Visit Sandstorm At valuerater.co.uk Novice Stakes

Off time: 14:47 | Winning time: 1m 39.8s

(3)

New Arrangement⁵⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: F Norton| T: J Tate| D

1/6

Slow to start on debut but benefited greatly from the run; went on to win with a determined effort at Hamilton (extended mile, good) in July and that form has been franked since. Gives weight to unexposed rivals but still looks the one to beat here.

Form: 21

(5)

Olaf¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Grace McEntee⁽⁷⁾| T: G Boughey

7/1

A cheap purchase who was tailed-off on debut in mid-August but stepped up considerably to win a claimer at Lingfield shortly after. That was a weak race and the gelding debuts for a new yard, so needs to take another big step forward.

Form: 01

(4)

Kira's Star

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Rhiain Ingram⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs R Ford

66/1

Out of a 2m selling hurdle winner who was also of limited ability during 15-race career on the Flat; the filly is a half-sister to 6f winner Cat Fire and runs for a yard that has been very quiet lately. Would be a surprising winner.

Form:

(1)

Lilly's Legacy

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: J P Fahy| T: Mrs N S Evans

66/1

Her dam was placed over a slightly longer trip and the filly is a half-sister to Group 3 winning sprinter Scream Blue Murder, so she does make some appeal on pedigree. She's still need to be of a decent standard to win at the first time of asking.

Form:

(2)

Summer Skies^p1³⁷⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: M Dwyer| T: M P Tregoning

4/1

Well beaten in both previous starts and has a fair bit to find judging by the way the filly dropped away at Goodwood over 7f last time out. The step up in trip can help but she'll likely do better when contesting handicaps at a later stage.

Form: 70-

Forecasts

New Arrangement (1/6), Summer Skies (4/1), Olaf (7/1), Lilly's Legacy (66/1), Kira's Star (66/1)

It's hard to look past NEW ARRANGEMENT given the way he stuck to the task to win a better race than this at Hamilton when last seen out. The short lay-off since July isn't much of a concern at this stage and the New Approach gelding is fancied to give weight and a beating to the rest. Olaf won an ordinary claimer for a different yard at odds of 50/1 in his latest start and, while that was a poor race, the gelding was a ready winner that day. He might have more to offer and poses more of a threat to the selection than Summer Skies whose form in the book is disappointing given the latent strength in her pedigree. Lilly's Legacy makes some appeal on pedigree too.