Cazoo Maiden Stakes (GBB Race)

Off time: 19:20 | Winning time: 1m 45.04s

(5)

Argonault⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: L P Keniry| T: C G Cox

25/1

Twice-raced gelding. 20/1, last of 5 in maiden at this course (10.2f, good) 40 days ago. Back down in trip. Needs to do more.

Form: 5-5

(1)

Lermontov

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: D C Costello| T: J & S Quinn

6/1

50,000 gns yearling, No Nay Never gelding. Half-brother to winner up to 13f Hashtagmetoo. Dam, US 1m winner, half-sister to Canadian Grade 2 9f winner J'ray. Trainer’s newcomers command respect.

Form:

(2)

Nine Dragons^t²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽³⁾| T: Tom Dascombe

4/1

Twice-raced colt. Eighth of 20 in minor event at Doncaster (8f, good to firm, 125/1) 26 days ago, hampered. Others make more appeal.

Form: 08

(4)

Zulu Tracker²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| OR: 75

11/8

Fairly useful gelding. Good second of 9 in handicap (7/1) at Haydock (7f, good to soft) 21 days ago, finishing well. Obvious claims.

Form: 562-362

(3)

Scorpio²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Thomas Greatrex| T: B J Meehan

9/4

Twice-raced filly. 25/1, fifth of 12 in minor event at Newbury (8f, good) 20 days ago, very much having run of race. Could step forward again, so merits respect in a thin race.

Form: 55

Forecasts

Zulu Tracker (11/8), Scorpio (9/4), Nine Dragons (4/1), Lermontov (6/1), Argonault (25/1)

Those with form don't set the bar very high and, with that in mind, it might be worth taking a chance on LERMONTOV first time out. He cost 50,000gns and boasts a reasonable pedigree, so he takes marginal preference over Zulu Tracker, who ran well in a handicap at Haydock 3 weeks ago.