20:15 Kempton

Friday 26 January 2018

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

Matchbook Casino Novice Stakes

Off time: 20:18 | Winning time: 1m 23.85s

(7)

Ghost Serge¹⁵⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: L Morris| T: A Watson| OR: 96

5/1

Highly tried since winning his first two races. Sets a high standard in this and his BHA rating does not flatter him. Stable continue in excellent form and a five month absence may not deter him.

Form: 11256-

(12)

First Contact²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: A Kirby| T: C Appleby| D

7/4

Sprint bred gelding who saw this trip out well to bet a modest lot at Newcastle. Probably better than the form suggests, but he will need to be above average if the topweight arrives on song.

Form: 1

(11)

Barritus

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Liam Keniry| T: George Baker

66/1

58,000 gns son of Exceed And Excel out of a Listed winner. Highly tried on debut for a yard that have gone a while without a winner.

Form:

(10)

Billy Star³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: J C Fox

200/1

Well down the field in two weaker races than this and has a mountain to climb just to get competitive.

Form: 00-

(4)

Jampower^t1³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Aaron Jones⁽³⁾| T: S C Williams

150/1

Well in rear on both starts so far and looks one for handicaps after this. Wears a tongue-tie for the first time.

Form: 70-

(2)

Luna Eclipse²²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding

14/1

First foal of a winning miler who appeared not to stay 6f last time following a highly promising debut. Has been given time to develop since, but highly tried on return.

Form: 37-

(6)

My Boy Sepoy³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Fran Berry| T: S C Williams

25/1

Stayed on nicely from the rear to finish a remote third on debut. Should win races but this may be aiming too high at this stage.

Form: 3-

(1)

Pak Choi³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Rob Hornby| T: A M Balding

50/1

Got worked up in the stalls on debut and was never in the hunt. May prove capable of better but would be the yard's second string in this.

Form: 0-

(9)

Sopranos Rock

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon

16/1

87,000 gns son of Society Rock out of a dam who won from 5f-7f. Half-brother to a winning sprinter and represents a leading stable. Faces a stiff task on debut but warrants a market check.

Form:

(3)

Walk In The Sun

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: J Noseda

5/4

€1.4m colt by Street Sense out of a French Listed winner. Related to three winners and holds an entry in the Irish 2000 Guineas. Tempting enough to draw leading jockey for his first ride of the year and his only booked mount on the card.

Form:

(8)

Zarrar

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: M Dwyer| T: B G Powell

66/1

Fetched €15,000 as a foal. Dam stayed up to 2m and hard to see him having the speed to trouble the principals at this trip.

Form:

(14)

Zenith One^h1,t1

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S W Kelly| T: S Durack

66/1

€15,000 yearling and related to two minor winners. Yard not associated with debut scorers and poorly drawn too.

Form:

(5)

Astrojewel¹⁷⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Joey Haynes| T: M H Tompkins

200/1

Havana Gold filly whose dam was a 1m2f-1m3f Flat AW winner and is a half-sister to smart hurdler Rayvin Black. Faces a stiff task on return from a five month break following an uninspiring debut.

Form: 0-

(13)

Sheila Rose³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: P J McDonald| T: D J Coakley

150/1

Beaten a long way at lengthy odds on both starts and aiming even higher here. Impossible to fancy with a poor draw adding to her problems.

Form: 07-

Forecasts

Walk In The Sun (5/4), First Contact (7/4), Ghost Serge (5/1), Luna Eclipse (14/1), Sopranos Rock (16/1), My Boy Sepoy (25/1), Pak Choi (50/1), Zenith One (66/1), Barritus (66/1), Zarrar (66/1), Sheila Rose (150/1), Jampower (150/1), Billy Star (200/1), Astrojewel (200/1)

Walk In The Sun is an interesting newcomer who fetched a big price and has attracted the services of Ryan Moore for his first ride of the year. That warrants a check in the market, however he is highly tried in this against two previous winners from in-form yards. First Contact beat a poor lot at Newcastle but is likely to prove better than the form suggests. GHOST SERGE is hard to oppose on form having won two races and going close in a French Listed contest. There is nothing flattering about a BHA rating of 96 and he clearly goes well fresh. It will take something special to beat him.