16:15 Chester

Wednesday 4 May 2022

All13:3014:0514:4015:1015:4016:1516:45

Edinburgh Gin Maiden Stakes (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:17 | Winning time: 2m 18.61s

(4)

Asean Legend¹⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 83| BF

5/2

Runner-up all three starts for Hugo Palmer at 2 yrs, just touched off at Kempton (1m) when last seen in December. Bare form is nothing to get excited about, but promises to be suited by this step up in trip and he's a player on debut for new yard.

Form: 222-

(9)

Benedict Wildes^h1²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Hayley Turner| T: C Fellowes| OR: 72

33/1

Displayed a fair level of ability when placed twice from three starts in novice events on the AW. Conditions may not have been ideal on handicap/turf debut at Nottingham (10.2f, good to soft), but looks vulnerable all the same. Hood applied.

Form: 2438

(1)

Berkshire Breeze¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding

11/2

Shaped well when runner-up in 1m Kempton novice on sole 2-y-o start. Built on that when fourth of 12 upped to 11f on recent reappearance at Newbury and he remains capable of better.

Form: 2-4

(6)

Combatantcommander^t1²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: T Hamilton| T: T D Easterby

125/1

Trailed home last of 13 in 1m Thirsk novice on debut last month and he's probably more one for the longer-term.

Form: 0

(5)

Derrymore Boy

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Laura Pearson⁽³⁾| T: D Loughnane

66/1

Half-brother to 2-y-o 7f/7.4f winner Sweet Sounds and 6.3f winner Footstepsintime. Dam maiden. Will only be of interest here if the market vibes are notably upbeat.

Form:

(7)

Dirty Barry¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: L Morris| T: P S McEntee

150/1

Hard to warm to on the back of a very low-key debut at Newbury (11f, good) last month.

Form: 0

(3)

Honiton¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden

5/2

Clear signs of promise on sole 2-y-o start and again when third in a 17-runner Newbury maiden (1m, good) 18 days ago. Remains open to improvement, particularly now upped in trip, and leading claims for a yard that has saddled the winner of this maiden five times since 2003.

Form: 7-3

(2)

Secret State²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| BF

13/8

Bred to be useful and positive start to his career when second in a 13-runner Newmarket maiden (1m, good) three weeks ago. This step up in trip can be expected to unlock improvement and he's every inch a major player.

Form: 2

Non-Runners

(8)

Barney's Angel

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: Ian Williams J: Ben Sanderson

Forecasts

Secret State (13/8), Honiton (5/2), Asean Legend (5/2), Berkshire Breeze (11/2), Benedict Wildes (33/1), Barney's Angel (33/1), Derrymore Boy (66/1), Combatantcommander (125/1), Dirty Barry (150/1)

This looks destined for one of the Godolphin-owned colts, with HONITON marginally preferred to the equally promising Secret State. The selection finished hot on the heels of a couple of decent-looking types at Newbury, without being knocked about, and he is taken to enhance the Gosden yard's good record in this maiden. Secret State is clear second choice ahead of Berkshire Breeze and Asean Legend.