20:25 Wolverhampton

Monday 4 February 2019

All16:5517:2517:5518:2518:5519:2519:5520:25

Ladbrokes Home Of The Odds Boost Novice Stakes

Off time: 20:27 | Winning time: 2m 1.98s

(4)

Marhaban¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: A Kirby| T: C Appleby

1/2

Made the running on both his starts making the most of his previous experience to make all over 1m2f at Lingfield last time out. Wore blinkers for both those starts (now removed); still needs to settle better but open to further progress.

Form: 5-1

(1)

Cirque Royal

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: David Probert| T: C Appleby

15/8

Stablemate of the likely market leader who makes his debut; looks to have a useful pedigree with his dam being a 1m2f winner who is closely related to the smart Torcedor. Despite this being his debut not ruled out; strong market vibe taken seriously.

Form:

(5)

Kiowa

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Danny Brock| T: P J McBride

80/1

One of three newcomers in the field he only cost 1,000 guineas as a yearling; dam was a 5f winner. Yard not known for this debutante winners and he looks to face a tough task.

Form:

(7)

Shamrad

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: S Donohoe| T: Ian Williams

40/1

Cost €9,000 last July and looking at his pedigree he will need further than this 1m2f that he's faced with on his debut. From a very capable yard though who can have first-time out winners but this does look a tough introduction.

Form:

(2)

Simba Samba⁶⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Nicola Currie| T: P J McBride

50/1

Only one run that he can be really judged on as the saddle slipped last time; always behind after that incident. Showed little promise on his debut though over 6f here and now stepped up markedly in trip; makes little or no appeal.

Form: 60-

(3)

With Pride¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Sean Palmer⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland

150/1

In two starts so far has beaten just one rival home showing very little in two 7f AW outing separated by an eight week break. Started at 50-1 and 150-1 and that's likely to be the same narrative here; low-grade handicaps await for him.

Form: 0-0

(6)

Maria Magdalena¹⁶⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Aaron Jones⁽³⁾| T: M Botti

25/1

Trainer won this last year (with a gelding on second start) and this year he runs the only filly also on her second start. She faces a tough task though against a pair of Godolphin colts despite showing ability, having run green on debut over 1m.

Form: 6-

Forecasts

Marhaban (1/2), Cirque Royal (15/8), Maria Magdalena (25/1), Shamrad (40/1), Simba Samba (50/1), Kiowa (80/1), With Pride (150/1)

This may turn out to be closer than the early market suggests but it’s hard to see beyond blue not being the Godolphin blue that takes this event. Charlie Appleby saddles two here with MARHABAN the one with the experience having made all to score last time out over this trip at Lingfield. He’s penalised for that victory but looked the type to progress further with the blinkers he worn twice now left off. His stablemate Cirque Royal is bred to relish this sort of trip and has a useful pedigree but despite getting weight he may just need the experience. Trainer Marco Botti won this last year but will do well to repeat the feat; his Maria Magdalena will do better in time though.