19:30 Newcastle

Friday 3 May 2019

All17:5018:2518:5519:3020:0020:3021:00

Astral Novice Stakes

Off time: 19:32 | Winning time: 59.28s

(5)

Alqaab²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr

7/1

Made a swift change of yard having had just the one run for William Haggas last year at Beverley finishing a modest but vaguely promising fourth. Showed there was something still to work on his debut for this yard over this trip on the AW last time.

Form: 3-4

(3)

Moss Gill⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: P J McDonald| T: J D Bethell

4/6

Just the one run as a juvenile (looked green and in need of the experience) over 5f at Carlisle. Has a useful pedigree though and improved on his comeback this year switched to the AW (6f); no match for an above-average winner but should progress.

Form: 8-2

(6)

Kodiac Dancer³⁹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: G Lee| T: Miss J A Camacho

14/1

Makes her debut for this yard having only run once for the O'Meara barn as a juvenile over C&D (needed the run, didn't shape badly). Bred to be speedy she may do better at three; one to watch for positive market vibes.

Form: 7-

(4)

Lady In France

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: D Tudhope| T: K R Burke

11/4

Only newcomer in the field; cost 210,000 guineas as a yearling, half-sister to three winners including the smart sprinter Stepper Point out of a dam who was a 6f juvenile winner. Yard have a 7% strike-rate with three-year-old newcomers; 21% here.

Form:

(7)

Lady Steps³⁰⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: J S Goldie

50/1

Not seen since showing next to nothing on her juvenile debut (finished last of four) at Hamilton over 6f last June. Very slow away and always behind, first run for this yard having left Alan Berry; best watched for now.

Form: 4-

(2)

Sapphire Jubilee¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: Ollie Pears

25/1

Showed more making her seasonal debut after nine months off having had just the one run as a two-year-old fading late on over 6f on the Southwell Fibresand. Now returns to Tapeta (made her debut here) dropping down to 5f.

Form: 0-3

Non-Runners

(1)

Skeetah¹⁴

Weight: 8-11| Age: 3

T: J & S Quinn J: Jason Hart

Forecasts

Moss Gill (4/6), Lady In France (11/4), Skeetah (5/1), Alqaab (7/1), Kodiac Dancer (14/1), Sapphire Jubilee (25/1), Lady Steps (50/1)

The only newcomer in the field Lady In France was a costly purchase as a yearling and has a pedigree that takes the eye. The yard have a good strike-rate with their newcomers in this age group here (21%) but overall their debutante numbers are quite modest (7%) and one with experience may just prove a better option this time. ALQAAB has shaped with promise on both occasions he’s been out and although handicaps may well be his forte in time he’s taken to score in this. Moss Gill is almost certainly capable of better having bumped into a decent sort last time at Wolverhampton and he rounds out the 1-2-3 here.