18:10 Brighton

Tuesday 9 July 2019

All17:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:1020:40

J&D Band Novice Stakes

Off time: 18:10 | Winning time: 1m 22.92s

(5)

Big City²⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-9| J: A Kirby| T: S bin Suroor

9/2

Showed marked improvement from underwhelming debut effort to take a heavy-ground maiden at Nottingham over this trip. Likely to encounter much quicker conditions and has to give weight away all round, but could be plenty to more to come.

Form: 01

(4)

Governor Of Punjab²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-6| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| D

9/4

Form has been franked since he got off the mark at the second attempt at Chelmsford (7f; standard) last month. Drops back in trip and must deal with the penalty, but yard are in red-hot form so a bold bid from the front is expected.

Form: 51

(2)

World Title²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-6| J: Adam J McNamara| T: A Watson| D

7/2

Does have a fair level of ability but the form of the race he won at Beverley (7f; good) has been let down by the runner-up who he only narrowly defeated. Has to contend with the penalty, but should still be there or thereabouts.

Form: 31

(3)

Dorset Blue³¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon

6/1

Debut effort was fair when third at Lingfield (6f; good to firm). Strength of that contest shown to be weak when he could only managed seventh next time out in a stronger affair at Newmarket (6f; good to firm). Place claims at best.

Form: 37

(6)

Farhhmorecredit²²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: J F Egan| T: M J Attwater

150/1

Well-beaten on debut at Windsor (6f; good to soft) when only managing to finish 12th of 15. Hard to expect much better than that on his second career start in a similarly decent contest. Best watched.

Form: 0

(1)

Mensen Ernst²⁶

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

7/2

Debut run offered plenty of promise when he finished a one-length third behind Big City on vastly different ground at Nottingham (6f; heavy). Meets that rival on better terms now and could reverse the form.

Form: 3

(7)

Now I'm A Believer

Age: 2| Weight: 8-11| J: Callum Shepherd| T: M R Channon

25/1

Gregoria filly. Full-sister to three 6f winners. Yard don't tend to have too many winning newcomers and she is the only runner in the field making her debut. Huge task ahead for her.

Form:

Forecasts

Governor Of Punjab (9/4), Mensen Ernst (7/2), World Title (7/2), Big City (9/2), Dorset Blue (6/1), Now I'm A Believer (25/1), Farhhmorecredit (150/1)

There are a few recent winners in this contest who are likely to continue on their upward trajectory. Mensen Ernst is not one of those, but he is a big player after finishing second to Big City on debut. The latter had the benefit of experience then, and with the former now receiving weight from that rival he should be able to reverse the form. Although the form of the race World Title won at Beverley hasn't been particularly well advertised by the second, he should still be able to win plenty more races in the future. However, the selection is GOVERNOR OF PUNJAB who comfortably made all last time and with similar tactics employed again, he could be tough to pass.