Fireblade got off the mark at the first attempt for his new connections and did so in pretty taking style over 1m4f on good to firm in that Leicester race. He is not passed over at all lightly but TURQUINO is seriously unexposed after winning two novice events on the AW in March, his only two races. This contest is a very different proposition for him but his latest form looks solid. Ocean Of Dreams and Houstonn are third and fourth on the list.[Richard Austen]
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Nine races, the clear best efforts being his four runs on good to firm and that includes his close third of nine over C&D last August; readily excused his last two starts last season, in the mud; one to consider seriously.
Ex-Karl Burke; first Flat run for new yard was a good second at Southwell (1m4f, AW) in February and he didn't have the run of the race at Kempton 11 days later when cheekpieces were added; they are absent today and he's been gelded; won on good to firm as 2yo but needs a career best today.
Three races for Aidan O'Brien, showing best form on debut (1m, heavy; scored impressively); sold for 32,000gns in October and gelded; hung right throughout on first run for new yard but staying-on third of nine at Pontefract (1m2f, good) in second-time cheekpieces was a step back in the right direction; needs to build on that but 1m4f now looks worth a go.
9l winner of a Windsor maiden (1m2f, good to firm) last July; has run in three handicaps since, best effort on first occasion; had some serious traffic issues on reappearance (1m3f, AW) in March but did not see out his 1m2f Pontefract race last time as well as Ocean Of Dreams; that prompts doubts.
11-10 for belated debut when ready winner of a 1m3f novice at Southwell (AW) in March, forging clear late on having run green; 4-9 for novice at Newcastle (1m4f, AW) three weeks later, hanging left and having to battle for a half-length win but the first two were 10l clear and the form has been boosted; closely related to a Yorkshire Oaks winner and brings clear potential to this handicap and turf debut.
Slow starts have become a habit and he can look reluctant to race; he still won twice last season (1m4f in June and 1m6f in October) and took a few minor honours on the way; his mood may always be a question and recent reappearance was a heavy defeat, so he's probably not the percentage call.
0-6 for the Gosdens (exclusively in novice events) prior to being sold in January for 38,000gns; scored at the first attempt, however, for new yard when the blinkers were removed for ten-runner handicap at Leicester (1m4f, good to firm) five weeks ago and he battled his way to the front in the final 1f; up 5lb but the form has been boosted and he may well have more to offer.
Third wind operation before his creditable fourth of ten to Fireblade at Leicester (1m4f, good to firm) five weeks ago; there's a swing in the weights (his own mark stays the same) and he has each-way claims.
Strong late bid to justify odds of 4-9 in a maiden at Haydock (11.5f, good to firm) last June; that was in between two good efforts, albeit wandering when third of six on handicap debut at Sandown (1m6f, good) in July latest; gelded this March; after just four races, may have more to offer.
Sole run on good to firm when runner-up in 2022 in France; registered a hat-trick last spring, the final leg of which was in this race (good) on his only visit to Ascot; 2lb lower today, as his fortunes went on the slide in the autumn and he was well beaten at Epsom on recent return; mixed messages.
Won three in a row over about 1m4f last summer, the final leg on good to firm; 1m2f was not an obvious plus on his return at Haydock two weeks ago but he was a respectable fourth of seven and should build on that.
