Third Race 6.30pm

THE BECOME A 2023 CCR MEMBER RESTRICTED NOVICE STAKES (CLASS 4) (for horses in Bands B, C and D) (GBB RACE)

for novice three, four and five yrs old x Total prize fund £11499 Owners Prize Money. 1st £4907, 2nd £2453, 3rd £1227, 4th £613. (Penalty Value £6209.46)

colours no horse age st- lb Draw

BETS AVAILABLE ON THIS RACE

CITY SELECTIONS Last seen finishing down the field in a valuable two-year-old contest at the Ebor Festival, this represents a step drop in grade for Kempton winner MATCHING SOX, who can take advantage for his in-form stable. Bluff ran a promising race on his debut here in November and the form of that contest has worked out a treat since, whereas Erosion Risk is reliable but remains a maiden through seven starts.

MATCHING SOX

Bluff Leading course trainer (17-22): A Balding (29 wins from 226 runners, 13%) runs MATCHING SOX Trainer-in-form (last 14 days): A Balding (7 wins from 16 runners, 44%) runs MATCHING SOX Longest Traveller: EROSION RISK trained by D Evans, Abergavenny, 214 miles.

Br Breeding O Owner B Breeder J Jockey T Trainer S Sponsor

1 MATCHING SOX (IRE) (147) 10- D

Br B g Camacho - Follow My Lead O The Pink Hat Racing Partnership B Kevin & Meta Cullen 3 9-8 (3)

William Carver (3) J Andrew Balding, Kingsclere T Tote S TIMEFORM VIEW Promising individual. Winner at Kempton on debut in August. Eleventh of 19 in novice event (12/1) at York (6f, good), unable to sustain effort. Off 147 days (gelded) but in top hands and he’s open to progress. TFRHHHHI BHA81 2 EROSION RISK (IRE) (8) 32602-3 3 9-1 (4)

Br B g Dandy Man (IRE) - Kadesh (IRE) O Rocbrook Racing Club

Aidan Keeley (5) J David Evans, Abergavenny T B Mrs A. Hughes Emma Evans Racing Ltd S TIMEFORM VIEW Fair gelding. Respectable third of 9 in handicap at Kempton (6f, 15/2) 8 days ago. Should give it another good go in a race like this. TFRHHHHI BHA74 (-1)

3 BLUFF (GB) (70) (2lb) 3Br B c The Gurkha (IRE) - Blodwyn O Bottisham Heath Stud 3 8-13 (1)

William Carson J Robert Cowell, Newmarket T B Nick Wood Al Basti Equiworld S TIMEFORMVIEW16/1,thirdof11innoviceeventatthiscourse(6f)ondebut70daysago,notknockedabout.Thatrace worked out well and he’s open to plenty of improvement. TFRHHHHH BHA-

4 CUBAN GREY (GB) (103) (2lb) 5040Br Gr c Havana Grey - Tout Va Bien (IRE) O Mr R. Moore 3 8-13 (2)

Stefano Cherchi J Robert Cowell, Newmarket T B Plantation Stud World Cargo Solutions Limited S TIMEFORM VIEW Lightly-raced maiden. 200/1, twenty fifth of 27 in novice event at Newmarket (6f, good), badly hampered. Off 103 days. TFRHHHII BHA70 5 REMUNERATOR (IRE) (24) (4lb) 000-

Br B f Profitable (IRE) - Roxelana (IRE) O Nick Bradley Racing 44 B Con Harrington 3 8-6 (5)

Adam Farragher (3) J George Boughey, Newmarket T Tattersalls S TIMEFORM VIEW Thrice-raced maiden. 100/1, last of 9 in maiden at this course (7f) 24 days ago. Back down in trip. TFRHHIII BHA-

DECLARED RUNNERS 5 2022: SHANKO 3 9 6 Richard Kingscote 8-13 (Stuart Williams) 6 ran Tongue Strap worn by No. 4. Running for the first time since Gelding No. 1. Stewards Note: CUBAN GREY: Following its run on 1/10/2022 it was reported that the horse was hampered two furlongs out.

Probable S.P’s: 7-4 Matching Sox (IRE), 11-4 Erosion Risk (IRE), 3-1 Bluff (GB), 15-2 Cuban Grey (GB), 33-1 Remunerator (IRE)

BLUFF split a pair of next-time-out winners when a promising third starting out over 6f here in November, and in the expectation he has enough speed for 5f, he looks an appealing proposition. Matching Sox and Erosion Risk have achieved the most to date and head the opposition.

1st

2nd 3rd

4th

Position of Stalls

6f - Centre Remainder - Inside