14:50 Southwell
Wednesday 27 March 2019
All14:2014:5015:2515:5516:3017:05
Betway Maiden Stakes
- 3YO plus | Class 5 | 1m 4f 14y | Standard | 8 Runners | Fibresand | Weighed In
- Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 2m 37.68s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Useful hurdler who was thriving when last seen in that sphere; 2017 (won back to back Class 2 handicaps). Makes his Flat/Fibresand debut and very interesting to see what the market makes of his chances after his absence.
Bred to be useful but appeared to regress after a debut that gave some encouragement amongst plenty of inexperience; only started 5-2 on debut. Now has to prove himself again on his stable/Fibresand debut; looks stable second string.
Yet to win a race but showed undeniable promise on his AW debut for this yard; staying on well from an unpromising position off a slow pace. Back in a maiden now (Fibresand debut) from a yard that knows the time of day here; leading player.
Showed what he was capable of when going close in a 0-100 Chester handicap last summer over 1m4f. Easy to back when next seen in a Lingfield 1m2f maiden (tactical affair); finished third to two improving three-year-olds; back up in trip, respected.
Visor now removed and first-time blinkers join the usual tongue-tie; didn't run too badly in a C&D 0-60 handicap last time (better than distance beaten). However, this is a much stiffer task and handicaps will offer more hope in the future.
Switches to Fibresand having only be raced over 1m4f on Polytrack; showed promise on his first two starts before running better than his final placing suggests last time. Cheekpieces now go on (first-time); still has the potential to progress.
Newcomer from a useful family (one that the trainer knows well); yard have a good record in Fibresand maidens (14-48, improving to 3-8 with debutantes). Interesting to see how he fares in the market with the yard also in good form.
Improved from his debut (looked to have learnt plenty from his first effort) when third at Lingfield last time (stablemate Alpasu; also runs here in second). Further progress isn't ruled out as he makes his Fibresand debut, gives trainer strong hand.
Forecasts
Escapability (9/4), Ydra (11/4), Alpasu (11/4), Heart Of Soul (6/1), Ranch Hand (12/1), Limited Reserve (20/1), Boffo (50/1), Esme Kate (80/1)
An intriguing contest to unravel with all the three-year-olds having something to offer, both the Archie Watson pair Alpasu and Ydra have shown potential already and the Andrew Balding newcomer Ranch Hand wouldn’t be out of this either with the trainer’s record with this type at the track. Limited Reserve isn’t the type you would generally expect to see in this contest but it’s hard to escape the claims of a pair that have already shown some good handicap form in ESCAPABILITY and Heart Of Soul. The fact that trainer Alan King has a good record here just tips the scales in favour of the former who will be a lot sharper for his Kempton return last time.
- Escapability
- Heart Of Soul
- Ranch Hand
Prize Money
1st: £3,752.002nd: £1,116.003rd: £558.004th: £279.00
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