knight boasts a similar profile and looks the main danger on paper, but a lack of recent run is slightly concerning and may be better in time, while the likes of Key Look and King Of The South looks to have scope to progress with racing but may have bumped into a smart horse in this contest.