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This is a tricky maiden over six furlongs, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.
IN SUMMARY: There should be plenty more to come from MABS CROSS following her debut run and she can win this. She found the experience too much on her first racecourse appearance but she will have learnt a lot from that and she can strike here in this much weaker contest. Granny Roz represents shrewd connections who are capable of sending out maiden winners whilst Majorette is also worthy of respect.
1 MUSCIKA – Had shown a modest amount of form in two starts for Richard Hannon at Newbury and Chelmsford. He progressed from his first to second run to finish fifth of eight over 7 furlongs but he was only beaten 2 1/2 lengths that day and there should be more to come as a 3yo. He’s been gelded and sent to David O’Meara who has a 12% strike rate here and he’s worth close attention in the betting.
2 ALFONSO MANANA – The most experienced rival in this field but he’s been bitterly disappointing having been unable to score in some weak maidens. He sets a modest standard off a mark of 69 and he’s vulnerable to most of his rivals today having looked to stop progressing over the winter. He should run his race again but he’s had plenty of chances already and the cheekpieces don’t seem to be working.
3 ANGEL’S ACCLAIM – Beat Alfonso Manana by a head on her second career start and she should progress from that run having probably just needed it off a near-one year break. She steps back up in trip here which should suit this Dark Angel filly and her yard have a reasonable strike rate at Thirsk standing at 11%. They haven’t been in startling form in the past fortnight though with just 3 winners from 47 runners. Interesting sort.
4 WORLD POWER – £27,000 purchase and she was outpaced on debut over 7 furlongs at Newbury in a Class 4 maiden. She drops back in trip here which is a slight concern but the class of opposition probably caught her out on racecourse debut and she’ll appreciate this slightly easier grade. This is Paul Cole’s first runner at Thirsk and the stable have been in good form of late with 3 winners from their last 10 runners. P J McDonald is booked to ride.
5 GRANNY ROZ – 22,000GNS purchase as a yearling and she’s by Bahamian Bounty out of a mare who was sired by Rock Of Gibraltar. That gives her an interesting pedigree with both speed and some stamina so the 6 furlong trip should be fine on debut. She may want slightly further than this in time but this yard are clued up with their maiden runners and they have a leading strike rate at Thirsk in this field (12%).
6 SUITED – Went backwards from her racecourse debut when finishing last of 10, beaten 18 lengths at Pontefract earlier this month. She may have just needed that run off a small break and she looks the type to do better over slightly further so she’s best watched today. The yard have a 9% strike rate here and they have been in poor form of late with just one winner from 41 runners. There’s some potential in her but it may be better seen in handicaps.
7 VIVARDIA – One of only two runners with an official rating in this and she looks up against it here. She wasn’t beaten far in a couple of maidens including over C&D last autumn but she was well-held in a Class 6 handicap at Newcastle and the step back to maiden company is a negative move. She’s exposed to plenty of her rivals in this and she can only be watched here for the Ben Haslam stable.
8 NONNIE AND NORNY – It would be a major surprise to see Shaun Harris’ runner win here today having shown absolutely nothing in two maidens to date. She’s failed to beat a rival home on both occasions and has been beaten 40 and 42 lengths respectively on either start. She drops back in trip here from a mile and she’s incredibly hard to make a case for. Handicaps beckon.
9 PRINCESS NEARCO – Another runner in this with poor form to her name and she looks destined for handicaps. She’s been sent off 80/1 and 100/1 which has accurately reflected her performances and a similar story is expected here off a 260-day break. This trip looks fine and Andrew Mullen is a positive booking but others make much more appeal today.
10 WHISPER A WORD – Second runner in this for Tim Easterby and she makes her third career start today. She was beaten 21 lengths at Ripon last July and she’s been off the track since which suggests she’s had a couple of issues. She’s by Bated Breath so she should have some potential but the yard’s poor record in maidens is off-putting and she may just need this off a long break.
11 MABS CROSS – Sold for an incredibly cheap £3,000 as a yearling and she showed some promise on racecourse debut earlier this month. She was only beaten 6 1/2 lengths when ridden from the back and although never able to challenge the leaders, she did travel well for a long way and she’ll be much better here for that experience. Worth close attention in the betting for a yard operating at a 17% strike rate currently.
12 MAJORETTE – Needs to improve from her racecourse debut when she weakened quite badly late on to finish sixth of nine. That was a decent maiden at Newbury and she will appreciate this weaker race for a yard that have sent out some maiden winners over the winter. Paul Hanagan is an interesting booking (22% strike rate in the past fortnight) and any significant support should be respected. Chances with plenty more to come.