14:10 Ascot

Saturday 7 September 2019

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Royal Foresters British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (Plus 10)

Off time: 14:10 | Winning time: 1m 44.44s

(4)

Al Gaiya

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R Hannon

20/1

First foal; dam unraced half-sister to Group 1 Fidelite. Yard have been having a good few weeks and do have some winning debutants but generally improve for the outing.

Form:

(2)

Anastarsia

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: J & T Gosden

6/4

A daughter of Sea The Stars from last year's winning stable, her dam was a Listed-placed (1m2f/1m5f) winner over 1m4f. Well-bred and from an in-form team, she is not dismissed.

Form:

(7)

Bharani Star

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: J F Egan| T: P W Chapple-Hyam

14/1

€270,000 purchase; dam unraced half-sister to Group 1 winner Saddex (1m2f/1m4f). Whilst they have the occasional newcomer win, the yard's only two-year-old winner this year was on second outing and, their juveniles tend to come on for the run.

Form:

(8)

Expensive Dirham⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Dane O'Neill| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 74

8/1

Has improved with each run, most recently finishing third at Thirsk (1m, good) 8 days ago, beaten 2L. Likely to give her running once again but is vulnerable to opponents who are unexposed.

Form: 733

(5)

Kavadi

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Rob Hornby| T: H Morrison

33/1

Half-sister to winners Desert Haze (7½f/1m), Felix The Poet (1m½f) and Unified (1m) who cost 190,000 gns. Stable's newcomers tend to benefit from the experience and aren't renowned for winning first time. Market positivity worthy of note.

Form:

(3)

Pocket Square¹⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Jason Watson| T: H & R Charlton

9/4

Dam won over 1m2f in France, herself a half-sister eight winners. Sent off second-favourite at Yarmouth (1m, good to firm) on debut and shaped well to finish third, beaten 1¾L. Improvement likely and one for the shortlist.

Form: 3

(1)

Red Line Alexander

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: S & E Crisford

11/2

First foal of a 1m½f Tapeta winner who is a half-sister to four winners including Group 2 winner Buratino. Yard have a good record with juveniles and plenty of newcomers who win so must be given strong consideration.

Form:

(6)

So Special

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: K Shoemark| T: W R Muir

25/1

A cheap purchase by Lethal Force, her dam was a moderate AW winner. Yard can ready one for debut but may find the opposition a bit warm in this contest. Best watched.

Form:

Forecasts

Anastarsia (6/4), Pocket Square (9/4), Red Line Alexander (11/2), Expensive Dirham (8/1), Bharani Star (14/1), Al Gaiya (20/1), So Special (25/1), Kavadi (33/1)

Some choicely-bred fillies in this line-up and the experience of POCKET SQUARE gives her a strong chance of striking second-time out. The Gosden team continue to go well and Anastarsia is respected whilst similar comments apply to the Simon Crisford yard and their representative Red Line Alexander.