17:30 Newcastle

Thursday 21 January 2021

All16:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:30

Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Novice Stakes

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 1m 28.36s

(7)

Abrag¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: G Lee| T: A M Balding| BF

5/1

Promising fourth on debut at Kempton (7f) last month. Well backed but below expectations in 1m Lingfield maiden last time (possibly unsuited by track). Remains with potential.

Form: 4-4

(3)

Captain Cooper³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan

4/1

Promising second in C&D novice on debut but carried head bit awkwardly in maiden next time. Remains with potential.

Form: 26-

(2)

Malhoob

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian

4/11

$200,000 foal, $325,000 yearling. Half-brother to 2 US winners, including 2-y-o 7f winner Bella Aurora. Dam, US 7f winner, half-sister to US Grade 2 6f winner Golden Spikes. Ticks plenty of boxes.

Form:

(4)

Royal Heart¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: E A L Dunlop

18/1

Twice-raced maiden. Improved from debut when fifth of 12 at Wolverhampton (8.6f, 66/1) 14 days ago, travelling strongly, not knocked about. Can progress further.

Form: 6-5

(5)

Artisan Bleu⁶⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Charlie Bennett| T: A West

200/1

Down the field in 2 events 10 days apart in November.

Form: 99-

(6)

Chillsea¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey

40/1

Twice-raced maiden. Fourth of 8 in minor event (14/1) at Wolverhampton (5.1f) 16 days ago, not knocked about. Significantly up in trip. Looks one for handicaps.

Form: 9-4

(8)

Mountrath

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: A West

250/1

1,000 gns foal, Helmet filly. Half-sister to 7.5f/1m winner Circle of Hands. Dam unraced half-sister to very smart 7f/1m winner Al Wukair.

Form:

(1)

One Punch Terri²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jessica Anderson⁽⁷⁾| T: A Keatley

125/1

22/1, tenth of 12 in minor event at Wolverhampton (8.6f) on debut 25 days ago, very green.

Form: 0-

Forecasts

Malhoob (4/11), Captain Cooper (4/1), Abrag (5/1), Royal Heart (18/1), Chillsea (40/1), One Punch Terri (125/1), Artisan Bleu (200/1), Mountrath (250/1)

MALHOOB ticks plenty of boxes as a likely-looking newcomer for Roger Varian and it would be no surprise to see him make a winning start. Captain Cooper and Abrag both remain with potential despite disappointing runs when backed on their second starts, while there is more to come from Royal Heart, who caught the eye at Wolverhampton.