National Stakes 2012

6.45 Sandown

Betfair Funds The PJA Doctor National Stakes (Listed) (Class 1)  (2YO only)

Winner £13,043

Advice: 1 pt win Storm Moon (2/1 Paddy Power, Stan James)

Mossgo: Travelled strongly when off mark at first time of asking in 5f Yarmouth maiden, but couldn’t be restrained when failing to cope with stronger company at Kempton next time and this yet harder still.

Mosstang: Coughed and lost his action when well behind Lyric Ace on second start and put that right with AW maiden win, confirming promise that she showed when behind Baileys Jubilee at Kempton; Does seem held on that form though.

Ocean Applause: Seemed as if he’d take more than one run to get to peak when always behind on recent Newmarket debut, so left behind here.

Pixilated: Travelled well on debut at Catterick, travelling notabaly smoothly for the only newcomer at 11/2 in 5f Auction maiden; Should come on for that but that form hasn’t really worked out with winner being well beaten in Listed company and other days might make more appeal for him.

Sir Prancealot: Well backed for debut at Bath for yard that excels with all kinds of two year olds and also in this race, with 4 winners in the last decade of this event; Cosy winner at Bath and respected on that basis although that form also looks very weak now.

Storm Moon: Won both starts in taking style, with 4 winners behind him in Musselbrugh maiden before then romping home with Southwell AW maiden; Form of latter event weak but clearly a smart type and deserves a lot of respect.

Top Boy: Fourth to Irish Listed winner Cay Verde at Ascot last time, her best ever effort after better efforts each time; Form of first two not really working out as one would like and needs more again here.

Baileys Jubilee: First hotshot two year old of the season, with impressive Kempton win working out well before romping away with small field Newmarket condtions stakes; Flopped in Listed company last time and harder to fancy off the back of that here despite obvious capacity to bounce back.

Effie B: Much better than debut when slamming  stablemate Golac 7 lengths in 5f maiden at Nottingham and then followed up with poor effort, only to improve again when third at York latest; More than that needed but must be respected.

VERDICT: Sir Prancelot is a worthy favourite on the style of his first win at Bath and his stable has a good record in this, but STORM MOON makes more appeal. He had several winners behind him on his first start and while his Southwell win amounts to nothing, it was still taking and one has to think he’ll take all the beating today.  Bailey’s Jubilee is good enough to win a few renewals of this but it’s hard to fancy her after being so readily beaten at York and while she can be forgiven that run, this is a strong task once again.