13:35 Doncaster

Friday 2 July 2021

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:55

Download The At The Races App Novice Stakes

Off time: 13:36 | Winning time: 2m 30.51s

(10)

Hackberry³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Ben Robinson| T: B Ellison

125/1

Newcastle bumper winner on debut in January, but beaten a fair way starting out in this sphere last time and will be of greater interest in handicaps later on.

Form: 6

(7)

Williamwilberforce³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: S H James| T: J R Norton

200/1

Little impact on debut in a Southwell bumper and didn't fare much better switched to this sphere last time.

Form: 8

(1)

Moshaawer²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Dane O'Neill| T: R Varian

9/4

Close third in a 15-runner Newbury novice (1m, heavy) on sole 2-y-o start. Made to work much harder than expected when landing the odds on return at Kempton (11f), but remains open to improvement.

Form: 3-1

(8)

Gooner Boy^p1¹²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: M Harley| T: J & T Gosden| BF

6/1

Failed to measure up to market expectations starting out in 1½m Kempton maiden in February, but he was clearly in need of the experience and should leave that form behind in time. Cheekpieces applied.

Form: 6

(5)

Jack Kennedy⁶¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: N Mackay| T: J & T Gosden

10/1

Shaped well when third of 9 on debut at Redcar in April. Backward step at Salisbury (1½m, good) next time, but that race may have come too soon and, given a break since, he's worth another chance.

Form: 35

(9)

Neptune Seas¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby

11/8

Fetched 725,000 gns as a yearling and promising start to his career when third in a 10-runner C&D maiden 19 days ago. Improvement should be forthcoming and he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 3

(11)

Robert Johnson²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Paula Muir⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby

200/1

Little in the way of immediate promise on debut at Catterick and he's another who may do better in handicaps further down the line.

Form: 9

(3)

Strikeback^t1

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: J Mitchell| T: S & E Crisford

22/1

Half-brother to several winners, including very smart winner up to 1¼m Contributer and useful 7f-1¼m winner Saimaa. Dam 1¼m/10.5f winner. Market should point the way. Wears tongue strap.

Form:

(2)

Tendentious

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara

50/1

60,000 gns foal, 55,000 gns yearling. Closely related to 1m-11.6f winner Voluminous and half-brother to 1m winner Uzincso. Will probably come on for the run, but worth a peek in the betting.

Form:

(6)

Valley Forge³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding

13/2

Has shown ability in maidens at Newmarket and Yarmouth (both at around this trip), latterly finishing third of 11 to subsequent Queen's Vase winner Kemari. Each-way chance.

Form: 53

(4)

Victoria Line²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: T E Whelan| T: W Muir & C Grassick

66/1

150,000 gns yearling who attracted support on debut at Salisbury where he was equipped with cheekpieces and a hood (both discarded here), but he was soon detached and essentially looked amiss.

Form: 7

Forecasts

Neptune Seas (11/8), Moshaawer (9/4), Gooner Boy (6/1), Valley Forge (13/2), Jack Kennedy (10/1), Strikeback (22/1), Tendentious (50/1), Victoria Line (66/1), Hackberry (125/1), Robert Johnson (200/1), Williamwilberforce (200/1)

NEPTUNE SEAS shaped with plenty of promise when third on debut over C&D last month and there should be better to come from this son of Sea The Stars. He earns the vote ahead of Moshaawer, who didn't win in the manner one would expect of a 1/4 shot at Kempton, but he's well-bred and the return to turf may help unlock improvement. Stablemates Jack Kennedy and Gooner Boy are both open to progress.