A Maiden Stakes over 5f 261y on standard going.
Nine two-year-olds take part in what looks a hot race. The three leading fancies, as far as the betting goes, all hold fair claims but there is often value lurking around and we may have a chance of one juvenile going well at big odds.
Jeremy Gask isn't the most fashionable of trainers and he has a small string of two-year-olds but this Stockbridge handler knows his horses very well and if up to winning are placed to make their mark. Dashing Poet is a daughter of Poet's Voice out of a dual-winning mare who was trained by the late Michael Jarvis. This bay filly cost 45,000G at the yearling sales but withdrawn from the breeze-up sales when presented in April. Whether she was purchased then I am not sure [likely] and runs in the silks of The Dashing Poets.
I am confident connections fancy this filly has some ability and that was shown to some extent by heading to Sandown on debut. That isn't the easiest of courses to make your racecourse bow, especially against a few proven form horses. Priced at 33/1, bookmakers didn't rate her chance but I feel connections actually held some hope of hitting the frame. A slow start didn't help but this fiar-looking filly wasn't disgraced. The form of that race is solid. This step up to 6f is guaranteed to suit and from stall five this March foal should be able to hold her position.
It will take a big performance to wrestle a place against this opposition but you can never be scared to take on favourites with a big priced chance. At odds of 22/1 [much bigger, I suspect, on the exchanges] this juvenile could hold each-way claims.
Just a quick post as it is getting very late and lacking in energy and time. No standout spec bets but a couple who may go well at a price - so fingers crossed. These are tentative selections so don't bet unless you fancy a speculative wager. Clearly, horses priced 25/1 are not viewed as certainties.
2:00 Sandown - Taking a bit of a hit and hope here with Jeremy Gask's debutante Dashing Poet. Gask can ready a horse on its racecourse bow and it is worth noting this filly has recently been given a stakes entry. At odds of 25/1 she may run better than those odds.
Dashing Poet @ 40/1 EW 80/1 Betfair 5th
2:10 Yarmouth - I wouldn't normally note one of Chris Wall's two-year-old debutantes but he looks to have a few juveniles with an ounce of ability and he does very well at Yarmouth. Ejabah is making her debut in an auction stakes which isn't a bad starting place and although there are a few horses who have form and potential this daughter of Iffraaj could hold some value especially if backed. Priced at 12/1, I'd be hoping this bay filly is strong in the market. Owned by Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum she isn't beyond a chance.
Ejabah @12/1 EW 4th
6:05 Newbury - Deningy doesn't look straightforward after refusing to go in the stalls at Newmarket some time ago. At odds-on I would be very careful if you fancy betting on this horse because a temperamental horse is never good news. However, this may give a betting opportunity and value for others. Sfumato was fancied on debut but disappointed. Roger Charlton's son of Bated Breath could go well here and definitely an alternative to the favourite. Brian Meehan's horses have been rather indifferent this season and Mutawakked may have disappointed last time out over course and distance. This 120,000G yearling purchase showed promise on debut and was expected to go well last time out but failed for some reason, tiring in the final furlong. I have good reason to think he should have gone close that day and at 10/1 may have each-way claims.
Mutawakked @ 10/1 EW 1st
6:20 Doncaster - A big priced selection going here for James Bethell. This handler is generally poor when it comes to his debutantes being fit and ready to roll but Portledge may buck that trend at 25/1. At 60,000G this is not cheap yearling purchase for Bethell and Tony Buckingham. Interesting that this colt has been given a stakes race entry which is a sign of ability.
Portledge @50/1 EW 210/1 Betfair 3rd (ran well)