16:45 Ascot

Saturday 17 February 2018

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Millgate Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race

Off time: 16:46 | Winning time: 3m 53.65s

Kayf Storm

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

4/1

Very much bred to be a chaser in time, and may find this too sharp a test on debut. Yard 0-4 in bumpers last five seasons here and others make more appeal.

Form:

Lust For Glory¹¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson

6/4

Winner of a point-to-point at Lisronagh on only start in that sphere, purchased by current connections for £240,000 not long after. Represents powerful connections and yard are 3-14 with their bumper horses here last five seasons.

Form: 1

Pomme De Nuit

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: M Keighley

25/1

Only the second bumper runner for this yard here in the last five seasons, and whilst they do get the odd winner in this sphere, they tend to improve for experience. Chasing will be her game in time, and best watched today.

Form:

Rosy World

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: Miss S Smith

13/2

Full sister to the yard's useful bumper horse Storm Patrol (who ran well on debut) so has that going for her, and whilst the yard's bumper winners tend to come at Fontwell and Plumpton, she's still of some interest here.

Form:

Scarlet Couture

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: A Glassonbury| T: G & J Moore

28/1

Nice pedigree, and is a half-sister to the useful chaser Alfie Spinner. However, yard are 0-8 with their bumper runners here last five seasons and that suggests she's best watched today.

Form:

The Imitation Game²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Lucy Gardner⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner

25/1

Lovely chasing pedigree (dam a half-sister to Gold Cup winner Best Mate), improved a little last time but not enough to think she's up to taking a hand in this. Yard not known for bumper winners either (just 1-60 last five seasons).

Form: 00-4

Buildmeupbuttercup¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: B S Hughes| T: M R Channon

5/1

Winner of a junior bumper on debut at Warwick and ran to that level when just finding the one too good at Lingfield last time. This is tougher and penalty to carry, but deserves respect as a previous winner.

Form: 12

Dancecraft

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore

16/1

Bred to have a bit more speed than a few of these but the pedigree only makes limited appeal, and yard 0-8 with their bumper horses here last five seasons. Not too hard to look elsewhere for the winner.

Form:

My Lady Grey

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: P J Brennan| T: C L Tizzard

7/1

£38,000 purchase at Goffs last spring, dam a half-sister to the yard's useful Bob Bob Bobbin, so they know the family well. However, yard not known for bumper winners and tend to let them find their own feet. Others make more appeal.

Form:

Forecasts

Lust For Glory (6/4), Kayf Storm (4/1), Buildmeupbuttercup (5/1), Rosy World (13/2), My Lady Grey (7/1), Dancecraft (16/1), The Imitation Game (25/1), Pomme De Nuit (25/1), Scarlet Couture (28/1)

As ever in these events, the market will prove informative. Lust For Glory will be top of plenty of people's lists as she represents a yard that do well in these events and connections were happy to pay a pretty penny for her at the sales. Buildmeupbuttercup has the benefit of experience and a win under her belt to boot, but this looks a bit tougher. At this stage, a chance is taken on ROSY WORLD, who makes plenty of appeal on pedigree and the yard do introduce the odd nice type here. Her full sister Storm Patrol went close on her debut too, which gives some hope that she might be forward enough herself.