14:55 Chelmsford City

Thursday 31 August 2023

All14:2514:5515:2515:5516:2516:55

Betsi Golden Mile Maiden Stakes (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:59 | Winning time: 1m 38.43s

(1)

Silver Atom⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Georgia Dobie⁽³⁾| T: A Watson

250/1

Twice-raced gelding on Flat. 80/1, seventh of 10 in maiden at Chepstow (7.1f, good to firm) 7 days ago.

Form: 57

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(2)

Dire La Verite

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Oisin Murphy| T: B J Meehan

18/1

€60,000 yearling, Muhaarar colt. Brother to French 10.5f/11f winner Cap San Roman. Dam useful French 1½m/12.5f winner. Worth a market check.

Form:

(4)

Fictional⁵³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: George Rooke| T: R Hughes

8/1

Once-raced gelding. Sixth of 10 in minor event at this course (10f, 33/1) on debut 53 days ago. Likely to need more time.

Form: 6

(3)

Fletcher's Flight

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: A J Farragher⁽³⁾| T: P J McBride

150/1

€47,000 foal, 27,000 gns yearling, Profitable gelding. Half-brother to winner in Italy by Prince of Lir. Dam, 5f winner, half-sister to useful 7f-11f winner Autumn Blades. Not an obvious sort on paper.

Form:

(8)

Lohengrin^t²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: W Buick| T: W J Haggas

9/4

Promising sort. 4/1 and tongue strap on, fifth of 15 in minor event at Leicester (7f, soft) on debut 29 days ago. Should improve for that initial experience, so can't be discounted.

Form: 5

(7)

Marching Band²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute

5/1

Once-raced gelding. Sixth of 11 in minor event at Kempton (8f, 66/1) on debut 22 days ago, well positioned. Should build on that.

Form: 6

(6)

Raqeebb

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Ross Coakley| T: S & E Crisford

9/2

€310,000 yearling, Wootton Bassett gelding. Dam unraced sister to winner up to 1m (stayed 1¼m) Lesstalk In Paris and half-sister to 1m winner Dastarhon, both Group 3 winners in France who stayed 1¼m. Merits respect.

Form:

(5)

Lesleyanne⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Jefferson Smith| T: D K Ivory

300/1

Once-raced filly. Last of 7 in minor event (28/1) at Nottingham (10.2f, heavy) on debut 41 days ago. Down in trip.

Form: 7

(9)

Velvet Crush¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden

2/1

Highly promising individual. 10/3, third of 10 in minor event at Kempton (7f) on debut 15 days ago, missing break. Should significantly improve.

Form: 3

Forecasts

Velvet Crush (2/1), Lohengrin (9/4), Raqeebb (9/2), Marching Band (5/1), Fictional (8/1), Dire La Verite (18/1), Fletcher's Flight (150/1), Silver Atom (250/1), Lesleyanne (300/1)

VELVET CRUSH did very well to get a place considering she completely missed the break at Kempton on debut and, with significant improvement anticipated, she gets the nod over Raqeebb, who is the clear pick of the newcomers. Lohengrin also has potential.