13:50 Newbury

Friday 17 August 2018

All13:2013:5014:2514:5515:3016:0016:3517:10

Don Deadman Memorial EBF Maiden Stakes (Str) (Plus 10) (Div 2)

Off time: 13:54 | Winning time: 1m 27.64s

(5)

Barbarosa

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Nicola Currie⁽³⁾| T: B J Meehan

16/1

€78,000 yearling by Holy Roman Emperor out of a 10½ AW winning dam. Trainer's two-year-olds rarely sparkle first time up so best watched here barring significant support.

Form:

(9)

Boerhan

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: W J Haggas

5/1

270,000gns yearling by Sea The Stars is a half-brother to three winners including a 5f Listed two-year-old scorer. Trainer has an excellent strike rate and while most of his juveniles progress for their first run this colt is still on the shortlist.

Form:

(11)

Dark Impulse²⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Joey Haynes| T: J J Bridger

250/1

Two races so far have seen him beaten 33L and 41L in similar contests to this. Impossible to fancy and looks the sort for low-level nurseries next.

Form: 09

(2)

Four Mile Bridge³⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: R Winston| T: C Hills

50/1

100,000gns Acclamation colt was slow away and green on debut up at Doncaster last month. Should improve for the experience there but will have to make significant progress to be involved.

Form: 0

(6)

Fox Premier⁴²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding

13/8

700,000gns son of Frankel was well fancied on debut at Sandown but got carried left at the start and seemed green when push came to shove eventually finishing sixth of eight. Will need to improve but fully expected to and merits respect here.

Form: 6

(1)

Ginger Fox¹⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: R Hannon

10/1

Iffraaj colt out of a Group Three winner was third of seven but beaten 14L on debut at Windsor and he never really got involved there. Should improve for the experience and jockey booking a significant positive so not ruled out.

Form: 3

(8)

House Of Kings

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox

25/1

42,000gns son of Camelot from an unraced dam closely related to French 1000 Guineas winner Elusive Wave. Trainer capable of first-time out winners and had one this week already so market check is advised.

Form:

(3)

Jaleel

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian

14/1

80,000gns yearling by Iffraaj out of an ordinary dam who is a half-sister to a couple of useful winners at 1m plus. Trainer not had too many two-year-old runners this term but is a shrewd operator so market support would be significant.

Form:

(10)

Sea Battle

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Rob Hornby| T: H Morrison

66/1

Newcomer by Lope De Vega out of a US turf winner at 1m½f and 1m1½f and from a good US turf family. Trainer not had a two-year-old winner this season (17 runners) so probably best watched for now.

Form:

(7)

Sheila's Showcase²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Charles Bishop| T: D J Coakley

8/1

Colt by Showcasing ran well on debut over 6f at Salisbury when staying on into third (of seven). Should appreciate this step up in trip and looks a leading contender based on that evidence.

Form: 3

(4)

Desirous

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett

3/1

Kingman newcomer is out of Group One Matron Stakes winner Emulous who herself is related to multiple Group horses. Exceptionally well bred and while trainer's two-year-old record is only average this filly merits maximum respect.

Form:

Forecasts

Fox Premier (13/8), Desirous (3/1), Boerhan (5/1), Sheila's Showcase (8/1), Ginger Fox (10/1), Jaleel (14/1), Barbarosa (16/1), House Of Kings (25/1), Four Mile Bridge (50/1), Sea Battle (66/1), Dark Impulse (250/1)

Andrew Balding's expensive son of Frankel FOX PREMIER didn't really run up to expectations at Sandown on debut but it would be fair to say that almost nothing went right for him there. He should make significant improvement and gets the vote here. Sheila's Showcase made a promising start at Salisbury and should improve for stepping up in trip so he must be considered. Well-bred newcomers Desirous and Boerhan are both worth watching in the market and they both look likely to be classy sorts.