Coates & Seely Blanc De Blancs Novice Stakes (Plus 10)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 1m 27.27s

(1)

Al Dabaran

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby

9/4

Dubawi half-brother to 6f winner Warning Fire out of a half-sister to St Leger winner Masked Marvel. Yard had a superb strike-rate with newcomers (38.5%) so this well-bred colt is shortlisted at the first time of asking.

Form:

(6)

Aldrich Bay

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: David Egan| T: W J Knight

40/1

Xtension half-brother to smart 6f/7f winner Glen Moss and 5f-1m1f winner Expensive Detour. Very cheaply bought given his pedigree, however, and yard 0-11 with 2-y-o newcomers inthe last 12 months.

Form:

(3)

Gold Souk¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Harry Bentley| T: C & M Johnston

11/4

Half-brother to connections' Gold Cup runner-up Dee Ex Bee. Well beaten on debut at Newbury (6f, soft) but likely to do much better in time, with the longer trip a positive.

Form: 7

(2)

King's View¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Dane O'Neill| T: R Hannon

16/1

Dark Angel colt who cost £48,000, but dam's three previous foals have failed to win a race, and he showed very little on debut at Newbury, finishing 5L behind Gold Souk.

Form: 9

(4)

Manigordo

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon

11/2

Kitten's Joy half-brother to minor US winners by English Channel and Uncle Mo out of a winning half-sister to US Grade 1 1m1f winner Gemologist. One of a pair for leading trainer, and has a couple of big-race entries; market will be revealing.

Form:

(5)

Ursa Minor

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden

9/4

240,000 gns brother to useful 1¼m winner Lascar, closely related to useful 2-y-o 7f/1m winner Gemstone and half-brother to 7f-1¼m winner Karamela. In good hands, although worth noting yard's sole juvenile winner this season had the benefit of a run.

Form:

Forecasts

Al Dabaran (9/4), Ursa Minor (9/4), Gold Souk (11/4), Manigordo (11/2), King's View (16/1), Aldrich Bay (40/1)

Those with experience haven't achieved much, and this looks a good opening for Charlie Appleby's AL DABARAN. Manigordo looks the pick of Richard Hannon's pair, and the market should help confirm that impression, while Ursa Minor appeals on paper, and could hardly be in better hands.