13:50 Haydock

Saturday 9 September 2017

All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

32Red Casino Ascendant Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 1m 47.73s

(6)

Chilean⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: S De Sousa| T: M Meade| D

6/1

Improved for his Newmarket debut when scoring at Chelmsford (1m, AW) last time. Will need to take another good step forward to remain competitive at this level, but couldn't rule that out.

Form: 41

(1)

Dark Acclaim⁴⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: M Botti

9/2

Made his debut here in June and improved for that run when taking a soft ground novices' contest at Doncaster (7f) a month later. That looks solid form to bring to the table ahead of this step up in trip, which is also positive. Should go well.

Form: 41

(2)

Dee Ex Bee¹⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: A Kirby| T: C & M Johnston| BF

3/1

Won at the first time of asking at Goodwood (7f, soft) last month and was sent off favourite in a York Group 3 last time, though was beaten 7½L. Looked in need of this step up in trip there and he should be a leading player.

Form: 16

(7)

Dubhe³⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| D

9/2

Stepped up on his Newbury debut form to win readily at Sandown (1m, soft) last time. Will need to take a significant step up on that maiden form to follow-up here but a market check is suggested to gauge confidence.

Form: 41

(3)

Learn By Heart²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 97

4/1

Improving and won second time out at Doncaster (7f, soft) in June, before being beaten just over 2L in Listed company at Newbury last time. That is the yardstick form in this contest and now stepped up in trip he will be tough to beat.

Form: 314

(5)

Veejay¹¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: G Lee| T: M R Channon| OR: 89| C| D

10/1

Has done well in winning three of his five starts, the latest being when defying topweight to win a Ripon nursery over this trip. Now takes a step up in class, but is a tough competitor and may well have an impact.

Form: 11021

(4)

Yabass²⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Edward Greatrex| T: A Watson| D

12/1

Was readied to win on debut (5-2) at Windsor last month (1m, good). That was an encouraging start, but needs to improve significantly to cut the mustard at this level. Stable in good form still and he is an interesting contender.

Form: 1

Forecasts

Dee Ex Bee (3/1), Learn By Heart (4/1), Dark Acclaim (9/2), Dubhe (9/2), Chilean (6/1), Veejay (10/1), Yabass (12/1)

Learn By Heart looks likely to prove tough to beat here judged by his Newbury run last time. He is stepped up in trip today and that looks positive, though that is also the case with DEE EX BEE. Mark Johnston's colt really caught the eye when scoring on debut but was not able to race as prominently last time. He is well worth keeping on the right side of and is given another chance. Veejay and Dark Acclaim are perhaps the next pair on the list, though Yabass is also interesting.