14:40 Sandown

Friday 31 August 2018

All13:4014:1014:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Bet & Watch At 188bet.co.uk EBF Maiden Stakes (Div 1)

Off time: 14:44 | Winning time: 1m 32.12s

(5)

Alrajaa⁵⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Jim Crowley| T: J & T Gosden

10/11

Half-brother to several winners including smart 7f/1m winner Etaab. In need of experience when fourth of 7 over C&D on debut last month, and this Champagne Stakes entry is open to significant improvement.

Form: 4

(9)

Daniel Dravot

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Kieren Fox| T: M J Attwater

66/1

Nathaniel half-brother to connections' 5f-7f winner Peachey Carnehan. Yard just 2-60 with 2-y-o runners in last couple of years.

Form:

(6)

Dubai Instinct

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: B J Meehan

14/1

Le Havre half-brother to useful winners Invincible Warrior and Riot of Colour out of a half-sister to yard's Racing Post Trophy winner Crowded House. Stable has had two recent 2-y-o debutant winners in these colours.

Form:

(4)

Eden Gardens

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: P Cosgrave| T: S & E Crisford

25/1

Mukhadram half-brother to 1m½f winner Foylesideview. Already gelded, but yard had a smart debut winner in the shape of Jash last week, and folly to ignore despite relatively modest pedigree.

Form:

(2)

Forest Of Dean

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden

9/2

Iffraaj half-brother to several winners, and cost 450,000 gns as a yearling. Yard also represented by Alrajaa and market will be useful in terms of assessing his chances relative to that rival.

Form:

(8)

Guildhall

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett

33/1

Cityscape half-brother to connections' Fred Darling Stakes winner Redstart. Yards juveniles rarely rushed, but merits a market check given attractive pedigree.

Form:

(10)

Rajinsky²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe

7/1

Well held over C&D on racecourse bow, looking green, and improved when chasing home Beatboxer at Haydock (1m) last time, albeit no threat to the winner, and hanging left under pressure.

Form: 82

(7)

Sea Battle¹⁴

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

66/1

Lope de Vega colt out of a winner Stateside, but he showed very little amidst greenness on racecourse bow at Newbury (behind Jaleel), and looks a long-term prospect if anything.

Form: 0

(3)

Sovereign Grant

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute

5/1

KIngman half-brother to useful 6f/7f winner Merlin and 1m winner Sharp Practice. Debut winners for yard are considered rare, but stable had a double with unraced juveniles at Newmarket a week ago, and folly to dismiss as a result.

Form:

(11)

Walkinthesand

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon

14/1

Footstepsinthesand half-brother to several winners, including useful 1m1f winner Fastnet Mist. Cost 180,000 gns as a yearling, and market best guide to chances on debut.

Form:

Non-Runners

(1)

Jaleel¹⁴

Weight: 9-5| Age: 2

T: R Varian J: W Buick

Forecasts

Alrajaa (10/11), Forest Of Dean (9/2), Sovereign Grant (5/1), Jaleel (5/1), Rajinsky (7/1), Walkinthesand (14/1), Dubai Instinct (14/1), Eden Gardens (25/1), Guildhall (33/1), Daniel Dravot (66/1), Sea Battle (66/1)

Champagne Stakes entry ALRAJAA shaped well here on debut, and is open to plenty of improvement, so gets the verdict in the absence of market clues. Sovereign Grant and Dubai Instinct come from yards which have had recent success with racecourse debutants, so are worth noting in the market given their likeable pedigrees. Jaleel went with promise at Newbury, and also had the excuse of losing a shoe in that contest, so shouldn't be underestimated.