17:00 Salisbury

Sunday 25 April 2021

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:0017:30

AJN Steelstock Handicap

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 2m 36.97s

(1)

Aljaryaal²²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Dane O'Neill| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 61

4/1

Thrice-raced maiden. 50/1, last of 11 in minor event at Sandown (8f, good). Green last season and bred to be much better than a mark of 61, so he's worth chancing back from 7 months off.

Form: 070-

(2)

Rwanda Mist²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Callum Shepherd| T: George Scott| OR: 61

9/4

Lightly-raced maiden. Excellent third of 6 in handicap at Chelmsford City (10f, 7/2) 23 days ago. Unlikely to have reached his limit and longer trip should suit, so he's very much one to consider.

Form: 878-3

(4)

Tajdid²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 60| BF

11/2

Lightly-raced maiden. 2/1, bit below form fifth of 13 in handicap at Wolverhampton (9.5f) 29 days ago, best of those ridden prominently. Remains with potential for all the longer trip is an unknown.

Form: 80-45

(6)

Namaste^p²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: R Hughes| OR: 60

11/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Cheekpieces on for 1st time, fourth of 6 in handicap at Chelmsford City (10f, 25/1) 23 days ago. Up in trip. Makes turf debut. Needs to improve.

Form: 6-674

(7)

Gavin¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: B R Millman| OR: 55

7/2

Thrice-raced maiden. 150/1, last of 11 in minor event at Nottingham (8.3f, good to firm) 18 days ago. Could show more now up in trip and switched to handicaps from lowly mark.

Form: 80-0

(5)

Bobby Kennedy¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Charles Bishop| T: D J Coakley| OR: 48

6/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Second of 8 in handicap at Wolverhampton (9.5f, 6/1) 15 days ago, well positioned. Up in trip. Solid claims.

Form: 090-2

(3)

Moonlet²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: L Morris| T: J G Portman| OR: 47

33/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Creditable eighth of 14 in minor event at Kempton (12f, 22/1) 25 days ago. More needed on turf/handicap debut.

Form: 7088

Forecasts

Rwanda Mist (9/4), Gavin (7/2), Aljaryaal (4/1), Tajdid (11/2), Bobby Kennedy (6/1), Namaste (11/1), Moonlet (33/1)

ALJARYAAL was an expensive yearling and his pedigree points to him being much better than a low-60s horse so, for all he offered little as a 2yo, he may well prove a different proposition this season. He gets the nod ahead of Bobby Kennedy and Rwanda Mist, who both improved last time.