18:15 Chelmsford City

Thursday 9 November 2017

All17:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

Bet totequadpot At betfred.com Novice Stakes

Off time: 18:17 | Winning time: 1m 38.56s

(5)

Big Kitten¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| BF

11/8

€175,000 breeze-up buy who ran an 88 rated rival to 1¾L at Newcastle two weeks ago. That sets a clear standard with this extra furlong looking sure to help.

Form: 22

(12)

Flag Festival

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Martin Lane| T: C Appleby

14/1

Impeccably bred by New Approach out of the 1000 Guineas and Irish/Yorkshire Oaks winner Blue Bunting. The dam has produced a couple of minor winners and jockey bookings indicate he may need the run.

Form:

(11)

Gronkowski^b1³³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Levey| T: J Noseda

4/1

300,000 gns colt who held an entry in the Racing Post Trophy. Well supported at Newmarket last time when he looked keen and became unbalanced going into the dip. The winner has been well beaten since and blinkers go on now.

Form: 72

(2)

Jamih

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: N Mackay| T: J & T Gosden

14/1

300,000 gns son of French Derby winner Intello and half-brother to six winners including Group 1 winner Seal Of Approval. Flying high on debut but still worth a market check.

Form:

(6)

Light Up Dubai

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby

7/1

90,000 gns purchase by Kodiac out of a dam who was a middle-distance winner. Stable continue to fire out winners and interesting to see their retained rider prefer this one to his more attractively bred stable companion.

Form:

(3)

Praeceps⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott

100/1

Only beat one home last time and is pitched into a hot race here. Has too much to find to be considered a realistic prospect.

Form: 050

(10)

Quality Seeker

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Liam Keniry| T: E Walker

33/1

€260,000 yearling by Quality Road out of a Canadian Grade 1 turf winner. Half-brother to a winner in Canada and makes his debut for a yard whose juveniles improve for a run.

Form:

(4)

Revolutionary Man²⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: S & E Crisford

10/1

Improved here last time when mid-division at odds of 33/1. This looks a very good race and he may be one for handicaps in due course.

Form: 05

(1)

Tiger Lyon^h²²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: R Winston| T: J Butler

100/1

Well beaten on both starts and pitched into another difficult race. Hard to see him improving sufficiently to play anything other than a supporting role.

Form: 08

(7)

Whitlock

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden

4/1

300,000 gns son of Dutch Art and brother to Group 3 winner Zonderland. Stable's juveniles have enjoyed a good autumn but giving a fitness advantage to some decent sorts.

Form:

(9)

Wild West Hero¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Ted Durcan| T: Sir Michael Stoute

50/1

Exceed And Excel colt, half-brother to the useful Evangelist and dam a Group 2 winner. Soon in trouble on Newmarket debut when unloved in the market and needs to improve considerably.

Form: 6

Non-Runners

(8)

Mayer

Weight: 9-2| Age: 2

T: L M Cumani J: J P Spencer

Forecasts

Big Kitten (11/8), Gronkowski (4/1), Whitlock (4/1), Light Up Dubai (7/1), Revolutionary Man (10/1), Jamih (14/1), Flag Festival (14/1), Mayer (16/1), Quality Seeker (33/1), Wild West Hero (50/1), Praeceps (100/1), Tiger Lyon (100/1)

Charlie Appleby and John Gosden have some nicely bred newcomers lining up for this and it would seem obvious to assess the market for their chances. It will take a smart debutant to land this with BIG KITTEN and Gronkowski setting high standards for a maiden. Mark Johnston's horses are continuing in tremendous form and his juvenile here ran a useful looking rival to less than 2L last time, whilst giving the impression he was ready for this trip. Gronkowski was well supported for a conditions event at Newmarket but was readily outpointed having looked green and unbalanced. This track may be on the sharp side and it is worrying to see blinkers applied.