21:15 Wolverhampton

Saturday 9 December 2017

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:4521:15

Betway Maiden Stakes

Off time: 21:16 | Winning time: 2m 40.31s

(1)

Gealach Ghorm³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: Sarah Hollinshead| OR: 71

10/1

Steps up in trip having narrowly outrun his 100/1 odds at this course last time on handicap debut. May have his work cut out back in maiden company.

Form: 5-768

(2)

Soghan^t²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S W Kelly| T: R Hughes| OR: 75

5/2

Finished third on first start for this yard at Lingfield last time. That was probably his best effort yet and he should go close again here.

Form: 7-443

(3)

Sonnetist³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Fran Berry| T: P D Evans| OR: 71

13/2

One of the more exposed contenders in the field returns to maidens after not making a big impression in handicaps. Probably playing for a place at best here up against some more progressive rivals.

Form: 446594

(9)

Sutoor²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: W M Brisbourne

100/1

Unseated rider and finished last of 14 on two starts in bumpers in the autumn; that form doesn't bode well for his Flat/AW debut.

Form:

(11)

Rosie Lea²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Liam Keniry| T: W S Kittow

50/1

Bumper winner in August, but only moderate form since switched to the Flat and difficult to fancy against rivals who have shown plenty more.

Form: 06

(6)

Ebqaa¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: T Eaves| T: J W Unett| OR: 72

6/1

Has finished second the last twice including on Tapeta at Newcastle latest. Beaten 7L there but only by an odds-on shot and is one to consider in a more open race.

Form: 7-422

(7)

Hewouldwouldnthe²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽⁷⁾| T: J G Portman

25/1

Only moderate performances in two AW maidens so far and a much better effort is needed in order for her to figure here.

Form: 84

(4)

Kwikstep⁷⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Martin Lane| T: Andi Brown

100/1

Yet to beat a horse home in two starts so far, beaten 31L and 86L. Looks to have little ability and is impossible to fancy on her third start.

Form: 67

(5)

Ocean Of Love²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: William Carson| T: S bin Suroor

9/4

Ran well enough to finish second in a maiden at this course last time out, and though dropping in trip here that shouldn't be an issue and she is open to further improvement.

Form: 4-32

(8)

Remember Nerja²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jane Elliott⁽⁵⁾| T: B Leavy| OR: 47

50/1

Out-ran her odds to finish third at 100/1 on debut for this yard at this course last time, but still needs to step up on that in order to challenge the leading contenders here.

Form: 073073

(10)

Sula Island⁵⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: A King| OR: 72

5/1

Not her finest performance when finishing down the field at Kempton last time, but had demonstrated ability on turf previously and no surprise to see her bounce back here.

Form: 5620

Forecasts

Ocean Of Love (9/4), Soghan (5/2), Sula Island (5/1), Ebqaa (6/1), Sonnetist (13/2), Gealach Ghorm (10/1), Hewouldwouldnthe (25/1), Rosie Lea (50/1), Remember Nerja (50/1), Kwikstep (100/1), Sutoor (100/1)

Many of these look unlikely to be taking a maiden, even a relatively weak one such as this, but OCEAN OF LOVE represents a progressive option with top connections who ran well enough when only beaten by the favourite at this course last time. The drop in trip shouldn't be an issue and so she looks the one to side with for an in-form Saeed Bin Suroor. Sula Island improved on his first start for Richard Hughes last time and is feared most, ahead of Ebqaa, who showed she goes well on Tapeta at Newcastle recently.