Newmarket Guineas Meeting - Newmarket Stakes 2011

4.55 Newmarket

Makfi Newmarket Stakes (Listed) (Class 1)  (3YO only)

Winner £22,708

Pick: Ocean War (win)

Cai Shen: 2 from three as a juvenile when taking a maiden and novice stake with plenty in hand on both occasions, and same story when enterprisingly ridden to land Newbury Conditions Stakes on reappearance.

Canna: Made a decent debut and built on that when second at Doncaster on seasonal reappearance, but proved that he wasn’t up to Group class when last but one in Classic trial and this probably no easier.

Discoteca: Behind two decent horses in Masked Marvel and Chain Lightening (form of his second race has worked out very well indeed); Did win on reappearance but that form already being let down and this much more difficult.

Hamlool: Looked like a sure-fire winner waiting to happen on only juvenile start and made Dubawi Gold pull all the stops out on latest start, looking as if he’d have won over today’s trip; Will take the beating.

Nambian: Shaped as if this trip would suit when third in a 1m Nursery at Doncaster (good) and confirmed that impression when fourth despite not getting a run in sales race last time; Form been boosted since so given major chance.

Ocean War: Shaped well when fifth in Sandown maiden on debut last July; Impressed when turning that promise into smooth success on seasonal reappearance at Craven Meeting; More to come and can go close.

Treasury Devil:  very impressive in 2 smooth wins as a two year old and forgiven his poor run in Prix Jean Luc on Arc Day (hampered); Slightly disappointing on reappearance in Esher Cup, even though he’s likely to enjoy step up in trip and should come on for the run; Has a chance today but race has come awfully soon.

VERDICT: Despite the contrasting conditions it’s very hard to forgive Treasury Devil a rather limp Esher Cup effort, and this race comes awfully soon after that. Hamlool & Nambian have the highest rated form claims but OCEAN WAR may prove better than all of them today and is taken to build on a highly promising win at the Craven meeting.