17:05 Thirsk

Saturday 18 May 2019

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:4018:10

Richard Foster Tribute Novice Stakes (Plus 10)

Off time: 17:06 | Winning time: 2m 38.23s

(5)

Almost Midnight⁷⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: S H James| T: D M Simcock| BF| D

6/1

Demonstrated greeness early in the race on Kempton debut but was ultimately a very taking winner. Failed to improve on second start when perhaps unsuited by drop in trip. Of more interest back up in distance but more needed under penalty.

Form: 12

(1)

Kashagan¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: P Mulrennan| T: A Watson

6/1

Represents an in-form yard and made a pleasing winning introduction over 1m2f at Newcastle (AW) at the beginning of this month. Pace was slow there and penalty to overcome but should improve over further.

Form: 1

(3)

Bagatino^t1²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: K Stott| T: D Carroll

66/1

Poet's Voice gelding, cost 80,000 gns as a yearling, resold for 11,000 gns earlier this year. Showed very little on sole 2018 start for Charlie Appleby and much less on this year's stable debut. Easy to dismiss.

Form: 6-0

(9)

Bo Samraan¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 79

3/1

Sea The Stars colt who cost 120,000 gns as a yearling. Remains a maiden after seven starts but has shown progression in three starts this year and latest second in a Chester maiden (backed up by a good time) sets the standard. Likely to go close.

Form: 564-332

(4)

Greek Hero

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: D Nolan| T: D Carroll

25/1

Son of Champs Elysees, gelded ahead of debut. Fetched 14,000 gns as a foal and €68,000 as a yearling. Starts life over a respectable distance for a stable in decent form. Market likely best guide.

Form:

(7)

Just You Wait²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Cieren Fallon⁽⁷⁾| T: C Appleby

5/2

Beautifully bred brother to Poetic Charm and Bean Feasa. Half-brother to three Flat winners including Teofilo and Senora Galilei. Nice improvement first to second start and further progress for leading stable should see him go close.

Form: 63

(2)

Selino¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe

11/4

Gelded son of Champs Elysees ran a really fetching debut when slowly away over 1m2f at Pontefract at the beginning of the month before staying on well late. Likely to improve for the extra distance and the experience and a leading hope.

Form: 2

(6)

Ozark²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Connor Beasley| T: J Candlish

66/1

Archipenko filly who is a half-sister to a winner over 1m4f. Sent off at 100/1 for last month's Haydock debut and made no impression. Easy to overlook.

Form: 8

(8)

Yasmin From York²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Cam Hardie| T: B Rothwell

125/1

Sixties Icon filly whose dam was a winning 2m hurdler. Tailed off in both starts so far (250/1 and 200/1) beating one rival home in the process. Impossible to make a case for.

Form: 00

Non-Runners

(10)

Questionare¹⁸

Weight: 9-9| Age: 3

T: J & T Gosden J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Questionare (2/1), Just You Wait (5/2), Selino (11/4), Bo Samraan (3/1), Almost Midnight (6/1), Kashagan (6/1), Greek Hero (25/1), Ozark (66/1), Bagatino (66/1), Yasmin From York (125/1)

A few of these have shown some good early ability so it's hard to know who has the most progress to come. Bo Samraan arguably has the best form but is also the most exposed, so is vulnerable to an improver. Questionare has made a very good impression in two starts and could be the one to beat while Just You Wait also has to be respected. However SELINO made a very taking debut and on the bare form wouldn't need much to make a quick breakthrough over a distance only likely to extract the necessary progression.