14:30 Ascot
Good To FirmNorfolk Stakes (Group 2)
- First Prize: £99242.5
- 0m 5f 0y
- Class 1
- 21 runners
ITV
Runners: 21 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
Form: 61 D
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Big chunk of improvement on his second start when winning comfortably at Wolverhampton (5f, AW) last month; Oisin Murphy retains the ride and this return to turf is unlikely to pose a problem; draw on the wing is probably unhelpful but he can't be readily dismissed.
Form: 26
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Gave it a good go when just pegged at Wolverhampton (AW) on his debut but weakened to finish sixth at Chester (also 6f, good) 19 days later; drop to 5f might help but he has bundles to find.
Form: 212 D
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Chased home Star Prospect at the Curragh (soft) in April but made odds-on backers sweat when just coming out the right side of a three-horse photo at Naas (also 5f, good) three weeks later; up to 6f when good second to Great Barrier Reef in Curragh Group 3 last time and that form looks all the better after his conqueror won the Coventry on Tuesday; drop back to this stiff 5f is unlikely to be an issue and he commands great respect from a stable that's won this four times, including last year.
Form: 51 D
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Attracted some support at big odds on his May debut and proved those nibbles were on the right lines when bagging a Redcar maiden (5f, good to firm) nine days later; this is a radically different test, though; sold for £100,000 on Monday.
Form: 1 D
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
£180,000 breeze-up purchase who left an odds-on shot trailing when impressively taking five-runner Bath novice (5f, good to firm) on his debut four weeks ago; likely to build on that and he could be anything.
Form: 21 D
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Odds-on both starts; only just denied by Wednesday's Windsor Castle fourth on debut at the Curragh (heavy) in March and made no mistake when scooting in at Naas (also 5f, good) six weeks later; subsequently left Robson Aguiar (still in same ownership); first-time blinkers sound a note of caution on this first start since; otherwise respected.
Form: 4176 D
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Beat 11 others to pick up Leicester maiden (good to firm) in April on second start; only sixth of eight in a Listed event at Sandown (again 5f, good) last time but that doesn't tell the whole story, given he bungled the start before coming home well; runner-up that day filled the same position in Tuesday's Coventry; might be the sort to go well at wild odds; visor added.
Form: 3
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Stable has fond memories of this race, having won it in 2021 and 2022, and this colt recorded an encouraging first go when third at York (6f, good) four weeks ago; that bare form leaves him with work to do but this drop to 5f is unlikely to pose a problem.
Form: 134 D
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
All starts at 5f; odds-on when winning on his debut at Dundalk (AW) in April but he let favourite backers down in a big way on his turf debut the following month and again could beat only one home at Naas (also good) a fortnight later; hood goes on.
Form: 1 D
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Warm in the market before he won going away at Salisbury (5f, good) on his debut last month; mixed messages on that form but his respected yard won this race in 2012 and he's open to improvement.
Form: 51
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Set the standard and didn't need to improve a great deal from his debut when taking 15-runner York novice (6f, good) last month; not far off the top of the list on RPRs and holds a Group 1 entry, so can't be passed over lightly in the hands of a trainer who won this in 2014.
Form: 2
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Finished runner-up to a 400,000gns breeze-up purchase at Leicester (6f, good to firm) 25 days ago; goes up in grade and down in trip for this second start and will need to step forward.
Form: 1 D
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
£145,000 breeze-up purchase who defied some market weakness to go in first time at Ripon (5f, good); third has won since and William Buick takes over; yard won this in 2019 and he's one of a few interesting outsiders.
Form: 31 D
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Built on encouraging debut when off the mark at Bath (5f, firm) last month; that bare form will need improving on.
OUR TIP
Form: 13 DBF
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Produced a good burst to beat Carry The Flag and win going away at the Curragh (soft) on April introduction but could manage only an odds-on third at Naas (also 5f, good; raced freely) one month later; that race was a bit of a mess and there's a strong suspicion this one will set up better; holds notable future entries and he's interesting from a yard that is having a fairytale week.
Form: 1
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Made most when scoring at Navan (6f, good to yielding) on his April debut; second and third have won since, as has the fourth, who went in at 33-1 in the Windsor Castle on Wednesday; sire Blue Point couldn't get enough of this place and there's plenty to like about this son.
Form: 1 D
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Hails from a yard in ripping form and he played his part when making a winning debut, despite having to run with one of his shoes missing, at Sandown (5f, good) just eight days ago; coincidentally his sire Perfect Power won this race in 2021 having also scored eight days beforehand; a likely outsider who needs considering.
Form: 11 D
OR: —
W: 9st 3lb
Age: 2 yo Colt
Favourite when making all at Thirsk on debut in April and stuck to his guns when winning Sandown's Listed National Stakes (also 5f, good; Mr Macartney an eye-catching sixth) three weeks ago; Sandown second ran a screamer in the Coventry on Tuesday; considered for a yard that's won this race before.
Form: 1 D
OR: —
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Big filly who clocked a good speed figure when making all on Woodbine's Tapeta (5f) on her introduction in Canada last month; impressed quite a few observers that day and, alongside stablemate Through The Years, she's a fascinating contender.
Form: 1
OR: —
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Hit the line strongly to make a winning debut over 4.5f on dirt at Churchill Downs in USA in April; trainer reportedly confident the filly will adapt to turf but jockey bookings might suggest she's third best of the yard's three-pronged attack.
Form: 21
OR: —
W: 9st 0lb
Age: 2 yo Filly
Probably should have won on her debut at Keeneland in April and was long odds-on when making no mistake, breaking the track record in the process, at Aqueduct (also 5.5f, firm) last month; looks a typical speedball for a US yard that's won the Norfolk twice, including with this one's sire in 2013; one of three intriguing Wesley Ward fillies.
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Betting Forecast
25/1 Agamemnon, 150/1 Blakes Monarch, 9/4 Carry The Flag, 100/1 El Floridita, 6/1 Flight Signal, 12/1 Force Noir, 100/1 Mr Macartney, 40/1 Mussab, 28/1 New Yorker, 9/2 Orthodox, 33/1 Persian Spring, 50/1 Savage Mariner, 33/1 Social Symbol, 50/1 Sovereign Glory, 20/1 Star Prospect, 10/1 Tribeca, 33/1 Underdog, 12/1 Where Love Lives, 9/1 Ez Tina, 33/1 Fanshell Beach, 28/1 Through The Years
Verdict
Wesley Ward runs three fillies, headed by Ez Tina and Through The Years, who provide a fascinating extra dimension to this year’s Norfolk and it would be no surprise if they made an impact. Carry The Flag (second choice) almost certainly will but it’s well worth giving another chance to his Curragh conqueror STAR PROSPECT, who was undone by a messy race last time but promises to be suited by this test. Flight Signal, Tribeca and Where Love Lives are firmly in the picture, while Social Symbol, Underdog and Mr Macartney are likely outsiders who need a second look.[Richard Russell]
Selections
POSTDATA:
Carry The Flag