16:35 York

Thursday 18 May 2017

All14:2014:5515:3016:0516:3517:0517:35

British Stallion Studs EBF Westow Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 1m 0.17s

(7)

Ardad²²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 108| D

3/1

Won last year's the Flying Childers (had Afandem 1¾L behind), which represents comfortably his best form to date and simply could not see out the Prix de l'Abbaye when tried in Group One company at the end of the season. No disgrace in that, especially now dropped to this grade again and should be tough to beat.

Form: 119719-

(6)

Brian The Snail³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: R A Fahey| OR: 102| D

5/6

Has done absolutely nothing wrong in winning all three starts, two of them at Pontefract, with an easy Catterick success in between. Was consummate when scoring over 6f on his return last month, when he looked like a colt going places. Holds Group One Commonwealth Cup and July Cup entries and a good win here should see him take his chance.

Form: 11-1

(4)

Jumira Bridge²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 93| D

5/1

Failed to get his nose in front as a juvenile, but has hit the ground running this year with success at both Brighton (good to firm) and Sandown (good). This is significantly stronger, but he is clearly an improving colt and it wouldn't take many of these to misfire to make him very competitive.

Form: 226-11

(1)

Kyllang Rock³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: M Harley| T: J Tate| OR: 91| D

9/1

Well beaten when tried in both Listed and Group company last season and was beaten in a nursery off a mark of 85 in September. Looked to have improved when winning a Nottingham conditions event (5f, good to firm) on his return last month and will need more of the same to get competitive today. Acts on good to soft too.

Form: 16712-1

(3)

Fashion Queen²⁷³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 98| D

20/1

Won a fast ground Thirsk maiden (5f) in July and ran well for long enough when tried in Group Two company here in the Lowther (6f) in August. Not seen since, but with another winter under her belt she should have strengthened up and this looks a good starting point for a filly who could get competitive if ready first time.

Form: 215-

Non-Runners

(2)

Afandem⁷

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: H Palmer J: Non Runner

(8)

Hit The Bid³⁶

Weight: 9-2| Age: 3

T: D Bunyan & G O'Leary J: Non Runner

(5)

Queen In Waiting¹²

Weight: 8-11| Age: 3

T: C & M Johnston J: F Norton

Forecasts

Brian The Snail (5/6), Ardad (3/1), Afandem (9/2), Jumira Bridge (5/1), Kyllang Rock (9/1), Queen In Waiting (16/1), Fashion Queen (20/1), Hit The Bid (20/1)

Ardad sets the standard here on his Flying Childers win, when he had Afandem behind and there is no obvious reason why that particular battle should end any differently today. However, BRIAN THE SNAIL is taken to score. Richard Fahey's charge answered every call very comfortably at Pontefract on his reappearance and looks a sprinter of some potential. He can take this step up in his stride on the way to better things and he won't mind how the going is described. Jumira Bridge and Fashion Queen are a pair who need to be improving to figure, but you couldn't rule that out.