Baxi 800 With 10 Year Warranty Novice Stakes

Off time: 18:50 | Winning time: 58.96s

(4)

Marvel¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Harrison Shaw⁽³⁾| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 68

4/9

Improving steadily with racing and has shown a fair level of form (both turf and AW); runner-up on each of his last three starts, including when worn down late by Buniann in a C&D novice a fortnight ago; holds Rangefield Express and Bithiah.

Form: 8222

(1)

Rangefield Express^b¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: A Mullen| T: G A Harker| OR: 50

33/1

Regressive, and now 0-6 for Geoff Harker; finished fourth, almost 6L behind today's rival Marvel over C&D a fortnight ago; it's very difficult to form any kind of logical argument as to why those placings can be reversed.

Form: 470004

(5)

Anyonecanbeastar¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston

16/1

Showcasing filly (€67,000 yearling); in Ireland with Mark Johnston's former assistant Andrew Oliver as a juvenile; keen, weakened tamely when last of six on return from a 15-month break at Catterick (7f, good to firm); drops back in trip.

Form: 7-6

(2)

Bithiah^h1¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J Mitchell| T: I Mohammed

16/1

40,000gns juvenile; wore a tongue-tie (removed) when finishing a weakening fifth of eight to Marvel over C&D a fortnight ago; a first-time hood is now applied, and in truth she looks to be somewhat of a tricky customer.

Form: 35

(3)

Lucky Charm²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: George Wood| T: C F Wall| OR: 70

7/2

Off the track for almost exactly a year until returning with a fairly modest third at Chelmsford (6f) four weeks ago; she should take race-fitness from that run, but hardly appeals as a winner in waiting; trainer is 1-11 (9%) at Newcastle.

Form: 534-3

(6)

Moudallal³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Morris| T: R M H Cowell

20/1

From a 6f AW winner (Elhaam); green and inexperienced on debut at Catterick (6f, soft) last month, achieving precious little in finishing 7L third of five to the 30/100f Delachance; could show some improvement.

Form: 3

Forecasts

Marvel (4/9), Lucky Charm (7/2), Bithiah (16/1), Anyonecanbeastar (16/1), Moudallal (20/1), Rangefield Express (33/1)

MARVEL deserves to break the maiden tag, and the chances are that he'll never have a better opportunity to do so than in this desperately weak 5f novice. He clearly has the measure of the likes of Rangefield Express and Bithiah on previous C&D form, while the remaining Newmarket raiders Lucky Charm (Chris Wall) and Moudallal (Robert Cowell) are seemingly anything but straight from the top drawer. Quite simply, everything points to Marvel being the proverbial penalty-kick.