16:30 Chester

Friday 15 September 2017

All14:1514:5015:2515:5516:3017:0517:40

EWL Maiden Fillies' Stakes

Off time: 16:32 | Winning time: 2m 23.03s

(1)

Clemency²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: P Mulrennan| T: D McCain Jnr

11/2

Made a fair debut here last month over 1m4f keeping on well so the drop in trip isn't an obvious move after that run. Likely that if she stays in this sphere (is already a fair hurdler) that handicaps will be far more her bag.

Form: 2

(2)

River Icon²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽⁵⁾| T: I Jardine

4/1

Developed into a fairly decent performer over hurdles and has won two of her last four starts in that sphere. Now makes her Flat debut although this trip looks a little on the short side based on her hurdles form.

Form:

(5)

Ebqaa²⁹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: T Eaves| T: J W Unett

25/1

Had just the one run for her previous yard (Marcus Tregoning) and hinted at ability in the one run that she had for him. Sold for just 2,000 gns to her current connections though and makes her turf debut stepping up in trip.

Form: 7-

(8)

Ejabah¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Joey Haynes| T: C Smith| OR: 48

50/1

Remains a modest maiden having been trained by Chris wall as a juvenile. Has made no impact in handicaps in her last three starts all over much shorter trips and hard to know what to expect here.

Form: 8-64774

(6)

Gakku^b¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: F Norton| T: R Varian| OR: 80| BF

5/4

Beaten at very short odds last time out at Ripon over this trip wasting what appeared to be a very good and easy opportunity in first-time blinkers. Doesn't really look to be improving and this is tougher than her last start.

Form: 252

(4)

Just Heather^p²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Shane Gray| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 45

100/1

Has shown very little to date and has a record of 0/8 and it doesn't look as though she will be breaking her maiden here.

Form: 0-68007

(9)

Song Maker^b1⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P Makin| T: C Appleby| OR: 82

15/8

Came back from a long absence last time out having shown some mildly progressive form as a juvenile (bred to be smart) but showed little in first-time cheekpieces. Led for much of the trip but found little and questions to answer now.

Form: 322-3

(3)

Zarkavon^p²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Sullivan| T: J S Wainwright| OR: 23

100/1

Tried in a hood last time out but has yet to show any ability and she is probably vying for last place here with her stablemate Just Heather judged on their market positions.

Form: 7-70090

Non-Runners

(10)

Meccabah³⁹

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: A M Balding J: Non Runner

(7)

Pretty Passe²⁸

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: W J Haggas J: P Hanagan

Forecasts

Gakku (5/4), Song Maker (15/8), Pretty Passe (11/4), River Icon (4/1), Meccabah (5/1), Clemency (11/2), Ebqaa (25/1), Ejabah (50/1), Zarkavon (100/1), Just Heather (100/1)

Three of the runners look to stand out in this weak looking maiden although none of that triumvirate are really solid propositions. The booking of Franny Norton for Gakku takes the eye as he’s very good around here and she may get a positive ride that Norton has perfected so well around here although she’s not the easiest. Song Maker could bounce back from her poor run last time out (may well have needed that) but she did stop quite quickly and in the end PRETTY PASSE is preferred and hopefully she will get the strong gallop that she needs. Both Clemency and River Icon face tough tasks at the weights but are decent hurdlers and will be interesting once they get a mark for handicaps.