16:10 Doncaster

Saturday 23 March 2024

All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

William Hill Epic Value Maiden Stakes (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 2m 18.64s

(4)

Ancient Myth⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke

7/2

Fetched 425,000 gns as a yearling and shaped well when chasing home a very promising Godolphin colt on debut at Wolverhampton (9.5f) last month. Will be more street-wise now and he's a key player.

Form: 2

(6)

Aulis¹⁰⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett

18/1

Clear signs of ability in novice events at Newmarket (7f) and Kempton (1m) towards the backend of last year. This stiffer test could help unlock some improvement but he's probably more one for handicaps in due course.

Form: 63-

(3)

Harper's Ferry¹⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Rossa Ryan| T: E Walker

11/8

Sent off at 50/1 on debut in a 1m Newmarket novice (good to soft) in October but that didn't stop him from running a big race, just failing to get to grips with an experienced rival and pulling nicely clear of the third. Holds an entry in the Derby and improvement should be forthcoming.

Form: 2-

(2)

King's Reign⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: C Appleby| BF

4/1

Dubawi colt who cost 1,500,000 gns as a yearling and he's a half-brother to smart 2-y-o 7f/1m winner Silver Knott. Always on the backfoot after missing the break on debut at Wolverhampton (12.2f) but shaped encouragingly all the same and likely to leave that form well behind in time.

Form: 4

(1)

Liberty Coach

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn

40/1

42,000 gns foal, 52,000 gns yearling. Brother to 1m winner Belief and half-brother half-sister to several winners, including 1m winner Divinity. Up against some promising/choicely-bred types here and he's entitled to come on for the run.

Form:

(7)

Moon Over Miami

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett

10/1

€130,000 yearling. Half-brother to 9f-13f winner Forest of Wisdom and 11.5f/12.5f winner Veules. Good yard no stranger to success with newcomers but jockey bookings suggest that Aulis is the first-string.

Form:

(5)

Wild Waves²³⁴

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

7/1

Half-brother to several winners and shaped with clear promise in a couple of 7f novice events at Sandown last summer. This trip will be more his thing and should make his presence felt for yard that has won 2 of the last 4 running of this maiden.

Form: 44-

Forecasts

Harper's Ferry (11/8), Ancient Myth (7/2), King's Reign (4/1), Wild Waves (7/1), Moon Over Miami (10/1), Aulis (18/1), Liberty Coach (40/1)

Several promising types on show here with ANCIENT MYTH marginally preferred to Harper's Ferry. The latter is the only one of these with an entry in the Derby and he shaped with a great deal of promise on his sole 2-y-o start but Ancient Myth's debut at Wolverhampton was also very encouraging and the Godolphin colt who beat him that day could turn out to be pretty smart. King's Reign represents the 'boys in blue' in this maiden and he also respected, along with Wild Waves.