13:15 Maydanny
Mark Johnston’s runner was put up 10lb for winning easily at Yarmouth on his handicap debut. With a pedigree like he has, he’s always going to be under the spotlight. I expect Maydanny to reach triple digits in the ratings as his career progresses and that can start on Wednesday.
13:50 Kenzai Warrior
Roger Teals’ runner looked really good when maintaining his unbeaten record as a juvenile in the Horris Hill Stakes last year. He never got an opportunity to show what he could do in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket last month as he got upset in the stalls and nearly threw his jockey when the stalls flew open.
The step up in trip to 1m 2f looks ideal and with a small field, he can latch onto them at the back and work his way into contention from there. He’s a good each-way price to hit the frame if the ‘dead’ eight run and we get the three places.
14:25 Bodyline
Sir Mark Prescott’s runner dodged an engagement at Goodwood on Sunday for this much bigger prize after an excellent return to action at Yarmouth. He has been raised a little by the handicapper but is still very well handicapped and looks to have an awful lot more improvement in him.
This 1m 4f trip looks absolutely ideal and he will be much sharper for that initial outing.
15:00 Japan
Aidan O’Brien’s favourite will from the cornerstone of many multiples and accumulators throughout the week and although he is returning over a trip just short of his best, he should still be able to get the job done.
He is joint top-rated in the field off a mark off 122. William Haggas’ Addeybb looks the danger but his best form is on softer ground. Provided it doesn’t come up an absolute slog in the mud, Japan should have too much firepower for these.
15:35 Willie John
Roger Varian’s runner has always been a bit of a talking horse in Newmarket and has got some very solid form in the book already albeit over a slightly further trip.
This could prove an ideal test though and with a strong pace almost guaranteed over this stiff mile it can bring his stamina into play. There are other lightly-raced runners in the line-up and he appears to have flown slightly under the radar from the odds compilers. Paddy’s paying 5 places too if they all run, which is a bonus.
16:10 Victory Heights
How these horses behave in the preliminaries on just their second start, will play a massive part in deciding which two-year-old comes out on top in this contest. Victory Heights from the James Tate stable looked a little green in the early stages of his Newcastle debut and the time wasn’t earth-shattering either. However, the way he hit the line suggested he was just getting the message late on and reports suggest he had been working with an older, experienced, sprinter prior to his debut.
He warrants an each way play at the prices.
16:40 Almania
David Simcock’s runner was thought good enough to run in the Dante Stakes at York when trained by Sir Michael Stoute, but he never really got the rub of the green on more than one occasion last season.
He’s been gifted an easy stall position towards the wide outside at this tricky starting point in this 1m 6f handicap, so I’m expecting him to be dropped in and played late,
He has plenty of potential and I can see him making up into a Group performer later in the season.
*Prices on our snazzy new bet widget is bang up to date.
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