Horse Guards Gin The Burnaby Claiming Stakes

Off time: 18:40 | Winning time: 2m 12.59s

(3)

Nambiti Hills^b1²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: T E Whelan| T: M J Attwater

66/1

By Mastercraftsman out of a winning daughter of top-class racemare Bint Pasha, but quite cheaply bought given his pedigree, and tailed off on Kempton debut. Now tried in blinkers.

Form: 0

(1)

Sotomayor^b,t¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 73

5/4

Probably better on AW than turf, and ran poorly here last time, but previous fifth of 16 at York in May reads well in the context of this race, and a major player based on official ratings.

Form: 212656

(2)

Karakoram^b1⁷⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: M Dwyer| T: W R Muir| OR: 55

16/1

Has finished last on three of four starts to date, and seemingly limited, so gelding and fitting of blinkers will need to have a galvanising effect.

Form: 0588

(4)

Star Of Zaam^b¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Rhona Pindar⁽⁷⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 68

13/8

Won a novice at Catterick (6f, soft) last season, and while he's not progressed, he did return to form when second in a selling handicap at Ripon last time with blinkers utilised, and a repeat would give him every chance in a weak race.

Form: 33-8622

(5)

Amenhotepthethird^p1¹⁷²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 30

100/1

Has shown nothing at all in varied company, and can't be fancied. Wears cheekpieces for the first time.

Form: 00080-6

(6)

Miniature Daffodil^p⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Hayley Turner| T: P D Evans| OR: 53| BF| D

4/1

Has won twice at Chelmsford this year, and best turf effort when second at Brighton in April. Below form since, but given a break, and should be competitive in a race of this nature.

Form: 131254

Forecasts

Sotomayor (5/4), Star Of Zaam (13/8), Miniature Daffodil (4/1), Karakoram (16/1), Nambiti Hills (66/1), Amenhotepthethird (100/1)

This looks very uncompetitive on the ratings, and although neither SOTOMAYOR nor Star of Zaam is totally convincing, they should fight it out. Sotomayor is probably better on Polytrack, and must put a poor run behind him, but still makes most appeal given Star of Zaam has been beaten twice in claimers this year, and his latest second came at selling level. Miniature Daffodil is more reliable than the market leaders, but would be getting plenty of weight if this were a handicap.