14:30 Catterick

Wednesday 10 July 2019

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:0017:30

NFRC Median Auction Maiden Stakes

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 2m 39.38s

(1)

Sweet Marmalade¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: G Lee| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 65

25/1

Has mixed Flat racing with hurdling, showing more consistency back on the level in recent times; twice placed in maiden company (1m2f-1m4f), including when finishing 6L third to Sneaky Peak at Redcar in May.

Form: 3-238

(2)

Itchingham Lofte¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R P Downey| T: T D Barron| OR: 69

5/1

Has developed into a moderate handicapper (Class 4-5); kept on for pressure when finishing a close fourth to Patchouli (runner-up Neileta won at Ayr on Sunday) at Ripon (1m2f, good) on his penultimate start.

Form: 45345

(4)

Jukebox Blues⁹

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

16/1

€22,000 yearling; low-key seventh of eight on Wolverhampton debut (1m4f) and has work to do with the more experienced Star Talent on that admittedly limited evidence.

Form: 7

(5)

Star Talent⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Hart| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 67

15/2

Stepped up in trip when finishing fourth (beaten 3½L) to Moment Of Hope at Wolverhampton (1m4f) just nine days ago; should just about have the measure of the re-opposing Jukebox Blues.

Form: 9-684

(7)

Surrey Warrior^b¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: B A Curtis| T: A Watson| OR: 68

5/1

Broadly consistent (twice a runner-up as a juvenile) but you'd be hard pushed to say that any further improvement lurks within; could well appreciate dropping back slightly in trip; isn't discounted.

Form: 225-385

(6)

Whiskey And Water¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 74

5/6

Runner-up on three occasions on the Flat (1m-1m4f); has thrived since switching to hurdles, displaying a willing attitude and an excellent jumping technique; will take some beating if in the same fettle as when winning at Market Rasen 19-days ago.

Form: 5426-22

(3)

Stevie Smith

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: K Stott| T: Miss A Murphy

40/1

Roderic O'Connor filly; first foal from a dam who was a half-sister to the Group-placed 7f/1m winner Margay; Newmarket-based trainer is 0-4 at Catterick (all time record).

Form:

Forecasts

Whiskey And Water (5/6), Itchingham Lofte (5/1), Surrey Warrior (5/1), Star Talent (15/2), Jukebox Blues (16/1), Sweet Marmalade (25/1), Stevie Smith (40/1)

A perfectly winnable maiden and this appears to be a very shrewd piece of placing by the Malton-handler Brian Ellison who saddles the winning juvenile hurdler WHISKEY AND WATER. He has thrived since switching to obstacles, backing up a solid Hexham debut (second) with an ever so fluent Market Rasen win. With a back-catalogue of respectable Flat form (1m-1m4f), this race is potentially his for the taking.