Race of the Day Preview / Timeform / 08 January 2009 / Leave a comment

Get the Timeform lowdown on all five runners in this 1m2f maiden.

Five three-year-olds have been declared for this handicap over ten furlongs restricted to those officially rated 85 or less.

Such races at this time of year will often have unexposed contenders trying the trip for the first time, and in this contest Mark Johnston's Neuchatel fits the bill for such an entrant. The son of Rahy has made just three starts in his career so far, winning a maiden at Nottingham in October over a mile. Neuchatel confirmed that fairly useful form when finishing fourth in a nursery at Lingfield the following month over the same trip from an official mark of 80, where he also shaped better than the bare result having been found wanting for speed after hitting the front a furlong from home.

His pedigree is full of middle-distance performers, with dam Nalani having won at up to 13 furlongs in France as well as being related to smart middle-distance winners Altamura and Affidavit. With such a pedigree, to go along with how he has shaped so far, it would be reasonable to expect some improvement from Neuchatel upped in trip here, whilst the fact that he is already close to top-rated on the adjusted Timeform figures means that he is sure to put up a bold bid here.

Top on the figures is the ex-Henry Cecil colt Doncosaque who, having been claimed from Cecil's yard following a win in a claimer, has since chalked up two more victories (the first for Jeremy Gask). The latest of those wins came in a nursery at Wolverhampton on Doncosaque's most recent start, where he showed improved form in beating Double Act by two-and-a-half lengths, readily drawing clear inside the final furlong having travelled strongly throughout.

Unlike Neuchatel, Doncosaque has already attempted this trip, though it would appear he was undone by the testing ground at Pontefract that day (he has since faltered again on soft ground). However, it is most likely that Doncosaque will stay this trip and few should be put off based on the aforementioned Pontefract run.

State General is proven over ten furlongs, however the main concern surrounding Julie Fielden's charge is that when tackling this trip for the first time at Great Leighs he shaped as though even further would suit. Although he may have to wait until opportunities over further arise for him to fulfill his full potential, State General doesn't have a great deal to find at these weights according to the Timeform ratings and is entitled to take a hand in the finish.

Like State General, Barwell Bridge remains a maiden, though is capable of fairly useful form. He confirmed as much when third in the same nursery that Doncosaque won, beaten only a nose by Double Act for second. On 6-lb better terms here, connections of Barwell Bridge may fancy their chances of reversing form with Doncosaque, though on our figures he still has a handful of pounds to make up.

Innactualfact is running from 7 lb out of the weights and although possessing solid form at ten furlongs faces a stiff task here for trainer Luke Dace.