Thursday 28 July 2016

2:55 Nottingham 2YO Racing Tips (28th July) BREEDERS BACKING RACING EBF MAIDEN STAKES (CLASS 5) (2yo)


An EBF Maiden Stakes over 6f 15y on good to firm going. Just seven juveniles: five colts and to fillies. Just two horses with race experience. The betting suggests this is out of two debutantes from leading stables. 

Eaton Square is a bay colt and son of Invincible Spirit out of a talented mare, Loch Jipp, which many readers will remember was trained by John Wainwright. She won on debut at Pontefract at odds of 50/1, Listed winning, in the days when the Hilary Needler Trophy held such status and hit the frame in the Cherry Hinton Stakes (Group 2).    

That introduction about the mare may have rambled on a touch but Loch Jipp was a great filly and it is always worthy to note that even smaller, less fashionable, trainers have their day. 

Eaton Square is no doubt a specimen because he cost £150,00 when sold at the yearling sales and then bought at Tattersall's Craven Breeze-Up Sales for a whopping 360,000G. He is now in the ownership of Smith, Tabor & Magnier. A recent Champagne Stakes (Group 2) helps add to the likelihood this April foal has a level of ability.

Gosden has a decent strike rate with his debutantes. I often find that when his juveniles are priced 5/2 & less SP when making their racecourse bow that they are not only held in some regard but considered a solid bet. That's probably not telling you much you don't know although the only difference is that I have statistical data which helps guide much of my thinking. 

Richard Fahey is a superb trainer of debutantes and I always take note of those owned by Cheveley Park Stud. Vaulted is a bay filly and daughter of Kyllachy out of a talented multiple-winning mare with a top official rating of 98. 

This homebred is fancied to go well in the betting although will have to be a fair type to beat a good, strong colt. 

Interesting to see how James Fanshawe's gelding goes on debut. Enfolding races in the familiar silks of Ben CM Wong. This son of Fastnet Rock cost 110,000G at the yearling sales. This Newmarket trainer isn't renowned for sending out debut winners but he can with his better two-year-olds. The betting is the best guide and if priced 10/1 & SP has claims. In general, I would take a watching brief and look to bet on Fanshaw's juveniles second start. 

Conclusion: A watching race for me. I'm interested to how Eaton Square goes because he is very well trained, owned and bred. A costly juvenile from a memorable mare.