14:10 Lingfield

Wednesday 11 December 2019

All12:1012:4013:1013:4014:1014:4015:10

Betway Novice Stakes

Off time: 14:14 | Winning time: 2m 5.12s

(8)

Byron Green²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Darragh Keenan⁽³⁾| T: T Gallagher

66/1

Not devoid of promise on his debut, but one to consider more closely when going handicapping.

Form: 66

(9)

Lep

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Paddy Bradley⁽³⁾| T: M J Attwater

50/1

£10,000 Ascot June 2019. Brother to 2m hurdle winner Leapt. Dam maiden 5f-7f and half-sister to useful 1m½f-1m4f winner Tall Ship. Stable not normally associated with debut winners.

Form:

(5)

Opportunist

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: B A Curtis| T: M Meade

5/2

50,000gns yearling. Half-brother to seven winners, including Group 1 scorers Brando (5f-6½f) and US Grade 1 winner Ticker Tape (won from 6½f-1m2f). Very interesting on pedigree and stable in good form.

Form:

(1)

Polar Cloud^b1

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: L Morris| T: H Main

20/1

Both his half-brothers won at either 6f or 7f. Dam a 7f AW winner and also scored over 1m. Starts over a trip that might stretch him a little and also in blinkers. Probably one to watch.

Form:

(3)

Dubious Affair^v¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: K Shoemark| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 74

15/8

0-8 so far, but second in three of those races, including in a Chelmsford handicap (1m2f) last time. BHA mark of 74 suggests she is no easy beat, but at the same time, she has a vulnerable profile.

Form: 322442

(6)

Just A Touch²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Ray Dawson⁽⁵⁾| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

66/1

Big prices and well held in both starts so far, and although the latter was an improvement, this step up to 1m2f will need to bring about at least as much again to see her get competitive.

Form: 58

(4)

Laurentia¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Sophie Ralston⁽⁵⁾| T: D K Ivory

25/1

33-1 and tailed off last of nine on debut at Kempton (6f, Polytrack) last month. Steps up significantly in trip, with more needed this time.

Form: 9

(2)

Marmalade Day⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Louis Garoghan⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore

66/1

20-1 and beat just one home when well held at Chelmsford (1m) in October.

Form: 5

(10)

Mercury Dime²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: David Probert| T: E A L Dunlop

16/1

Has shown some promise on both starts, but still needs a fair bit more than that to be competitive here. Of more interest in minor handicaps.

Form: 75

(7)

Merry Vale¹⁶⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden

7/4

Made a promising debut at Goodwood (1m2f) in June, but was below that level when she ran less than three weeks later at Doncaster. If better for a break and if she handles this surface, she looks likely to be a big player.

Form: 23

Forecasts

Merry Vale (7/4), Dubious Affair (15/8), Opportunist (5/2), Mercury Dime (16/1), Polar Cloud (20/1), Laurentia (25/1), Lep (50/1), Just A Touch (66/1), Marmalade Day (66/1), Byron Green (66/1)

Dubious Affair will have her supporters and her form entitles her to plenty of respect here, but preference is for the less exposed MERRY VALE. John Gosden's filly took a slight backward step on her second start, but she couldn't be in better hands and if she can get back to the level of her debut form, or better, she will be very tough to beat. The other runner of interest is newcomer Opportunist, who has an eyecatching pedigree and it would be no surprise to see him go well first time.