Bombardier Golden Beer Novice Stakes

Off time: 19:00 | Winning time: 1m 49.4s

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Selected odds by:

(5)

Fair Star³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison| CD

4/7

Market Rasen bumper winner on debut (Oct 2019); overcame a tardy start when winning on the Flat here (1m1½f) last month; has slightly more on his plate under the incurred penalty; boasts solid credentials nevertheless.

Form: 1

(6)

Edwin Hill

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Darragh Keenan⁽³⁾| T: Andi Brown

40/1

Sixth foal from a Swedish mare (winner in Denmark and Germany); mildly interesting to see how she fares in the market on belated debut for the Newmarket handler Andi Brown.

Form:

(3)

Hill Hollow⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Callum Shepherd| T: D M Simcock| OR: 71

7/2

Races keenly; has shown a similar level of form in all three starts (over 1m); started 5-2 when finishing a one-paced third to Plantadream at Kempton in late January; relatively exposed, but should be on the premises in a weak race.

Form: 34-3

(2)

Khazaf³³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr

22/1

Shadwell cast-off (175,000gns yearling); joined this trainer for £10,000 in September 2018; absent from the track for 333-days since finishing eighth of 11 (100-1) in a 1m2f Redcar novice; look elsewhere.

Form: 6/8-

(1)

Courteva⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Hollie Doyle| T: S Drinkwater

66/1

Has shown precious little ability in four starts for Richard Price (1m1½f AW- 2m½f NHF); drops back to 1m on first start for Samuel Drinkwater; virtually impossible to fancy on all known form.

Form: 78-

(4)

Silent Witness^t1²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: L Morris| T: E Walker

9/2

Cost 24,000gns as a yearling (dam was a 6f AW winner in Canada); made a fair start to her racing career when finishing 6L third of seven to Ahorsecalledwanda at Lingfield (6f) four weeks ago; tackles a new trip wearing a tongue-tie.

Form: 3

Forecasts

Fair Star (4/7), Hill Hollow (7/2), Silent Witness (9/2), Khazaf (22/1), Edwin Hill (40/1), Courteva (66/1)

A very winnable novice. Hill Hollow and Silent Witness have shown fair form with the latter arguably open to more improvement, although it does remain to be seen how she copes with today's extra yardage. Meanwhile, Edwin Hill should be monitored in the market on belated debut for the Newmarket handler Andi Brown. However, the one to beat (despite the penalty) is the Brian Ellison-trained FAIR STAR who should hopefully cope with dropping back in trip against this calibre of opposition.