17:30 Newbury

Tuesday 25 June 2019

All16:5517:3018:0518:3519:1019:4020:1520:45

Win Races With Jonathan Portman Fillies' Novice Auction Stakes (Plus 10) (Div 1)

Off time: 17:31 | Winning time: 1m 14.33s

(4)

Ocasio Cortez¹⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-4| J: Seamus Cronin⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hannon

2/1

Built on form of improved effort to be third at Windsor penultimately by winning for the first time at Lingfield latest with plenty in hand. Upped to 6f now and penalised but claims look solid.

Form: 4631

(2)

Hashtagmetoo¹⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Nicola Currie| T: J A Osborne

10/1

Declaration Of War filly well held in fourth at Chelmsford on debut (7f). Switches to turf and drops back 1f here so could do better now.

Form: 4

(10)

Whispering Leaves¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 8-12| J: William Cox⁽³⁾| T: C G Cox

33/1

Remote 12th of 14 on debut well and truly left behind latest as she finished a 6L fourth of nine at Salisbury on soft ground over this trip. May be one for nurseries after this but has place claims here.

Form: 04

(5)

Special Secret

Age: 2| Weight: 8-10| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton

9/2

10,000gns vendor yearling by Kodiac bred to appreciate middle distances with time. That said trainer won this race with a 25/1 chance in 2016 so not totally ruled out.

Form:

(6)

Carmel

Age: 2| Weight: 8-8| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A Watson

2/1

4,000gns yearling by first season sire Cable Bay ; fourth foal; dam unplaced 1m2f/1m4f. Stable doing really well with two-year-olds and jockey booking can't be ignored. Very much one for the shortlist on debut.

Form:

(11)

Hollywood Waltz¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 8-8| J: S De Sousa| T: M R Channon

14/1

Bred to want further so perhaps no surprise things happened a little quickly on debut at Pontefract over this trip. Should have learned some but will appeal more when upped in trip.

Form: 6

(1)

Jane Victoria

Age: 2| Weight: 8-8| J: E J Walsh| T: A West

50/1

2,800gns yearling; first foal; dam placed 6f at two. Stable record with two-year-olds especially newcomers suggests better options elsewhere.

Form:

(3)

Lightning Bug¹⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 8-8| J: Jason Watson| T: Miss S Smith

50/1

Starspangledbanner filly weakened to finish last of eight on debut at Chelmsford, Can do better for that run now but no appeal as a betting proposition.

Form: 8

(7)

Mild Illusion

Age: 2| Weight: 8-8| J: Rob Hornby| T: J G Portman

12/1

1,000gns yearling newcomer by Requinto; third foal; dam unraced half-sister to useful 6f/7f winner Courageous. Trainer sponsors the race but that tenuous link the only reason for optimism.

Form:

(9)

The Red Witch

Age: 2| Weight: 8-8| J: Toby Eley⁽⁷⁾| T: Steph Hollinshead

50/1

6,500gns yearling by first season sire Cable Bay; second foal; dam 1m-1m2f winner. Yard record with juveniles suggests better options elsewhere.

Form:

Non-Runners

(8)

Rich Girl

Weight: 8-8| Age: 2

T: S Kirk J: David Egan

Forecasts

Ocasio Cortez (2/1), Carmel (2/1), Special Secret (9/2), Hashtagmetoo (10/1), Mild Illusion (12/1), Hollywood Waltz (14/1), Rich Girl (14/1), Whispering Leaves (33/1), Lightning Bug (50/1), The Red Witch (50/1), Jane Victoria (50/1)

By far the safest option here is recent winner OCASIO CORTEZ despite her penalty for that very comfortable success. Of the six debutantes Carmel appeals the most given the way Archie Watson's two-year-olds have been going especially with Oisin Murphy booked. Whispering Leaves may prove best of the rest.