16:20 Chester

Saturday 29 September 2018

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:30

ESL Group Novice Stakes

Off time: 16:21 | Winning time: 1m 34.77s

(11)

Alkhawaneej Boy³⁶⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan

8/11

Improved on promise of debut fourth when destroying a field at Leicester on his second start last year. Likes testing conditions and although fitness has to be taken on trust after a year absence, does set a clear standard.

Form: 41-

(1)

Knab Rock¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: K T O'Neill| T: Evan Williams

16/1

Showed some promise when third in a bumper on debut but has been well beaten at long odds on both Flat starts since. Left with an awful lot to find.

Form: 70

(4)

Whatdoesnotkillyou¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Fahy| T: L Williamson

25/1

Showed little when slowly away on debut at Southwell and while he displayed more early pace at Kempton, he was still well held and this requires significant improvement.

Form: 07

(7)

Blame It On Me

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby

4/1

Gelded ahead of debut and plenty of speed in pedigree. Stable's runners tend to improve for the early experience but worth a precautionary check in the betting.

Form:

(9)

Qallaab³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Kevin Lundie⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby

7/1

Bought for £16,000 from Hamdan Al Maktoum following two runs for Roger Varian. Ran to a similar solid level both starts and now makes turf debut. Rates as one of the more likely types.

Form: 43

(8)

Rockesbury^p⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: T E Whelan| T: D Loughnane| OR: 50

10/1

Remains a maiden after 14 starts and recent runs leaves him with plenty to find. Best form has come here including a second over the C&D so does hold place possibilities if bouncing back.

Form: 265066

(5)

Scoffsman²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Joshua Bryan⁽³⁾| T: K Frost

10/1

Went for 10,000 gns at the Newmarket sales in February. Not fancied and well beaten on recent Wolverhampton debut and is best watched for now.

Form: 8

(3)

Caledonian Gold⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Aled Beech⁽⁷⁾| T: L Williamson| OR: 43

25/1

Hampered early and didn't get a clear run on recent reappearance but remains a 31-race maiden and others hold stronger credentials.

Form: 528396

(10)

Lambrini Legacy^h⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: L Williamson| OR: 45

66/1

Very hard to make a case for on this season's form and remains a maiden. Best to overlook once again.

Form: 468050

(6)

New Dream

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Liam Jones| T: L Allan

25/1

Daughter of Exceed And Excel out of a Nayef mare and a cheap purchase at £2,800. Stable has had no winners from 27 runners on the Flat this season and easy to look elsewhere on debut.

Form:

(2)

One For Brad⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: S A Gray| T: A Berry| OR: 41

66/1

Sent off at triple figure odds in all four starts to date and showed nothing in the process. Easy to dismiss.

Form: 6497

Forecasts

Alkhawaneej Boy (8/11), Blame It On Me (4/1), Qallaab (7/1), Rockesbury (10/1), Scoffsman (10/1), Knab Rock (16/1), Caledonian Gold (25/1), New Dream (25/1), Whatdoesnotkillyou (25/1), Lambrini Legacy (66/1), One For Brad (66/1)

After such a lengthy lay-off there are obvious risks with ALKHAWANEEJ BOY, however he is so far clear on what he showed last year that he remains very difficult to oppose. There's plenty making up the numbers so the draw may not have the usual effect and should the favourite fail to fire then on stable debut Qallaab rates the obvious beneficiary. Rockesbury can chase them home.