14:40 Haydock

Friday 20 July 2018

All14:1014:4015:1515:4516:2016:5017:20

Smarkets British EBF Novice Stakes (Plus 10)

Off time: 14:44 | Winning time: 1m 13.26s

(10)

Axel Jacklin²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 72

8/1

Already been kept busy and this will be his seventh start already. Not a bad effort when upped to 7f at Chester last time and that just about sets the standard, but it's not insurmountable by any means. May find one or two too good for him.

Form: 624643

(5)

Cawthorne Lad²⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby

100/1

Only beaten the one horse home in two starts and simply looks too green at present. Needs to learn how to settle better before he can be considered.

Form: 57

(2)

Cloak And Dagger⁴⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox

10/11

Half-brother to a 6f winner in Rue Bonaparte and didn't do badly on debut at Windsor, winner Main Edition going on to win at Royal Ascot. Should improve and leave that form behind, so expect him to take high rank here.

Form: 6

(4)

Five Angels

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe

4/1

Bred for speed, and is a half-brother to the useful handicapper Pettochside. Yard have a 15% strike rate with their 2yos here and he's likely to know his job first time up. One to consider, especially if there's some money around for him.

Form:

(1)

Lonely Boy

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: B A Curtis| T: K R Burke

20/1

Yard often do well with their 2yos and can line them up for their debuts, but breeding suggests we won't see the best of him until getting more of a trip. Others make more appeal.

Form:

(3)

Mi Laddo

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Nathan Evans| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

50/1

Already gelded, and yard just 1-24 with their 2yos overall last five years so this son of Lilibourne Lad is best watched on debut today.

Form:

(8)

Philyaboots

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: T Eaves| T: D McCain Jnr

50/1

25,000gns purchase last year but pedigree suggests we won't see the best of him until next year as middle distances are more likely to be his thing. Yard just 1-27 with their 2yos last five years and on that, is best watched.

Form:

(7)

Rich Approach

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: D Tudhope| T: J D Bethell

20/1

Some appeal on breeding, dam a half-sister to Listed and Graded winners but yard not known for 2yo winners and tend to let them find their feet as they go. Should win in time but maybe not today.

Form:

(9)

Smile A Mile⁹²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Hart| T: C & M Johnston| BF

10/1

Half-brother to numerous winners, including the yard's useful Buratino, but flopped on debut (made odds-on) at Newcastle after getting upset in the stalls. Twice withdrawn with similar issues since and given that, can only be watched here.

Form: 7

(6)

Armageddon³¹

Age: 2| Weight: 8-11| J: G Lee| T: B Smart

11/2

Bred for speed, and half-sister Ayesha won second time up as a 2yo (also trained by Bryan Smart). Showed plenty of ability after a slow start on debut at Thirsk and will know more here. Looks one of the main contenders, with improvement likely.

Form: 3

Forecasts

Cloak And Dagger (10/11), Five Angels (4/1), Armageddon (11/2), Axel Jacklin (8/1), Smile A Mile (10/1), Lonely Boy (20/1), Rich Approach (20/1), Mi Laddo (50/1), Philyaboots (50/1), Cawthorne Lad (100/1)

Axel Jacklin has plenty of experience under his belt, which will help, but both Cloak And Dagger and ARMAGEDDON look potential improvers here and one (if not both) may have his measure. Bryan Smart will have a good idea of what Armageddon could be capable of, having trained her half-sister Ayesha and she showed more than enough on debut to think she's up to winning a race such as this. Cloak And Dagger came up against a Royal Ascot winner first time up and will find this easier. Five Angels may be best of the newcomers.