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Newmarket Tuesday April 18 2yo Novice Stakes race review

Newmarket 1420 EBF Novice Stakes
5f, Class 4, 59.89s (slow by 2.29s)
Good to Firm

Sound and Silence - Mar 29 foal. Brother to handy 2yo who won first two starts and peaked at OR100. Dam unraced half-sister to very useful G1 winner Ibn Khaldun. Bounced out of the gates, straight to the lead. Happy to let others take over 3f out so long as he had clear space ahead of him. Cruising while others were being pushed along at the 2f, urged when challenged at the furlong and found enough to win without being pushed too hard. Nice win.

Never Back Down - Feb 2, £100k yearling by precocious sire. Sat back, pushed along at halfway, came down middle of track and threatened to take control at 1f before the winner reacted.

Areen Faisal - Mar 29, €80k yearling, half-brother to six winners. Green early, dropped out to equal last after a furlong, ran home very nicely after penny dropped. Eye catching.

The Love Doctor - had th experience of running second in the better Brocklesby division but trainer David Evans still in a slump. Jumped well, sat just off the pace in the middle of the track, no cover. Taken on left and right when jockey went for it, just inside 2f, unable to keep up and lost third in closing strides.

Unfortunately - Mar 16, £24k yearling. Half-brother to Temple Stks winner Look Busy. Slightly erratic to begin, sat mid-pack as the field settled. Didn't have the turn of foot of the leaders, but held position well in closing stages.

Shobrom - Mar 10, £70k yearling. Well related, strong stable but second string today. Handy then moved up to lead at halfway. Challenged at the 2f, outpaced, start to drop out then held his ground.

Devils Cowboy - Apr 5, 60k gns yearling (40k gns foal). Up on the pace until halfway, gradually faded.

Contribute - Feb 26, 32k gns yearling. Dam unraced but well related. A little slow to begin, settled back and that's as close as he got.

Frozen Angel - Jan 27, £165k yearling. Slow to begin then a bit green as the field contracted around her.

KEY POINTS
Front two cleared out and looked smart on debut, as did Areen Faisal in third who took a while to get going. Longest-priced horse in the field was only 18/1 and ran last. Smart bunch, expect most of these to record a win this season.

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