14:05 Ascot

Friday 7 September 2018

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2016:55

Charbonnel Et Walker British EBF Maiden Stakes (Plus 10)

Off time: 14:07 | Winning time: 1m 30.94s

(4)

Ballylemon

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: S W Kelly| T: R Hughes

16/1

Newcomer by Champs Elysees cost 75,000gns as a yearling and is a half-brother to flat winners from 6f-1m and a 2m-2m6f hurdle winner. Trainer had 12 two-year-old winners so market worth watching to gauge expectations.

Form:

(11)

Bangkok¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: A M Balding

4/6

Newcomer by Australia cost 500,000 as a yearling and is a half-brother to seven winners including two at pattern level over 1m3f-1m6f Just touched off by a well-backed Group One entry first time up (first two clear). Hard to beat here.

Form: 2

(3)

El Picador²⁸

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

20/1

Dansili colt looked green and could only manage eighth of nine on debut at Newmarket. Yard's two-year-olds since began to fire so expecting a much improved effort today.

Form: 8

(1)

Felix The Poet

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Edward Greatrex| T: A Watson

18/1

Lope De Vega newcomer cost 40,000 as a yearling and is a half-brother to a 1m Listed placed colt on turf and AW. Trainer has an excellent record with two-year-olds so could very easily be involved here.

Form:

(9)

Fox Vardy

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Fran Berry| T: M Meade

16/1

210,000gns newcomer by Frankel out of a 1m two-year-old winner who stayed 1m4f from the family of two Group One winners. Very attractive pedigree and while he will likely excel over further the market must be watched here.

Form:

(8)

Gambon⁵⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton

10/1

Short of room at crucial stages twice on debut here over 6f but still managed a good third of six. Step up in trip should suit and has each-way possibilities despite this looking a hotter contest.

Form: 3

(2)

God Has Given

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Dane O'Neill| T: R Hannon

50/1

350,000gns yearling by Nathaniel is a brother to a 1m two-year-old winner and half-brother to a two-year-old Listed winner. Lots to like about this pedigree but majority of trainer's two-year-olds need at least one race.

Form:

(6)

L'Un Deux Trois

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Hayley Turner| T: M L W Bell

66/1

Mastercraftsman newcomer cost €50,000 as a yearling and is a half-brother to a 1m3f-1m5f winner out of a 1m6f placed dam. Likely to want much further and trainer doesn't excel with two-year-olds.

Form:

(7)

Murray River

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

14/1

140,000gns newcomer by Australia out of a 7f-1m½f Group Three winner. Top trainer has an excellent record with two-year-olds so market must be watched closely.

Form:

(5)

Prince Eiji

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

4/1

2,600,000gns sales topping yearling by Dubawi out of a Group One winner from an exceptional family over middle-distances. Dams first two foals both won at two and proved high class so very exciting to see this debutant today.

Form:

(10)

Red Armada²⁶

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

25/1

€120,000 yearling kept on for fourth at Leicester over 7f on debut. Looks likely to want further and this red-hot looking contest will probably be beyond him.

Form: 4

Forecasts

Bangkok (4/6), Prince Eiji (4/1), Gambon (10/1), Murray River (14/1), Ballylemon (16/1), Fox Vardy (16/1), Felix The Poet (18/1), El Picador (20/1), Red Armada (25/1), God Has Given (50/1), L'Un Deux Trois (66/1)

In a race featuring several newcomers from top yards, most with impressive pedigrees it will take an extremely smart debutant to beat Andrew Balding's BANGKOK who was narrowly touched off by a colt with classic potential first time out. With that experience likely to aid him he has many plusses here. Of the newcomers Prince Eiji makes the most appeal and you would struggle to find a colt with a better pedigree than this one. It will be very disappointing if he isn't group class given his purchase price. Murray River is another newcomer to consider for the all-conquering John Gosden team.