Brentford looks a leading Hope for Hughes

There were plenty of well-bred juveniles on show at Newmarket on Wednesday – at a meeting dubbed ‘two-year-old day’ – but the horse who stole the show was the Richard Hughes-trained Brentford Hope, who produced a performance of rare merit in achieving a Timeform rating of 100p on debut.

Brentford Hope was the one newcomer in the line-up of the mile and a quarter maiden and he proved in a different league to the pick of those with experience, scoring stylishly under a typically confident ride from Jamie Spencer. His rating of 100p is backed up by a useful timefigure of 95, which adds substance to the striking visual impression.

Full replay and reaction: A future star? Watch what @RHughesracing and @JPSPENCER1980 had to say about Brentford Hope's impressive debut victory today in our report 👀 @nickluck >>>https://t.co/6qOoab80L4 pic.twitter.com/IELWAlEe69

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 23, 2019

Only seven other juveniles in Britain or Ireland this season have achieved a rating of 100+ on debut, putting Brentford Hope – who is a top price of 40/1 for the Investec Derby - in a select bracket of horses.

Brentford Hope is bred for more stamina than speed, but he showed both in equal measure at Newmarket, tanking along from the outset before leading on the bridle two furlongs from home. When Spencer eventually let him go in the final furlong he quickly put five lengths between him and the opposition.

Trainer Richard Hughes was also impressed and, speaking on Racing TV, he said: “I like to think he’s a pretty smart horse. Over the last month, the improvement he’s shown and the pace he’s shown [bodes well].

“I’ve been thinking that if he’s going to stay and he’s got this much pace, he must be a good one.”

The Ralph Beckett-trained Kinross, whose rating of 106P is the highest awarded to a two-year-old on debut this season, will take his next step on the classic trail in the Horris Hill at Newbury on Saturday. He looked something out of the ordinary when winning by eight lengths on debut at Newmarket earlier this month.

How impressed were you by the debut of Kingman colt Kinross at @NewmarketRace yesterday? pic.twitter.com/IgUexWXf5v

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 6, 2019

Of the others who ran to 100+ on debut, Pierre Lapin has been the most successful subsequently. He took a big step forward to win the Mill Reef on his next outing and is an exciting prospect who should do well as a three-year-old. Visinari and Guildsman both ran well on their second start, finishing third in the July Stakes and Coventry Stakes, respectively, but haven’t built on that promise since. Etoile made no impression when contesting the Cheveley Park on her next outing after a four-month absence, Chasing Dreams justified a short price to score at Wolverhampton on her return from six months off and Bomb Proof has been off the track since his impressive debut.