12:35 Catterick

Tuesday 31 October 2017

All12:3513:0513:3514:1014:4015:1515:4516:20

Halloween EBF Novice Stakes

Off time: 12:35 | Winning time: 1m 3.60s

(5)

Bahuta Acha²⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-9| J: B A Curtis| T: D Loughnane| OR: 70| CD

4/1

Stayed on well to land a nursery over C&D last month getting off the mark at the 7th attempt with the soft surface looking to suit. Shaped a little better than his finishing position when trying to follow-up at Bath (ran too free); gives weight all round.

Form: 277515

(2)

Crikeyitswhykie

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mathers| T: D Shaw

100/1

Has plenty of speed in his pedigree and is a brother to four GB sprint winners but yard are hardly known for their debut juvenile winners. Trainer yet to have a two-year-old winner this year (0/16).

Form:

(9)

Loulin⁴¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara

7/1

One of two runners for the yard here and although this one was green on his debut it was disappointing that he failed to build on that initial run at Beverley last time. Looks the stable selected on jockey bookings but more needed.

Form: 56

(4)

Warrior's Valley⁴²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: D Allan| T: D C Griffiths

28/1

Made an unpromising start to his career when looking short of pace (surprising given his pedigree) at Redcar over 5f. Much more needed to take a hand here but looks limited based on the evidence so far.

Form: 0

(7)

Cathie's Dream¹³⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 8-11| J: G Lee| T: N Wilson

100/1

Looks a decent type on pedigree but has been beaten 30L plus on both her starts so far for a yard that struggle to have juvenile winners. Needs this run for a mark and handicaps await in the future.

Form: 88

(1)

Dark Hedges⁴¹

Age: 2| Weight: 8-11| J: S H James| T: Olly Williams| OR: 47

100/1

Has achieved very little in form terms in eight starts even her third here in May being a poor effort. Will do well to get involved here and hard to find much encouragement.

Form: 399707

(8)

Liamba

Age: 2| Weight: 8-11| J: Shane Gray| T: D O'Meara

33/1

This debutante looks to be the second string from the yard on jockey bookings with the pedigree looking as though she will need further than this sharp 5f. Best watched on her initial run.

Form:

(3)

Machree¹⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 8-11| J: T Eaves| T: D Carroll

4/6

Really sets the standard in this having shaped well on her debut (met interference but also green) and again undone by inexperience last time out at York. Looked the best horse at the weights last time and looks capable of a lot better than she has shown.

Form: 34

(6)

Serabrina²⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 8-11| J: K Shoemark| T: D Menuisier

4/1

Twice a runner-up in French turf maidens over 5f earlier in the year on her first two starts before transferring to her current yard. Got a considerate introduction to racing in GB over 6f on the AW and looks the main danger here.

Form: 229

Forecasts

Machree (4/6), Bahuta Acha (4/1), Serabrina (4/1), Loulin (7/1), Warrior's Valley (28/1), Liamba (33/1), Crikeyitswhykie (100/1), Cathie's Dream (100/1), Dark Hedges (100/1)

A race to open the final Flat card of the season that lacks strength in depth and should give MACHREE a chance of getting off the mark after she moved like the best horse in the race at York last time but was undone by her inexperience. She should know a lot more this time around and can put the ex-French filly Serabrina in her place although that one has shown enough to be able to put up a fight in this. The rest of the field looks pretty ordinary with the only winner in the field Bahuta Acha having to give weight away to all and that makes life difficult although his form so far looks good enough to grab the minor place over the O’Meara duo Loulin and Liamba.