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IN SUMMARY: The two once-raced AW maiden winners Tarboosh and Next Life both have good pedigrees and plenty of potential to make progress in handicaps, so need to be taken very seriously. However, they are unproven on turf and better value lies with NORMANDIE LADY (5/1) who won just a run-of-the-mill Catterick maiden on her latest start but she did it in good style and is another lightly raced contender to consider.
1 Lagenda – Ran well twice with cheekpieces added last month, more recently when second over C&D (soft); more exposed than some of today’s rivals but today’s race represents a drop in class and the faster ground is unlikely to be a problem; shouldn’t be far away.
2 Next Life – Overcame her inexperience and some interference to make winning debut in good style at Kempton (6f, AW) in September; not seen again since then and takes on stronger opposition on today’s seasonal/handicap/turf debut but has obvious scope for improvement.
3 Hope Cove – Raced mainly over 6f but gained one of his two wins over 7f; finished fourth in pair of competitive Class 2 events at Newmarket in April (both on softish ground) and, although he doesn’t look obviously well treated, he’s in calmer waters here and expected to go well again.
4 George William – Delivered on 2yo promise when winning Wolverhampton maiden (7f, AW) in April; also ran with credit when third over C&D (good) on last month’s handicap debut but subsequent 4lb rise seems rather harsh, and he’ll probably need to take another step forward.
5 Il Piccolo Grande – Outran 50/1 odds when fourth of six in a 2yo conditions race in September but may be flattered by the bare form and began his current campaign on a tough-looking mark; didn’t run badly when midfield at Sandown (1m, good to firm) on last month’s reappearance but needs to build on that performance.
6 Tarboosh – Has a good pedigree and overcame some traffic problems to justify favouritism on debut at Kempton (7f, AW) last month, where he narrowly got the better of a good yardstick in the closing stages; opening handicap mark looks reasonable and he almost certainly has more to offer.
7 Normandie Lady – Built upon encouraging debut when clearcut winner of Catterick maiden (7f, good to soft) in April; that form is nothing out of the ordinary and we may not see her to best effect until she tackles longer trips, but it’s very hard to gauge the limit of her ability.
8 Fang – 0-5 in 2yo maidens and been off since fluffing good opportunity at Redcar in October; moves into a handicap on a workable mark if on song after absence and booking of Ryan Moore catches the eye, but has more to prove and less potential than a few of these; sports first-time blinkers.
9 Dutch Gallery – Made winning debut at Newmarket (6f, good) last summer, his sole 2yo start, but has been soundly beaten in two handicaps this year (1m/6f); been dropped 5lb and can’t be written off just yet but comes here with a point to prove.
10 Peak Hill – Returned from break with two very moderate 1m AW runs in February and finished down the field when back on turf last month (8.3f); might be better suited by today’s shorter trip but makes very limited appeal in this competitive event.
myracing Forecast Prices: 3/1 Tarboosh, 4/1 Next Life, 6/1 Hope Cove, 7/1 Lagenda, George William, Normandie Lady, 8/1 Fang, 20/1 Il Piccolo Grande, 25/1 Dutch Gallery, 33/1 Peak Hill