13:50 Catterick

Saturday 21 September 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:2017:50

British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 1m 13.46s

(5)

Dick Datchery^t⁶¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-9| J: Harrison Shaw⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| D

9/4

Improved on a promising debut to score at Ayr (6f, good to firm) last time, in a first-time tongue-tie. Carries a penalty this time, but should remain one of the leading players.

Form: 41

(6)

Romantic Vision²⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-6| J: S H James| T: K A Ryan| C

9/1

Stepped up on his debut with a win here over 5f (good) last time, when doing his best work at the business end. That augurs well for the step up to 6f, but he needs to step up again to follow-up under a penalty.

Form: 71

(3)

Bal Mal³¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: D C Costello| T: J & S Quinn

80/1

Not without promise here on debut, but was well below that level at Carlisle last time. May be more of a handicap proposition once he has a mark.

Form: 80

(9)

Draw Lots^p1¹²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: G Lee| T: B J Meehan

33/1

Has shown some promise on both starts, doing better on his second attempt at Brighton (7f, good to firm). However, he was still soundly beaten there despite being third. Cheekpieces go on, and he is not written off if they induce improvement.

Form: 73

(8)

Great Image²⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Gabriele Malune⁽³⁾| T: S bin Suroor

11/4

Exceed And Excel colt who was sent off at 7-2 on debut, but raced keenly and beat just one home and was 16L behind the winner at Newmarket (7f, good to firm). Likely to be a fair bit more to come, so don't write him off.

Form: 8

(7)

Panist¹⁵

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

25/1

Well held by Dick Datchery on debut at Ayr in July. Took a bit of a backward step on AW at Newcastle last time. Should be capable of better, but has that to prove.

Form: 79

(1)

Sermon^p³⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Jane Elliott⁽³⁾| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 80

7/4

Consistent performer who has the best form in this field. A little below par at York last month, but tries 6f again here and if he can perform to the best we have seen from him, he should be hugely competitive.

Form: 32227

(2)

Wadi Al Salaam¹¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby

25/1

Showed promise here on debut over C&D (good to firm), when 33-1. Should be able to kick on from that recent effort and it would be no surprise to see him challenging here from a good draw.

Form: 6

(4)

Apples Acre¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 8-11| J: A Mullen| T: B Haslam

100/1

Well beaten in both starts and impossible to give her a chance based on those efforts.

Form: 90

Forecasts

Sermon (7/4), Dick Datchery (9/4), Great Image (11/4), Romantic Vision (9/1), Panist (25/1), Wadi Al Salaam (25/1), Draw Lots (33/1), Bal Mal (80/1), Apples Acre (100/1)

More open than some races of this type, with two previous winners in the line-up, plus others with potential. Dick Datchery and Romantic Vision have penalties to shoulder and don't have the best of the draw, so if things don't drop right early on they could be put under pressure. There is surely more to come from both Draw Lots and Great Image, while Wadi Al Salaam is worth checking in the market after a pleasing debut. However, SERMON has the best form on the board without having a win to his name, but he could earn his stripes here.