By race type, this is a restricted contest which often favours horses with experience. Seven two-year-olds take part: five with race experience and two debutantes.
William Jarvis doesn't have the largest string of juveniles but he knows how to trains winner and Still Waiting showed promise on debut when a seventh of ten at Newmarket over six furlongs. This bay gelding, a son of Kheleyf , showed good pace on debut in what a race where the form has been franked. Dropping down to the minimum trip may well blunt that speed but from a low draw, you would imagine Bishop will try to press home that advantage. Jarvis has a good strike with his fancied juvenile and if somehow drifting to an each-way price much have claimed.
Mont Cinq made his debut in the Brocklesby, defying his 40/1 odds by finishing third. This son of Bushranger was fancied to go well in his second start at Recar on heavy going but struggled. It is possible he was flattered on debut. Jason Ward's charge wasn't seen for almost three months when returning to Carlisle over 6f. He was unfancied in the betting a long way behind the respected Phijee. That race was run at a very fast pace and for the leaders, including Mont Cinq, most likely a stride too fast. This drop down in distance may help although difficult to assess. If coming back to that debut form may have some hope.
Robert Cowell has done well with his juveniles this season with a few showing class on debut. Storm Over is owned by Abdullah Al Mansoori who has another reputed smart juveniles in the stable called Wadood, who had little luck in running on his racecourse bow to finished unplaced. This bay colt cost £35,000 when purchased at the breeze-up sales in April. I find Cowell a difficult trainer to assess as his debutantes can be very hit and miss. It is never easy racing over the minimum trip on a turning course and if tardy start or inexperience on the bends makes this hard work. I would have to take a watching brief.
Wagoner is trained by Tony Carroll. This handler from Crophtorne, Worcester, has no more than a handful of juveniles in training but he can spring a surprise or two. Wagoner is a homebred son of Bushranger. It is worth noting that homebred two-year-olds can be slower to come to hand and a little ring rusty [clearly this related to the individual horse and trainer but in general term this is true]. I would have to take a watching brief unless seriously backed.
Cheerful Character is one of two fillies in the lineup and an Irish-bred daughter of Tagula and cost 30,000E at the yearling sales. She wasn't overly fancied on debut at Thirsk and pushed along. Connections will be hoping for better today and from a statistical point of view one to consider. However, this bay filly needs to improve.
Oakley Pride was sent off unfancied on debut over 6f at Yarmouth and needs to find more today.
Miss Salt is best watched.
Conclusion: In many respect not the most exciting of juvenile contests. Still Waiting showed good pace on debut in a fair race for the grade. If drifting to an each-way price worthy of a small bet.