Despite the Class 6 status of this contest, it’s an intriguing race with a number who should rate a little higher than this next season as they mature. Read on for our expert tip and runner by runner preview.
IN SUMMARY: BAY STATION ran the best race of her career at this track on her debut. She has a few snippets of form since, running well in first time cheekpieces last time out in a higher grade. Back on a track she has won at, if the headgear works again then she looks too big of a price. Hamidans Girl is always in the mix without winning, she is likely to run her usual honest race. Dapper Man and The Night Before are others at each way prices who have the form in the book to get involved.
1 HAMIDANS GIRL – Yet to get her head in front in sixteen starts but she has finished in the first four in eleven of those starts. She has held her own in slightly stronger company that this but it is a little disappointing that she is yet to cash in on her dropping mark. Hard to see her out the frame but others are preferred for win purposes.
2 DAPPER MAN – It wasn’t much of a field he beat at Wetherby in June but he did it emphatically from two pounds lower. He has struggled to hold his form since on good to soft, the return to a quicker surface should allow him to show up better. He has finished runner-up (albeit at a respectful distance behind the winner) on both starts here so has an each way chance.
3 BAY STATION – Has been consistent at this level since beating a solid yardstick in Queen In Waiting over this course and distance on her debut. She shaped a little better in first time cheekpieces last time out, if they work again on a track she already has winning form at then she is the one to beat at a solid each way price.
4 VINTAGE DREAM – Eleven race maiden is a real Jekyll and Hyde character. Three solid efforts and three dismal ones from his last six races mean it’s hard to know what to expect. Would have an each way chance on the best of his form but is impossible to support with any confidence.
5 THE NIGHT BEFORE – A stiff five furlongs on quick ground should be just the ticket for an improved showing. He ran well for a long way in a better contest than this last time when only beaten three and a half lengths. Trainer Robert Cowell is not in great form but he is always respected with runners here despite the wider than ideal draw.
6 CANFORD BAY – Shaped with promise on his first run for this yard in June, failing to back up the impression made there in two starts since. This is a drop in class from his handicap debut which will help him but he needs to show more sparkle before he can be supported, especially from a wide berth.
7 NEWGATE SIOUX – Won a claimer over this course and distance last September. She was only rated 39 there, causing a 66/1 shock. Neither before or since that win has she looked anything like the same animal, so a first time tongue strap needs to work a miracle.
8 JOYSUNNY – Twelve race maiden, she has gone close twice in similar races including over this course and distance. A couple of extra pounds are going to make life tougher, especially as she has already shown that she is rather limited. Has an chance if things fall right for her but others hold more pressing claims.
9 LA HAULE LADY – Hasn’t got her head in front from thirteen starts, she shaped with a tiny bit more promise last time out here. She needs more to get her head in front in this line-up but she is in the right hands to find the right race eventually.
10 DIGITAL REVOLUTION – Yet to start at shorter than 20/1, she has shown her two glimpses of form on the all weather. Three runs on turf have all been poor which leaves her with an awful lot to prove in this contest.
11 HENRIETTA’S DREAM – Another to have started at huge prices each time she has seen the racecourse, she showed her only notable form on the softest ground she has encountered. Given the quick underfoot conditions here, it’s very unlikely that she will be playing a part at the business end of the contest.
12 EQUIPE – Has shown next to nothing in five starts so far. The drop back to five furlongs will suit her but that is a small straw to clutch at when trying to give her a chance. Only lightly raced but well outclassed on what we have seen so far.
13 TESS GRAHAM – Her best form so far has come at this trip on quick ground. The level of that form isn’t enough to give her any chance, running off a mark of 46 here, she looks at least half a stone too high in the weights.