RACE SUMMARY
 

Puskas opened at 100/30 and drifted to 4/1 before some support back to 7/2. He was an entirely different horse from debut and thoroughly professional and 'listening' for his jockey's instructions. Got to the rail as those inside him started slowly and shared the pace in a line-of-three. Held head slightly cocked left-handed but not a real problem. Looked to quicken inside 2f out and had the rest of the runners immediately under pressure. Stretched out well and kept on strongly uphill to the finish and winning slightly comfortably. Can rate 80+ next time and fulfil the expectations of his initial review but still needs to prove he can be useful+.

Celeritas represents a trainer who gets his 2yos ready early and they peak STO so this was probably his level but still ran well above expectations. His cheap sales price and poor run in the Brocklesby led to a low profile rating but he is clearly better than that. In the Brocklesby he ran in the far side group which may have been a slight disadvantage and faded in the last two furlongs after getting 'in touch' on that side from a slow break. He broke slightly awkwardly here but still best and set the pace with Puskas for 3f before being outpaced by him inside 2f out but keeping on solidly. Looked a similar size to Puskas but narrower and leggier although mature. The trainer has failed to convert promise from his early runners into wins but this one has shown enough ability to win a maiden with a 70+ performance next time. [L Dettori rode again here which may have been significant - could he have ridden Cover Drive if he'd really wanted to?]

Hunter Street was the trainer's second runner of the season and gave a similar performance to Adeje Park yesterday. Broke slightly right-handed but closely tracked the pace makers and travelled ok. He looked the heavily built and strong type that sales review showed. However, sales review had suggested he lacked some athleticism and he was outpaced here as the pace quickened despite travelling well enough. At least part of this seemed to be because he does not really lengthen his stride and continued with his slightly shorter action (compared to Puskas for example). Trainer's first runners in 2005 have shown similar performances to 2004 being competent without threatening to win nor looking above average. This runner's strength and his early start will allow the trainer to develop him through the season so he should rate 75+ at some point but probably not above average. In a race where a number of runners received support he went from 5/1 to 4/1.

Otis B Driftwood had shown more than his trainer's usual debut 2yos at Yarmouth and had received some support there. Drifted from 11/2 to 6/1 as there was support for other runners but still received some support himself. Broke well and assisted with pacemaking in line-of-three with the first two placers in the race. Outpaced 2f out as the race quickened and dropped back with the inexperienced runners and just plugging on. Only improved slightly from debut and out of his depth with the first three here (for example) on the way he dropped back.

Irish Whispers was the 25/1 outsider. He was drawn next to the rail but dwelt in the stalls losing two lengths and then showed inexperience and a slow pick-up. He was in last and off the back of the group after on furlong. Never got into the race despite his 5th placing and beat three other runners who had been closer to the pace and who faded and were given varying levels 'easy' finishes. Only plugged on but showed enough given the inexperience to suggest he can improve to 70+ and his trainer normally targets a STO with a better type, presumably at a lesser course.

Red Clubs was the second debut of the season for his trainer and ran a more prominent race but a similar level of performance. Neither have really looked ready, competitive early 2yos in the mould of a La Cucaracha for example. This lack of readiness, some inexperience and the jockey not strongly persisting as he faded led to a below profile run. Ran close to the pace but soon outpaced as the race quickened 2f out and seemed to lack some experience. Did not look useful on this effort and more of an average maiden winner with development.

Cover Drive is an interesting story. He opened 5/2 fav and received some support (as did others) to end at 9/4. His trainer was quoted along the lines of "hoping his class will see him through". Now, this trainer is one of the most organised and reliable there is and the sort of highly inexperienced debut we got does not normally happen. Especially not with his earliest debuts that he usually chooses well. Although there were some positives in his pedigree this did not look a 5f (and not April) 2yo and his performance seemed to confirm this.

The important owner has been at the breeze-up sales this week and buying 2yos which will be with this trainer. It's possibly to suggest that the owner asked the trainer to run one at the meeting and Mr Bell did what he was asked to. The trainer has been behind his normal schedule and this was his first 2yo runner.

He broke slightly slowly and lost a length and then showed a slow pick-up with his head held too high (which he did for much of the race). The jockey had to drive him early to get him to go forward. He looked more of a 'reacher' than a fast actioned 5f sprinter. He was within 2 lengths of the pace at halfway but was quickly outpace and under pressure as the pace quickened downhill inside 2 furlongs out. His head came up and he looked slightly unbalanced. The jockey wasn't hard with him once he got settled again on the uphill stretch.

We know his 'class' wont see him through in a good 5f race and he'll need to be a lot more experienced to see through an average one. (What would the likes of Grimes Faith do to him downhill at Lingfield for example?) Using the '+20 rule' for his trainer this runner is a 70 horse but he clearly should be better than that but it's likely to be over a longer distance.

 Twilight Avenger was 16/1 7th favourite. He was drawn on the outside and taken slightly right-handed by Hunter Street at the start. Recovered to sit with the pacemaking group and three lengths off the leaders at halfway. Soon outpaced and faded with a group of other as the race quickened at 2f out. Looked slightly inexperienced and jockey was not hard with him. The trainer has introduced four runners in the maidens at this meeting in the last two seasons and this one showed the least readiness and close to a typical trainer debut. On this type of debut he is and average winner at best in line with his sales review.