13:15 Lingfield

Saturday 4 January 2020

All11:4012:1012:4013:1513:4514:1514:5015:25

Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Novice Median Auction Stakes (Div 2)

Off time: 13:16 | Winning time: 1m 37.46s

(1)

Cottonopolis⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston

9/1

Ruler Of The World colt, shaped well on AW bow at Wolverhampton (1m1f; 20-1) eight days ago having finished second on sole turf start in August. Drop in trip likely to suit and capable of getting in the mix.

Form: 26-

(5)

Dromara King⁶⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: R Hughes

13/8

Mayson colt, finished 1¾L third on debut in a Kempton novice in October over 7f. Will be involved at the finish again if building on that effort now after short break.

Form: 3-

(7)

Mr Shady^p³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Liam Keniry| T: J S Moore

5/1

Had shown some ability in France prior to joining this stable and beat all bar the odds-on favourite home here on debut in November in first-time cheekpieces (retained). Has to step up on that effort now.

Form: 602662-

(3)

Soldier On Parade⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: J Mitchell| T: Miss A Murphy

16/1

66-1 and well fended off in 1m2f novice event around here on second start last week. Down in trip with plenty to prove and would be a surprise winner.

Form: 80-

(2)

Calamity May²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: M Dwyer| T: L A Dace

66/1

Couple of runs over 6f/7f already, likely to be best served in time over a longer trip and watching brief safest for now.

Form: 80-

(4)

Made In Italy¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Stefano Cherchi⁽⁷⁾| T: M Botti

9/2

Cost 7,000 gns as a yearling, she's a half-sister to an extended 1m2f winner in France; outran odds of 33-1 on debut here last month over C&D to finish fourth (nearest finish). Capable of building on that.

Form: 4-

(9)

Midnight Welcome³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Joey Haynes| T: P R Chamings

100/1

100-1 chance and outpaced from early on over 1m at Kempton last month on second start/AW bow. Makes little appeal on that showing.

Form: 00-

(8)

River Song⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson

11/4

Battle Of Marengo filly shaped with some purpose in finishing fourth on debut at Newcastle over 7f in November. Should be more to come going up in distance.

Form: 4-

(6)

Talking About You¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Callum Shepherd| T: M R Channon

50/1

Sixties Icon filly, well held both starts so far over 7f (including here). Likely to need time and trip before being seen to best effect.

Form: 00-

Forecasts

Dromara King (13/8), River Song (11/4), Made In Italy (9/2), Mr Shady (5/1), Cottonopolis (9/1), Soldier On Parade (16/1), Talking About You (50/1), Calamity May (66/1), Midnight Welcome (100/1)

An open race on paper with a few holding sound claims. Cottonopolis shaped well enough at Wolverhampton eight days ago on second start and could be sharper for that while Dromara King is one of a few to have made a good first impression when he ran at Kempton in October. Similarly, RIVER SONG went well at Newcastle over 7f the following month and should build on that upped in distance today. Made In Italy outran her price on debut over C&D and isn't discounted.