12:30 Nottingham

Wednesday 7 October 2020

All12:0012:3013:0013:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:15

British EBF Oath Maiden Stakes (Plus 10)

Off time: 12:32 | Winning time: 1m 49.78s

(1)

Arthur's Angel²⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: T P Queally| T: J Ryan

50/1

80/1, last of 9 in minor event at Sandown (8f, good) on debut 26 days ago, very slowly away. Yard also saddles newcomer Ocean Wilde.

Form: 9

(2)

Eminent Hipster

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Dane O'Neill| T: R Hannon

20/1

Foaled February 28. 70,000 gns yearling. Dam, 1m winner, half-sister to smart winner up to 1m Tell. One to note in the betting for top 2-y-o yard (also represented by Night of Hope).

Form:

(8)

Irish Legend

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: H Palmer

7/4

Foaled February 23. €240,000 foal Half-brother to 6f winner Torch Lit. Dam, 7f winner (including at 2 yrs), half-sister to very smart 1¼m/10.4f winner Covert Love. Likely-looking type.

Form:

(6)

Jazper¹³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Joey Haynes| T: I Furtado

150/1

Eighth of 11 in minor event at Pontefract (8f, heavy, 80/1) on debut 13 days ago. Readily passed over.

Form: 8

(11)

Merlin's Mission⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: M Murphy

200/1

100/1, last of 11 in minor event at Kempton (8f) on debut 7 days ago, very slowly away. No appeal.

Form: 0

(4)

Moneykenny

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding

22/1

Foaled March 22. €18,000 foal, €30,000 yearling. Dam, maiden (stayed 1m), closely related to 2-y-o 7f winner Pezula Bay and half-sister to 1½m-13f winner Right of Appeal. Market should point the way.

Form:

(10)

Royal Touch

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby

3/1

Foaled February 9. Brother to smart 1¼m winner Dubai Thunder and half-brother to several winners, including top-class winner up to 1¼m Farhh. Lots to like on paper and he's high on the shortlist.

Form:

(7)

Sonning

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: David Egan| T: A King

28/1

Foaled March 26. €56,000 foal, 80,000 gns 2-y-o. Half-brother to 3 winners, including smart winner up to 1½m Restorer and 1¼m winner Molinari. Dam 1½m winner. Entitled to come on for the run.

Form:

(3)

Wicklow³⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-5| J: Harry Bentley| T: T Ward

5/1

Promising type. Fourth of 10 in maiden at Goodwood (8f, good to soft, 10/1) on debut 38 days ago, not ideally placed. Should progress and ought to have a say in the finish here.

Form: 4

(12)

Night Of Hope¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R Hannon

12/1

Fourth of 5 in maiden at Goodwood (9.9f, soft, 20/1) on debut 14 days ago. That experience certainly won't be wasted on her but this demands a sizeable step forward.

Form: 4

(9)

Thunder Drum

Age: 2| Weight: 9-0| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden

5/1

Foaled April 16. Sister to smart winner up to 2m Dubhe and 1m winner Sun Bear and half-sister to 1m winner Althib. Represents top yard and very much one to note in the betting.

Form:

Non-Runners

(5)

Ocean Wilde

Weight: 9-5| Age: 2

T: J Ryan J: Darragh Keenan

Forecasts

Irish Legend (7/4), Royal Touch (3/1), Wicklow (5/1), Thunder Drum (5/1), Night Of Hope (12/1), Eminent Hipster (20/1), Moneykenny (22/1), Sonning (28/1), Arthur's Angel (50/1), Ocean Wilde (50/1), Jazper (150/1), Merlin's Mission (200/1)

There won't be many 2-y-os with a better pedigree than ROYAL TOUCH and he is taken to make a winning debut. Confidence behind the Godolphin colt in the betting would look significant, a remark which also applies to John Gosden's Thunder Drum, who is also bred in the purple, and €240,000 purchase Irish Legend. Wicklow is the clear pick of those with experience and he is also greatly respected.