Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Nursery

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 1m 45.55s

(4)

Star Cactus¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: James Doyle| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 82

13/8

Shaped well first two outings then made it third time lucky when winning 7f Ascot nursery off 7lb lower mark. Only won by a head and new mark looks plenty high enough although is open to further improvement over extra 1f.

Form: 421

(3)

Zaisan^p1²⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: Adam J McNamara| T: A Watson| OR: 76| BF

5/1

Good third here over 6f in June then disappointed on AW at Kempton before doing better when third in Ayr 7f novice last time. Handicap bow and steps up to 1m in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 343

(1)

Genuflex¹⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 8-13| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 74

11/4

Looked green when distant fifth of 6 on debut at Kempton 7f in June but much better last month when stayed on to into second in Chepstow 6f maiden. Has stamina to prove on handicap bow. Yard won this in 2015.

Form: 52

(5)

Zookeeper²⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 8-12| J: B A Curtis| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 73

3/1

Dubawi colt out of Brazilian Group 1 winner. Yard won this in 2016 with smart Permian. Fair third on debut in Doncaster 7f novice and may have found ground too lively when disapointing Yarmouth latest. Handicap debut off tempting mark.

Form: 36

Non-Runners

(2)

Eagle's Realm²⁶

Weight: 9-0| Age: 2

T: Sir Mark Prescott J: L Morris

Forecasts

Star Cactus (13/8), Genuflex (11/4), Zookeeper (3/1), Eagle's Realm (9/2), Zaisan (5/1)

A very trappy affair but marginal preference is for bottom weight ZOOKEEPER who didn't run his race last time but had previously done well when third at Doncaster on debut. His yard has an excellent 31% winning strike-rate with juveniles at this track. Eagle's Realm could easily improve for the step up in trip and is feared, while Star Cactus, the only winner in the field, comes here after getting up late over 7f at Ascot last time and may again make a bold bid. Genuflex and Zaisan make up the field and neither are out of this, especially if attracting some market support.