NFRC Median Auction Maiden Stakes

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 2m 34.77s

(5)

Artarmon^v1¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: P J McDonald| T: M L W Bell| OR: 74

6/4

Has had several chances both on turf and All Weather. Usual level of form would be good enough to see him go close. Cheekpieces now swapped for visor.

Form: 83-2442

(1)

Horatio Star²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: J Fanning| T: B J Meehan

12/5

25-1 and made a promising debut when 8l fifth at Sandown (1m2f, good to firm) last month. Can improve for that run and if so, he is not ruled out.

Form: 5

(2)

Mutanaqel²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Dane O'Neill| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 75

11/4

Best effort so far was on his second start as a juvenile, when 5½L third at Chelmsford (1m, AW). Behind Horatio Star at Sandown on reappearance, but could not begin to do better.

Form: 53-7

(3)

Afloraldance^t²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: Kenny Johnson

300/1

200-1 and showed nothing on debut at Carlisle (6f, good to firm) last month. Can only watch again over this much longer trip.

Form: 0

(4)

East Wind²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Barry McHugh| T: T Coyle & K Wood

150/1

Excuses last time due to saddle slipping, but well held in both starts to date over 1m2f. Best watched.

Form: 8-8

(6)

Makawee²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: S H James| T: D O'Meara

9/1

Has run to a similar level in both outings (7f/1m) at Thirsk. Has run as if further would suit, so could find some improvement this time. Not written off.

Form: 65

Forecasts

Artarmon (6/4), Horatio Star (12/5), Mutanaqel (11/4), Makawee (9/1), East Wind (150/1), Afloraldance (300/1)

Artarmon brings the best form into this race, but his profile is vulnerable after not yet managing to take any of his chances and preference is for MUTANAQEL, who could improve for his reappearance and this step up in trip, and represents a trainer whose string is going well. Horatio Star finished ahead of the selection at Sandown and is given due respect, while Makawee is not ruled out.