17:00 Newcastle

Friday 2 April 2021

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3017:0017:30

Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Novice Stakes (Plus 10)

Off time: 17:02 | Winning time: 1m 0.59s

(4)

Imperial Force^v1²⁰⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 93

10/11

Lightly-raced maiden. Below form ninth of 15 in sales event at Doncaster. Off 6 months. Back down in trip. Makes tapeta debut. Visor on 1st time. Has the best form and should take the beating.

Form: 2369-

(8)

Mereside Magic

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: T Eaves| T: T D Barron

28/1

€4,500 yearling, Gutaifan gelding. Dam unraced half-sister to useful 2-y-o 5f winner Mind of Madness out of useful 5f winner Sioduil. Worth a market check.

Form:

(2)

Readman²¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Harrison Shaw| T: K R Burke

20/1

Twice-raced maiden. Visored for 1st time, last of 12 in minor event at Redcar (6f, heavy, 9/1). Off 7 months.

Form: 60-

(6)

State of Play

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: P J McDonald| T: J Tate

7/4

Dark Angel colt. Half-brother to 2-y-o 6f winner Jamaheery. Plenty of speed in the pedigree and in good hands, so he's a notable newcomer.

Form:

(1)

Tiberius Augustus²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison

80/1

Once-raced maiden. Ninth of 12 in minor event at this course (6f, 50/1) on debut 22 days ago.

Form: 9

(5)

Havagomecca²⁶⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Aidan Redpath⁽⁷⁾| T: M Dods

14/1

Once-raced maiden. 6/1, third of 8 in minor event at Hamilton (5f, good) on debut, not knocked about. Off 8 months. Should progress.

Form: 3-

(7)

Miss Seafire³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S H James| T: K R Burke

12/1

Twice-raced maiden. 10/1, second of 5 in minor event at Lingfield (5f, AW) 30 days ago, running on. Needs to step up again.

Form: 42

Non-Runners

(3)

Toshack

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: I Jardine J: A Mullen

Forecasts

Imperial Force (10/11), State of Play (7/4), Miss Seafire (12/1), Havagomecca (14/1), Toshack (16/1), Readman (20/1), Mereside Magic (28/1), Tiberius Augustus (80/1)

Though down the field in a competitive sales race at Doncaster 6 months ago, IMPERIAL FORCE's early form last term would be more than enough to land this if he's tuned up in a first-time visor, so he's preferred to debutant State of Play, with Havagomecca a player also following a promising start at Hamilton 8 months ago.