20:30 Wolverhampton

Saturday 17 October 2020

All16:5517:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Novice Stakes

Off time: 20:32 | Winning time: 1m 59.76s

(3)

Satono Japan³⁶⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Louis Steward| T: Sir Michael Stoute

5/1

Expensive colt who won 13-runner minor event at Kempton (7f, 14/1) on debut last October. Absent since but there's substance to that form and he's open to improvement now faced with a stiffer test.

Form: 1-

(9)

Taqareer²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: M Harley| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 89

10/11

Promising individual. Won 10-runner minor event at Lingfield (10f, AW, 1/3) 25 days ago, unchallenged. Open to progress and he has to enter calculations.

Form: 21

(7)

Approach The City⁶⁷²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: J Mitchell| T: S & E Crisford

4/1

Second of 12 in minor event at Newcastle (8f, 9/2) on debut 22 months ago. Subsequent absence is obviously a worry but he's open to improvement and needs a close look in the betting.

Form: 2/

(4)

Top Fox

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: P Cosgrave| T: E Walker

22/1

550,000 gns yearling, Frankel gelding. Half-brother to numerous winners, including smart winner up to 11f Penelopa and 1¼m-17f winner Linardo. Interesting to see what the market has to say.

Form:

(1)

Big Wing

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R Hannon

40/1

€40,000 foal, 60,000 gns yearling, Free Eagle gelding. Dam 7f winner out of 2-y-o 7f winner Finity. Market should point the way.

Form:

(6)

Portray

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R Kingscote| T: W J Haggas

14/1

Dubawi gelding. Dam, 1¼m-11.5f winner, half-sister to smart 1¼m-12.5f winner Policy Maker. In good hands and it will look significant if the market speaks in his favour.

Form:

(8)

Aim For The Stars²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: P J McDonald| T: J Tate| OR: 85

13/2

Promising sort. Third of 11 in minor event (11/2) at Kempton (8f) 24 days ago. Improvement should be forthcoming and couldn't rule out.

Form: 53

(2)

Dulcima¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Harrison Shaw⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke

125/1

Tenth of 13 in minor event at Newcastle (8f, 33/1) on debut 15 days ago. Probably more of a long-term project.

Form: 0

(10)

Pummel²⁵²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: E J Walsh| T: P D Evans

200/1

Twice-raced maiden. Last of 6 in minor event at this course (12.2f, 100/1). Off 8 months and down in trip on first run for yard after leaving Richard Hannon.

Form: 96

(5)

Star Spirit^h²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Charlie Bennett| T: H Morrison

150/1

Hooded, eighth of 11 in minor event at Kempton (8f, 40/1) on debut 24 days ago. Likely to be seen in a better light when going down the handicap route in due course.

Form: 8

Forecasts

Taqareer (10/11), Approach The City (4/1), Satono Japan (5/1), Aim For The Stars (13/2), Portray (14/1), Top Fox (22/1), Big Wing (40/1), Dulcima (125/1), Star Spirit (150/1), Pummel (200/1)

SATONO JAPAN displayed a good turn of foot when scoring at Kempton on his sole 2-y-o start and he is not short of potential. This stiffer test promises to suit and he is marginally preferred to Taqareer, who duly landed the odds at Lingfield last month. Aim For The Stars and Approach The City are also of interest, while newcomers Top Fox, Big Wing and Portray all need a market check.