ebfstallions.com Michael Foster Conditions Stakes

Off time: 16:51 | Winning time: 1m 23.74s

(3)

Flying Pursuit^p¹⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 103| BF

14/1

Tried once before over 7f as a juvenile; done all his winning at 6f (best on good ground or softer). Won once last year at York off a reduced mark (raced on favoured part of track); ended the year with some consistent runs; no great record fresh.

Form: 716325-

(1)

Muntadab¹⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: G Lee| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 107| CD

11/4

7f would appear to be his trip (7-19); three wins at this trip coming late last year in handicaps off marks up to 103; failed to complete a hat-trick on his final run of the season. Acts on most ground; run well off a break, winning debut at four.

Form: 172112-

(6)

Aeolus¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 97

20/1

Useful handicapper who won on his debut last year off a mark of 100 at Newmarket (6f, good) for his former yard (Ed Walker). Failed to match that form for most of the rest of the season; well held on stable debut; 0-7 at 7f, others appeal more.

Form: 00603-8

(2)

So Beloved¹⁶¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 107| D

15/8

Losing run extends back almost two years (second five times in 2018, twice in Group company). Produced some big efforts in handicaps also last year (ran poorly on last start); often starts slowly and become hard to win with; favoured at the weights.

Form: 683024-

(5)

Vanbrugh¹⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Dane O'Neill| T: C Hills| OR: 105| D

7/4

Dual winner in France last year (trained by Andre Fabre) over 6-7f on a sound surface (started favourite both times) beaten at Listed and Grade 3 level when stepped up in class. First outing for this yard; market to tell the story of what's expected.

Form: 121948-

(4)

Florenza¹⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: M Stainton| T: C W Fairhurst| OR: 84| C| D

33/1

This looks a tough ask at the weights for this useful handicapper who dominated a small field in a Doncaster handicap for her last win in July. Failed to repeat that level of form for the rest of 2018; would be a surprise winner of this.

Form: 174409-

Forecasts

Vanbrugh (7/4), So Beloved (15/8), Muntadab (11/4), Flying Pursuit (14/1), Aeolus (20/1), Florenza (33/1)

This small-field conditions event looks to offer So Beloved a good chance to get back on the winning track especially as he’s not penalised for this but he’s become hard to win with and MUNTADAB is preferred. 7f really suits him and there appears to be no problem with him being ready first-time out after a break. The dark horse of the race is the ex-French Vanburgh making his GB\stable debut he could turn out to be useful but may just need this first outing of the season. The other trio look to face a tough task although Flying Pursuit is worth a try at this trip again.