Bombardier Golden Beer Novice Median Auction Stakes

Off time: 16:06 | Winning time: 1m 42.71s

(2)

Queen Of All⁸⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: George Rooke⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hughes

5/6

Mukhadram filly; made the perfect start to her racing career when springing a 14-1 surprise at Kempton (7f) in late November; that bare form isn't overly strong (although her fourth-placed stablemate Punting has won since); 7lb claimer booked.

Form: 1-

(4)

Mesmeric⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston

4/1

Casamento colt (€11,000 yearling); played up in the prelims and displayed signs of greeness in the race (blew the home bend) when finishing fifth of six on debut at Lingfield (1m) last week; can do better with that experience banked.

Form: 5

(1)

Royal Astronomer⁷²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: H Morrison| OR: 76

11/4

Showed improved form when finishing second best to a stablemate of Queen Of All (Punting) at Wolverhampton (1m1½f) in mid-December; wouldn't make a massive amount of obvious appeal as a future winner in waiting, albeit this is a weak novice.

Form: 072-

(5)

Shining Aitch

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Jason Hart| T: P J McBride

20/1

€10,000 foal, £5,000 yearling; third foal; half-brother to the 7f GB AW/1m2f UAE dirt winner Thaaqib; lacks the advantage of the racecourse experience possessed by his four rivals.

Form:

Non-Runners

(3)

Hill Hollow³²

Weight: 10-0| Age: 4

T: D M Simcock J: Dylan Hogan

Forecasts

Queen Of All (5/6), Royal Astronomer (11/4), Hill Hollow (7/2), Mesmeric (4/1), Shining Aitch (20/1)

A winnable novice, albeit somewhat of a guessing game with regards exactly how the five declared runners will cope with the Fibresand surface. Richard Hughes won this race last year with Little Rock and he saddles the likely favourite in the shape of the Kempton scorer Queen Of All. Effectively she escapes a penalty for that success with the 7lb claimer George Rooke booked to ride, and Hughes should have a solid form line with Royal Astronomer (via Punting). Nevertheless, in pursuit of greater value we'll elect to chance that Mark Johnston's MESMERIC is considerably wiser than on his debut at Lingfield last week.