This is a competitive maiden over an extended mile, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.
IN SUMMARY: There are some potentially useful sorts lurking in this field and the vote goes to DAYKING. He makes his racecourse debut today for a yard that have been in fine form of late and the booking of Pat Cosgrave suggests he’s ready first time out. He should take all the beating although Manchego will be a tough opponent to crack with some nice entries later in the season. Colourful Career needs close market attention for the Ed Dunlop stable.
1 FALAK – Has been off the racetrack since June of last year when beaten 23 lengths in a Windsor maiden. He was green that day and looked as if the experience came much too soon and it’s no surprise he’s only returning to action now. He’s bred to do better over longer trips than this so the extended mile is a slight concern but he should be capable of better. Best watched today off a break.
2 LIFE OF LUXURY – Twice-raced gelding in two maidens over shorter at Wolverhampton over the winter. He looked to go backwards if anything following his debut run when finishing seventh of the eleven strong field, beaten 11 1/2 lengths. He will enjoy this step up in trip but he has to give away weight to some potentially better rivals here and he’ll be better treated in handicap company. The yard have a below average strike rate here at just 6%.
3 NAZZAA – Interesting profile having been bought for 550,000GNS as a yearling before being sold on for just £600 as a 3yo. He’s clearly had enormous issues and he’s incredibly hard to fancy on the back of those statistics for a yard that rarely sends out a maiden winner. The stable are without a winner here from 17 runners and their entry here is best watched on racecourse debut.
4 TAMARIN – 25-race maiden and Lisa Williamson’s mare is an incredibly unattractive proposition here. She’s been well-beaten in handicap company off marks in the 40’s and the switch to maiden company looks like a desperate attempt to get her down to a mark of 45. She’s been off the track for 431-days and she’s certainly best avoided here.
5 ARMANDIHAN – 320,000GNS purchase and he’s been slightly frustrating this winter having failed to break his maiden tag on two occasions when sent off the 5/4 and 9/4f favourite. He returns to the All-Weather here in a poor maiden but he needs to do more having looked green and slightly awkward over the winter and a 12-day break is unlikely to reveal a dramatic transformation. Chances again but he’s in danger of becoming frustrating.
6 COLOURFUL CAREER – Interesting sort for the Ed Dunlop stable having been bought for 300,000GNS as a 2yo having been sold for just $17,000 previously. This is the right starting point for him based on breeding and the yard do well here with a 15% strike rate from 120 runners. He may need this on racecourse debut and the booking of Jimmy Quinn doesn’t appear eye-catching. Others make more appeal.
7 DAYKING – Another beautifully bred sort from the Godolphin operation and Saeed bin Suroor’s runner is likely to be popular here. He makes his debut over an extended mile on a surface that will be ideal and his trainer has a stunning 37% strike rate here with a 35% strike rate from his runners in the past fortnight. Pat Cosgrave is a positive booking in the saddle and he deserves maximum respect from stall 6 today.
8 MAHNA MAHNA – Faced an impossible task on debut against some smart opposition and it was disappointing he couldn’t finish any better than fifth at Lingfield subsequently. He’s been sent off 50/1 and 66/1 on two starts to date and it’s likely that he’ll do better once receiving a rating after today’s race. The stable have sent out one winner from four runners here at Wolverhampton so any market support would be significant.
9 MANCHEGO – Ran a nice race on debut last October behind an already raced rival. The form looks decent at this stage and there should be plenty more to come from this colt who has entries in the Dante and Derby. This is a nice race to ditch his maiden tag and go on to better things so he deserves maximum respect here for a stable who have a 26% strike rate at Wolverhampton. Jack Mitchell takes the ride.
10 SIR GNET – Second runner in this for Ed Dunlop and he was another expensive purchase, costing 275,000 Euros as a 2yo. He’s a son of Galileo which takes the eye and this looks ideal on debut although he’ll obviously appreciate trips further than this as he progresses with more experience. He wears a hood on debut and he’s another that deserves a second market look with plenty to like about his profile.
11 TWENTY TIMES – Twice-raced filly who showed a modest level of form in two runs last September. She arrives here on the back of a 224-day break and although she has a 5lb fillies’ allowance, she may bump into some potentially smart sorts here. This stable are capable of sending out maiden winners so she’s not without a chance but others make more appeal today.