17:50 Salisbury

Friday 24 August 2018

All17:1517:5018:2518:5519:2519:55

Johnson Valves British EBF Novice Auction Stakes (Plus 10)

Off time: 17:50 | Winning time: 1m 15.94s

(6)

Flashcard⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-8| J: Rob Hornby| T: A M Balding| CD

1/2

Sprang a 33-1 surprise on debut over C&D (good) last week, winning going away. Given there was also some greenness, he looks capable of better and he should go well in trying to defy a penalty.

Form: 1

(4)

Garrison Commander

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton

5/1

£32,000 yearling. Dam unraced half-sister to French Listed-placed winners Chausson Dore (6½f at two) and Bits Of Paradise (1m) out of 5f (King's Stand) and 6f Group 2 winner. Stable has had five two-year-old winners this season. Market check.

Form:

(9)

Rusper Dreams

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Renato Souza| T: J A Osborne

40/1

30,000gns foal, £35,000 yearling. Half-brother to 6 winners inc Kernoff (5f-6f), Akasaka (7f-10.6f), Cape Of Good Grace (1m4f) & Jashma (5f). Dam 6f winner (inc at 2/Listed). Stable 6% with juveniles this season. Probably one to watch.

Form:

(2)

Drumnadrochit⁵⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 8-13| J: R Winston| T: C Hills

33/1

Never involved in two similar races so far, both at around this trip. Looks one to note more closely when entering nurseries.

Form: 08

(8)

Cool Kitty⁵⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 8-11| J: Seamus Cronin⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hannon

20/1

Ran with a bit of promise for a long way on debut at Newbury (6f, good to firm), before fading out of it tamely. Needs to build substantially on that.

Form: 0

(3)

Drummer Jack^t1

Age: 2| Weight: 8-11| J: F Norton| T: W R Muir

16/1

€14,000 foal, €16,000 yearling, £10,500 at two. Dam Listed-placed 5f winner (at two) out of French 1m2½f-1m4½f winner. Stable still in search of its first two-year-old winner of the season. Watch.

Form:

(5)

Emeraldsandpearls

Age: 2| Weight: 8-11| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon

8/1

€36,000 yearling. Seventh foal. Half-sister to 5f-7½f winner Oor Jock (inc at two). Dam 5¾f GB winner (at two)/US Graded winner at 1m-1m1f. Looks to be stable's first string on jockey bookings. Market check advised.

Form:

(1)

The Grey Dancer

Age: 2| Weight: 8-11| J: Nicola Currie⁽³⁾| T: J Tuite

40/1

€20,000 yearling. Half-brother to 6f/7f juvenile winner Music Theory and 7f AW winner Turaathy. Dam unplaced 5f-1m1f, half-sister 5f-6¾f Listed winner Rolo Tomasi. Stable 5% with juveniles. Probably one to watch.

Form:

(7)

John Betjeman^p1⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 8-9| J: E J Walsh⁽³⁾| T: W G M Turner| OR: 76

7/1

Placed on his first two starts in the spring, and back to form over 7f at Chepstow last time. Should be involved again, but is comfortably the most exposed runner here and looks vulnerable. Cheekpieces fitted.

Form: 2363

Forecasts

Flashcard (1/2), Garrison Commander (5/1), John Betjeman (7/1), Emeraldsandpearls (8/1), Drummer Jack (16/1), Cool Kitty (20/1), Drumnadrochit (33/1), The Grey Dancer (40/1), Rusper Dreams (40/1)

Lots of unknowns here, but what we do have knowledge of is how well FLASHCARD came home here last week, once the penny had dropped. Andrew Balding looks to have found him a good opportunity to defy a penalty and win again. Garrison Commander and Emeraldsandpearls both look worth checking in the market ahead of their debuts, while John Betjeman should also be competitive again.