Ostilio to shine brightest at Newcastle

OSTILIO looks one of the more interesting horses in action on a workaday card beneath the Newcastle floodlights.

It might be a little off-putting to see Simon Crisford’s youngster already running in a first-time hood, but he is clearly a colt with plenty of boot.

Ostilio, who is closely related to Group One winner Ajman Princess, will obviously need to find plenty to justify his Derby entry, but there was not much wrong with his debut performance at Leicester last month.

The son of New Approach pulled very hard for Andrea Atzeni, but he eventually grew in stature and ended up finishing a half-length second to Accessor in what was a strong seven-furlong maiden.

And with the fourth horse that day, the 6-4 favourite George Villiers, having since won a race, the form should continue to pay its way.

Illusional looks a worthy rival from the Mark Johnston operation, but Ostilio must surely take the beating in the 32Red.com Novice Stakes.

Rare Groove was a further length away from Accessor at Leicester and he later gets the opportunity to stick to his end of the bargain in a onemile novice auction stakes.

Jedd O’Keeffe’s two-yearold made an honourable fist of things from the front but he lacked the zip of the first two home so now steps up to a mile.

There are races to be won with him this winter.

Zaidiyn is perhaps better known as a hurdler these days, but he can nonetheless defy the burden of top weight in the Betway-sponsored handicap over two miles.