Ladbrokes 'Play 1-2-Free' On Football Novice Stakes

Off time: 18:15 | Winning time: 1m 48.28s

(6)

Cable Speed²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: B A Curtis| T: C Hills

1/1

Looked pretty useful in destroying his rivals at Lingfield when building on debut promise. This looks a better race and he has a penalty to shoulder, but the manner of victory marks him as the one they all have to beat.

Form: 4-1

(5)

Mr Dib Dab²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: D C Costello| T: D M Loughnane

66/1

€60,000 foal, Dabirsim colt. Dam unraced out of smart two-year-old 1m winner Wingspan. Sent off at 100/1 when well beaten on last month's debut and looks highly tried here.

Form: 9-

(3)

Pitcher's Point¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden

11/8

$800,000 purchase from a good family. Beaten by more experienced rivals on his Newcastle debut after it took time for the penny to drop. Stable have a 29% strike rate here with this age group and landed this event 12 months ago.

Form: 3

(1)

Shumba⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Dylan Hogan⁽³⁾| T: D M Simcock

9/1

Stepped up from a modest debut to chase home an impressive winner at Kempton. The third has done little to advertise form since and he needs to take another big leap forward.

Form: 72-

(2)

Striking Approach⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Adam J McNamara| T: H & R Charlton

16/1

New Approach colt has performed to a similar level on both starts and neither run looks good enough to trouble the principals here.

Form: 46-

(4)

Peace Treaty²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston

80/1

Has an attractive pedigree but there has been little evidence she will be maintaining the winning tradition. This looks even harder than her two previous races when soundly beaten.

Form: 6-0

Forecasts

Cable Speed (1/1), Pitcher's Point (11/8), Shumba (9/1), Striking Approach (16/1), Mr Dib Dab (66/1), Peace Treaty (80/1)

This looks a match between CABLE SPEED and Pitcher's Point. The latter represents a powerful yard with a good record in these contests at this venue and has a good AW pedigree. He found two fitter rivals too strong on his debut having taken time to find top gear and will undoubtedly know more this time. However, the selection showed an impressive turn of foot to surge clear of his rivals at Lingfield and he may have too much speed for his chief rival.