16:25 York

Saturday 12 October 2019

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Join The Coral Bet & Get Club ebfstallions.com Novice Stakes (Plus 10)

Off time: 16:27 | Winning time: 1m 29.81s

(1)

Al Rufaa⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden

11/2

€230,000 yearling, Kingman colt was slow away and very keen when fifth at Lingfield nine days ago. Looks the sort to improve plenty and respected for the champion trainer.

Form: 5

(2)

Colour Image¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: T P Queally| T: S bin Suroor

13/8

250,000gns yearling by Kodiac found only an Aidan O'Brien trained favourite with prior experience too good on debut when second at Newmarket and the way the first two pulled clear suggests him very much the one to beat today.

Form: 2

(7)

El Naseri²²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods

11/2

Son of Battle of Marengo finished second in maidens at Thirsk and Ayr last month suggesting him a sure-fire future winner. This is a deeper contest but still looks a solid each-way proposition.

Form: 22

(5)

Fox Duty Free⁵⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding

9/4

Hugely promising debut third at Newbury after a slow start so his flop here latest was major disappointment. Sure that wasn't his true running however and after a break can be expected to bounce back and go close.

Form: 30

(10)

Gigi's Beach⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: B A Curtis| T: H Palmer

33/1

Slight progress latest but could still only manage midfield at Newmarket and on that basis looks one best watched until stepping into handicaps.

Form: 97

(9)

Gold Desert²⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon

12/1

150,000gns yearling by Mastercraftsman looks stable first string (also run debutant Big Wing) after a promising fifth at Sandown last month. Most from this run improve in their second start so should have place potential now.

Form: 5

(3)

Hovingham¹⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁵⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 41

100/1

Not got competitive in three prior starts and this is the strongest race contested so far so makes no appeal.

Form: 878

(8)

Power Point

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: T Eaves| T: J S Wainwright

66/1

£5,000 breeze-up purchase by promising first season sire Cable Bay is a half-brother to three winners. Already gelded and best watched in strong contest.

Form:

(6)

Splinter

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey

16/1

Homebred newcomer by Garswood is a half-brother to 5f winner Our Little Pony (inc 2yo) and 1m6f winner Fantastic Ms Fox, Likable pedigree but found a very warm race to start.

Form:

Non-Runners

(4)

Big Wing

Weight: 9-5| Age: 2

T: R Hannon J: Dane O'Neill

Forecasts

Colour Image (13/8), Fox Duty Free (9/4), Al Rufaa (11/2), El Naseri (11/2), Big Wing (10/1), Gold Desert (12/1), Splinter (16/1), Gigi's Beach (33/1), Power Point (66/1), Hovingham (100/1)

Saeed Bin Suroor is having a fine season with two-year-olds and his COLOUR IMAGE looked like having the measure of a Ballydoyle favourite on debut only for that rivals prior experience to prove decisive. That form is way above average and ranks him very much the one to beat here. The potential fly in the ointment is Fox Duty Free who caught many an eye on debut only to flop here subsequently. The form of his third at Newbury has worked out too well for that to be his true running. Twice placed El Naseri faces a stronger field here but he can again make the frame.