Stella Artois Maiden Open NH Flat Race

Off time: 17:10 | Winning time: 4m 24.10s

Al Dancer¹²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Savage⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| BF

2/1

Half-brother to three winners who produced a promising first effort at Ffos Lad on debut for Christian Williams in October, backwards step there next time. Now makes first appearance for new trainer who does well with bumper horses.

Form: 23

Inheritance Thief¹²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V WilliamsWS

6/4

Twice runner-up in as many attempts in this sphere last year, runs coming wide apart. Has undergone a wind operation since and aspirations sound for yard going well.

Form: 22

Landofsmiles⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen

9/2

Plenty stamina in pedigree, has placed in an Irish point-to-point before joining this handler. Rules bow and worth paying attention to.

Form: 53

Scappato

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: R T Dunne| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

16/1

Yard 0-7 with bumper runners in previous 12 months, may want a bit further in time and suggestion to adopt watching brief on first start.

Form:

My Lady Grey³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Harry Cobden| T: C L Tizzard

7/1

A £38,000 purchase at Goffs last spring, dam a half-sister to the yard's useful Bob Bob Bobbin. Bred for further but shaped well enough on debut at Ascot and could threaten if building on that in less contest.

Form: 6

Non-Runners

Cross Of Steel

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: J Candlish J: Sean Quinlan

Forecasts

Inheritance Thief (6/4), Al Dancer (2/1), Landofsmiles (9/2), My Lady Grey (7/1), Cross Of Steel (12/1), Scappato (16/1)

Al Dancer will surely go close if replicating his debut run at Ffos Las, though he was tame back there for Christian Williams before relocating to his new yard. He's respected but INHERITANCE THIEF might be the one to deny him. He's twice gone close already in this sphere and, with Venetia Williams' string going well, could go one better having had a wind op since he was spotted. My Lady Grey and newcomer Landofsmiles are also worthy of note.