Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Novice Stakes (Plus 10)

Off time: 16:56 | Winning time: 2m 40.57s

(1)

Aleydali^b1⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Phil Dennis| T: K Scott

100/1

Resold as a yearling for €10,000; ninth foal from an unraced dam; closely related to the 1m4f AW winner Pipes Of Peace; beaten 70L into last of five here (1m2f) last week. Blinkers added but needs huge improvement.

Form: 5

(3)

Dark Heart¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| BF

1/3

Shaped well on debut at Wolverhampton (1m½f) last August and improved on that effort at Lingfield (1m4f) when beaten 3¼L last time (behind Agreed). Likely to set the pace and could be hard to pass in this small field if the fractions are spot on.

Form: 3-3

(2)

Agreed¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 75

9/4

Didn't really help herself when upped in trip at Lingfield (1m4f) last time, missing the break and hanging on the home turn. Still 2¼L ahead of Dark Heart that day strictly makes her the one to beat but a tactical affair may not suit.

Form: 62-2

(4)

Chenille¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Cam Hardie| T: L A Mullaney

66/1

Nathaniel filly; half-sister to six winners, including Cheviot (5f-7½f); 66-1, slowly away (soon struggling) in a 1m fillies' novice here 19 days ago; needs to have taken plenty from that initial experience in order to stand any chance.

Form: 0

Forecasts

Dark Heart (1/3), Agreed (9/4), Chenille (66/1), Aleydali (100/1)

This is likely to develop into a straight match between Agreed and DARK HEART, following their recent clash at Lingfield. Preference is for the latter, who is open to marginally more improvement than the filly and should be suited by this galloping track. He may well be hard to peg back if P J McDonald judges the pace correctly. The other two have little chance on what we've seen but Chenille should appreciate this trip and is related to some half-decent winners.