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Only 6 runners for the Nottingham Novice
race and only 3 trainers represented. David Evans again has three runners
having had three of the first four home in yesterday's event. Without Evans
& Channon we would be having very small fields in the few races taking
place. Another race with 'Heavy' in the declaration time going and more
rain expected on the day seems to be putting a range of trainers off running
2yos. This event often has small fields but usually with a wider range
of trainer. Karl Burke, Bill Turner, Kevin Ryan & Mick Easterby amongst
the trainers who have started good early 2yos in this event recently but
absent. Mr Burke because he has lost his licence.
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Evans had won the last two equivalent races
with STO runners who were debut winners. Last year Star Rover came on from
a Kempton win (the same race as this year's runner Takeaway won) to lead
throughout. Before that the early, and racy, She's A Shaw Thing came on
from a Warwick clear win to see off the Brocklesby winner of Bill Turner's.
Round and round we go at this early stage of the season and in an even
tighter, more exclusive, circle.
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As with yesterday's race at Ffos Las we have
a mix of horses with a previous runs coming together on turf having run
on different surfaces to different levels. The race will take place on
the 'Inner Course' at Nottingham which is the old NH course and only used
as a straight course. The stalls will be in the centre of the track so
difficult to know where the runners will go although the Stands' side is
often the better place to be. All that means we have a few caveats about
being sure the runners will perform to their expected levels given the
set-up and testing going. Oh, for a lengthy period of Good-Firm and consistent
results.
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Let us start with David Evans' trio and Style
And Panache looks the pick of them with Jamie Spencer riding (keep
it simple, eh). She finished second on debut at Southwell but seemed to
put up the second best performance of the season so far. The winner was
Arctic Feeling who looked Listed class, at least, in blasting up the Southwell
course in a 2yo record. A stiff tailwind and fast conditions but it looked
a 'real' strong performance and not just wind driven. Style And Panache
had to make an effort early on to close up to Arctic Feeling after a slower
start and then showed unusual ability to keep responding as he made efforts
just before and after halfway. SHe stalled late on but had pushed a good
horse (surely) to a record. Assuming she acts on the going she sets a very
stiff standard and receives 10lbs from Takeaway.
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Evans also runs Bajan Bullet and Little
Libretto with the preference presumably in that order. The first of
those seemed to be the first string ahead of Scarlet Rocks at Lingfield.
Bajan Bullet has a less speedy pedigree and got shuffled back after a furlong
as the field turned downhill having joined the main course off the 5f chute.
9th at halfway and still 6th into the final furlong she stayed on best
of the field to be 3rd and would have caught the fading Scarlet Rocks in
a few strides. That did not look a strong race although she was clearly
better than she showed. The performance of Scarlet Rocks yesterday either
suggests that the Lingfield race was stronger than it looked or she improved
notably. Whatever, Bajan Bullet could be better suited to this slower race
and e keeping on at the finish.
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Little Libretto ran in the Brocklesby and
looked a 'small' one and limited. She was outpaced as the efforts were
made and stuck at it but the wrong side of a big gap from the first 4.
She seems unlikely to be a strong improver although a hard fit Evans runners
in these early races can probably end up looking better than they are.
The Preview covering FTO RAGs questioned why the first 7 runners for Evans
seemed a weaker bunch than usual. With Scarlet Rocks running well and Bathwick
Bear beating her and he might have been a Brocklesby runners a good run
from Bajan Bullet behind a strong run from Style And Panache would suggest
he perhaps started a lot of his competitive ones typically early.
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Takeaway is an unusual runner in a
Novice for Hannon. Looking back at his recent early debut winners over
the last few years their next run has always been at Conditions level and
usually after a longer break. The Conditions races at Newmarket's Craven
Meeting or Ascot's late April meet are the usual targets for the males.
The fillies will go to Salisbury in early May of perhaps stand in for the
colts. So, why is Takeaway here at all? Perhaps he is not the full Listed+
class a debut winner for the trainer suggests. His background is a bit
cheap for that and he won in a slow time. His runner-up ran poorly yesterday
but too-bad-to-be-true. Anyway, he transfers to soft turf and has to give
weight away. The Hannon's either have something better lined up to go to
the Conditions events or this one is so well they are putting in an extra
run. See what the Paddock review brings but suspect he might be a lesser
'FTO' winner.
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Channon runs two and Wotsthehurry was
ahead of Bajan Bullet at Lingfield for most of the race. A small one who
looked mentally 'young' and wore a blanket for stalls entry. Got to the
lead and faded late having taken on Scarlet Rocks and the winner for part
of the straight. Another switching to turf but looked underpowered and
not an improver to a high level. His second runner is probably a better
type for the long run. But, as we know, debut winners are pretty race and
this is a stronger race than his normal, accidental, early season debut
win. A debut win in this would need to be an OR90+ type you suspect.
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Galtymore Lad
is an interesting prospect though if not obviously that sort of level.
He represents new sire Indesatchel and was one of his more expensive yearlings
at £28,000. He is the first foal of a dam who rated over OR80 as
a 5f winning 2yo for Alan Jarvis (who does not have a strong record with
juveniles). Mr Channon usually runs around 7-8 juveniles before the mid-April
meeting at Newbury. The bulk of these will be the home breds from Norman
Court with the odd OR70s type mixed in. He ran Royal Desert in this race
last year for important owner Jaber Abdullah following a string of weak
ones. That one managed a win in May at Bath and then got tried in high
class races (that the owner likes). He is currently rated OR85 which seems
high.
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Which means that we should trust Channon to
have picked something capable of performing to at least OR75 to run here.
His other rep Wotsthehurry is this year's 'Leleyf' and probably not as
good as she was for comparison. Unless that Lingfield race for fillies
was much better than it seemed.
In summary, Style And Panache looked the
right type for this assignment on debut and running into Arctic Feeling
means she is not even penalised for a win. The heavy going and slight worry
over where the field will run means a small doubt but she should be good
enough. Takeaway seems an odd runner for Hannon and perhaps indicates not
a top notcher he often gets an early win with. Bajan Bullet perhaps the
most interesting 'Lurker'. Galtymore Lad probably a solid type but would
need the race to break up to some extent and be higher class one to compete
to win.
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