Ladbrokes Novice Stakes (Plus 10)

Off time: 19:00 | Winning time: 2m 45.88s

(6)

Blood Eagle¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding

5/2

Son of Sea The Stars improved on debut effort in January as he finished second over this trip at Lingfield this month. That form ought to be good enough for him to at least be competitive here and looks a leading candidate.

Form: 52

(3)

Eagles By Day¹⁷⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: D Tudhope| T: M L W Bell

1/2

Sea The Stars colt who fetched 125,000gns as a foal stayed on takingly for second in a 1m½f Nottingham maiden last October. Longer trip looks sure to suit pedigree-wise and has excellent claims here.

Form: 2-

(4)

Isolate

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Rob Hornby| T: M Meade

25/1

By Maxios, half-brother to French/US 7.5f-1m1f winner Uni (inc French AW/US 1m Grade 1) dam unplaced in Japan, half-sister to 1m Group 3 winner Whazzis and 7f 2yo Listed winner Whazzat. Likable pedigree so market a guide.

Form:

(2)

Message¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston

14/1

Beautifully bred son of Dansili out of an Oaks placed half-sister to Galileo and Sea The Stars among others. Green on debut when well beaten (Blood Eagle second that day) but sure he can improve quite vastly now.

Form: 7

(5)

Nathanielhawthorne^h1²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: L Morris| T: M Botti

40/1

Nathaniel colt been unruly at the start in both racecourse outings so far with first causing his withdrawal and latest seeing him a slow away eighth of 12. Hood now tried but best watched at present.

Form: 8

(1)

Matilda Bay³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Nicola Currie| T: J A Osborne

100/1

Daughter of Australia looked as though she would need more time when last of six in C&D debut in February so best watched here.

Form: 6

Forecasts

Eagles By Day (1/2), Blood Eagle (5/2), Message (14/1), Isolate (25/1), Nathanielhawthorne (40/1), Matilda Bay (100/1)

There was a lot to like about the debut effort over EAGLES BY DAY last autumn and he looked sure to be even better once upped in trip which he is here so he gets the vote. Blood Eagle achieved a similar level of form latest and rates the most obvious danger. Pedigree aficionados will be all over Message and indeed he is expected to improve greatly on this his second start.