A Maiden Stakes over 1m 1f 103y on Standard going.
Six runners. Five with race experience and one debutante. Decent prize money for a race of this nature.
Roy Brotherton fields Millady Percy who is aged four and consequently struggles with an age penalty. This daughter of Sir Percy was purchased at two by the trainer for £2,000. Four races have shown limited ability with odds never less than 100-1. Very unlikely with an official rating of just 37.
Another horse who would seem to hold little hope is *Mount Cleshar. This bay colt is a son of Mount Nelson who needs to find improvement.
The third of the smaller trainers represented here is Kevin Frost's Born To Reason. This Irish-bred son of Born To Sea was bought by the vendor at two for £38,000. He made his debut in January when finishing a creditable fourth of ten. Interesting to note this horse made his debut for trainer Jamie Osborne. It was a fair debut after a slow start, although still a few lengths behind Pete So High. Not sure what to think about the change of stables.
The only debutante is Waterville Dancer. I've stated before that I find Richard Hughes a difficult trainer to assess with horses making their racecourse bow. Bred by the Niarchos Family in the ownership of Martin Clarke. This son of Nathaniel was purchased by the trainer at the yearling sales for 50,000E. Best watched unless strongly backed.
The betting suggests this is out of two horses.
Brush House wasn't fancied on debut for leading trainer Hugo Palmer. This bay gelding is a son of Canford Cliffs and £150,000 yearling purchase. The blinkers first time may have knocked a few people off the scent although he went very close losing by a short head at odds of 12-1. Brush House was a few lengths ahead of Born To Reason. Should improve on that debut effort.
War At Sea is a grey son of Mastercraftsman, an Irish-bred who cost 105,000G at the yearling sales racing in the silks of Qatar Racing Ltd. He wasn't fancied on debut at 20-1 over today's course and distance. On that occasion, he was beaten comprehensively by Pete So High. However, this April foal was in need of the run so it is better to register the second start as a measure of ability. He was well backed to 11-4, beaten by the even money favourite. Oisin Murphy took the ride that day, going clear but reeled in and no extra the last 100 yards.
Conclusion: Looks a battle between the two favourites. Both horses were sent off unfancied on debut. Difficult to split the two. At the prices, I would take a watching brief. Waterville Dancer may have some hope being given a Derby entry. However, unless seriously backed I'd take a watching brief.
*NR - Mount Cleshar