While it's not too late for any of these 3yos to take another step forward, the most likely to do so may well be KOKANEE and Caledonian. The extra 3f helps to make the latter, a son of Arc winner Sottsass, a tempting proposition on this seasonal debut but Kokanee ended up quite firmly in charge in his 1m2f handicap at Beverley. Avoiding the widest stall today would probably have been preferred but William Buick's mount has the potential to be markedly better than his revised mark.[Richard Austen]
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Beat his three rivals in novice here (7f, soft) last September on second start; however, he was last of seven in the Group 2 Royal Lodge at Newmarket (1m, soft) three weeks later and tailed-off last in Listed race there (1m1f, good to soft) last month; while this handicap debut should be much more realistic, there are now questions to answer.
Won a maiden at Bath (1m, good) on debut and improved when third of five in a conditions stakes at Epsom (8.5f, heavy) two weeks later; he dropped right out, however, when 40-1 for a 1m2f Group 3 in October; this is his first run since leaving the Crisfords for 80,000gns that month and he was soon gelded; should stay but needs improvement.
1-9 tally and his peak efforts have been on AW over 1m; there's plenty of hope for this trip in his pedigree but he raced freely and underperformed when trying it in small field at Newmarket last month.
Three AW runs in the winter, making all in Wolverhampton maiden (9.4f) on third occasion; carries his head rather high but second of six on turf/handicap debut at Doncaster (1m2f, good) six weeks ago was improved form and he should not be far away.
Runner-up in a Yarmouth maiden (7f, good to firm) on second start; flopped next time but bounced back when produced late to win a seven-runner nursery at Southwell (7f, AW) in November; up 4lb but that performance and his sire give plenty of hope for 1m2f.
450,000gns Frankel yearling; seemingly well below market expectations on first two starts, inclined to pull hard and hang right at Newmarket on second occasion; favourite nevertheless for novice at Lingfield (1m, AW) in November and he helped set the pace before keeping on to win by a head; gelded since; pedigree suggests he will stay; could still prove capable of better.
Progressive in three 1m-1m2f AW novices late last year; gelded before reappearing in six-runner handicap at Beverley (1m2f, good) last month, racing freely and still looking inexperienced but ending up a tidy winner; up 4lb but he still has plenty of potential.
1/4 Odds Place 1,2
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
