17:30 Southwell

Friday 17 January 2025

All17:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Boost Your Acca At BetMGM Maiden Stakes (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:33 | Winning time: 1m 41.50s

(8)

Desert Guest⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Laura Coughlan⁽³⁾| T: A Watson

250/1

Some encouragement on first of 2 starts in bumpers, but made no impression when last of 10 in maiden (40/1) at Wolverhampton (8.6f) on Flat debut 6 days ago. One for further down the line.

Form: 0

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(5)

Opera King^p²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: T Eaves| T: S Dixon

150/1

Fair form in bumpers but went the wrong way over hurdles last year, well-beaten eighth of 10 in handicap at Wetherby (16f, soft, 9/2) 22 days ago. First run on Flat having left Nigel Twiston-Davies (cheekpieces retained from hurdling).

Form:

(1)

Tapis Rouge

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott

33/1

35,000 gns yearling, Le Havre gelding. Half-brother to 9.2f/1¼m winner Zaffonix Bay and 7f/1m winner Solar Prophet. May just be better for this first experience.

Form:

(3)

Ancient State²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Dylan Hogan| T: Martin Dunne

250/1

Went with little promise on debut when last of 12 in novice (80/1) at Wolverhampton (7.2f) 3 weeks ago. Looks to be up against it.

Form: 0-

(10)

City Of God²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: S H James| T: K R Burke

7/4

Showed plenty of promise amidst greenness when fourth of 12 in novice (13/2) at Wolverhampton (7.2f) on debut 3 weeks ago, caught further back than ideal. Leading contender with improvement to come.

Form: 4-

(2)

Hawkesbury Legend³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: K P De Foy

125/1

Made some appeal on paper but held back by inexperience when seventh of 9 in novice (28/1) at this C&D on debut 34 days ago. Likely to need more time and distance.

Form: 7-

(6)

Malay Massaman²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: A J Farragher| T: Miss A Murphy

80/1

Didn't offer a great deal of promise first time up when 15 lengths fifth of 13 in novice (100/1) at Chelmsford City (8f) 29 days ago. Looks one for the longer term.

Form: 5-

(11)

Modernise⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: T E Whelan| T: Harry Charlton

9/4

Is bred to be smart but was green on debut when ninth of 13 in novice at Kempton (8f, 15/2) 44 days ago. Entitled to do better with that first run behind him.

Form: 9-

(7)

Shipshape⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett

7/2

Half-brother to several winners, including smart 6f winner Swingalong, but failed to meet expectations when ninth of 13 in novice at Kempton (8f, 4/1) on debut 44 days ago. Clearly thought capable of better.

Form: 9-

(9)

War Hawk⁷⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Cieren Fallon| T: S & E Crisford

3/1

Promising third at Newcastle on debut and still in need of experience when seventh of 11 in novice (9/1) at Chelmsford City (7f) 78 days ago. Remains open to improvement upped in trip, so he enters calculations.

Form: 37-

Non-Runners

(4)

Express Train

Weight: 8-10| Age: 3

T: A M Balding J: Jason Watson

Forecasts

City Of God (7/4), Modernise (9/4), War Hawk (3/1), Shipshape (7/2), Express Train (9/2), Tapis Rouge (33/1), Malay Massaman (80/1), Hawkesbury Legend (125/1), Opera King (150/1), Desert Guest (250/1), Ancient State (250/1)

CITY OF GOD was green on debut but shaped encouragingly when fourth in a Wolverhampton novice 3 weeks ago, finishing well, and he can build on that effort to open his account. War Hawk has also looked in need of the experience in his 2 starts so far and is respected given the promise he showed first-time up, while newcomer Express Train is one to note.