FROM THE OFF

Former jockey Liam Hall analyses a handful of maidens set to take place this weekend and picks out a few runners who can claim their first career success.

16:45 ASCOT - SATURDAY

Belle Le Grand was a winner of a bumper last time out when trained in Ireland and has since switched to the Dan Skelton yard. She's had four races already in her career so experience is very much on her side. Jackie Hobbs is two from two after winning an Irish point and a bumper. The bumper performance was efficient but the form of her point success has worked out smart already, the runner up has since won a listed novice hurdle, she should be the likely favourite and will probably be too good for the rest. Izakaya could be a nice each way price, her dam is a half sister to a German derby winner/arc second. Any rain arriving on the day will increase her chances.  

JACKIE HOBBS (WIN) 

IZAKAYA (E/W) 

16:50 GOWRAN PARK - SATURDAY

Doing It In Style makes her debut, this daughter of Walk In The Park is out of a bumper winner who was also related to a bumper winner. Plenty to like about her pedigree. Introversio was sent off odds on for debut before finishing fourth of sixth. It was reported to the vet she was lame behind and she was found to have pulled a muscle, likely to be in the mix this time. Tenacious Spirit could be a mare who goes well under the radar, likely to be a near triple digit price for this bumper, she showed a vast amount of greeness on debut before making relentless progress, she'd have to improve on that run but she could be a suprise package for this contest.  

DOING IT IN STYLE (WIN) 

TENACIOUS SPIRIT (E/W)

written by Liam Hall