RACE SUMMARY
 

Zato opened at 6/4f but drifted to 15/8 as a number of others were backed but then tightened again to 13/8f. Ran the expected race both in terms of rating and in style. Got outpaced on a flat track FTO and then showed a good finish and would not have won this race if it had been 5f rather than 5.3f.

On firm going and with a strong, contested pace, he was driven early and probably 4 lengths off the pacemakers on the downhill stretch. Kept on well as they stalled and faded and won comfortably and promising better over 6f+.

Stratham had been disappointing on his debut when he received each-way support from 16/1 to 12/1 and was the first runner for his trainer in his new job. Again received support here from 16/1 to 10/1 in a market where several were supported. Broke well and a close third after one furlong before dropping back to 2 lengths off the contested pace at halfway. Made an effort to move through to lead briefly as the leaders faded but was relatively easily picked up by Zato. A much improved run and more in line with the expectations on debut (note for trainer's methods) and with his sales review. Can develop a little further to be the 70+ sprint winner as expected.

John Claude has looked an obvious example of his trainer's "STO Brighton & average-type-breaks-his-maiden" strategy from before his first run (lack of support on debut and lack of fitness). In a normal Brighton maiden he would probably have won but this race was stronger. He added his own problems to perform slightly below expectations.

He looked fitter, although still with some scope to tighten left, but was slightly wound up, sweating on his neck and mulish when being loaded into the stalls.

He ran freely in the race and got into a contested pacemaking duel with Hits Only Jude. He kept on best of this pair but was headed around 1 furlong from home and slightly faded from there. A solid run and in line with the expectations that he's around a 70 rating type. Probably see him run again relatively quickly in a targeted lower quality maiden.

Caan had set an uncontested pace on debut in a slowish race but had still finished last even with that advantage. He drifted from 6/1 to 7/1 but not unsupported in a market where several were backed. Ran a different race here and was not able to keep with the pacemakers and driven from halfway. He kept on through faders on the uphill stretch but performed below expectations. Looks a limited type.

Hits Only Jude is an interesting story. His trainer has a 'shrewd' reputation and got three debut winners in 2003 with his 2yos. This got him a reputation as a FTO 'wind them up' trainer which he never was. He uses debut runs as developments in general and only his best 2yos win on debut. In 2004 he had a targeted debut winner in a moderate Catterick race which was strongly backed but the other debuts were different. In 2005 he had two previous debuts, one moderate and one debut winner with a 'natural' at 12/1 who was the only runner in his race to handle the soft ground.

With this background it was interesting to see this one open at 9/2 and be backed to 3/1 before drifting back out to 9/2 as others were also supported. Was this a debut win attempt by the trainer with a known 'useful' type? If it was then he picked the wrong Brighton maiden because this was tougher than usual.

With blinkers for debut he broke well and and contested the lead at a strong pace which had others under pressure. He started to stall as soon as they reached the uphill stretch and faded in the last furlong performing to expectations. A perfectly good debut and promising 70+ form with development.

Danny The Dip runs for a trainer who has his runners close to their best on debut and they often do not progress. In that context he ran a race of no promise at 66/1 and never getting into the race after a slightly slow break.

Starboard Light was reported to have stumbled leaving the stalls.

Left Nostril was reported to have hung left and was eased.