13:30 Haydock

Saturday 26 April 2025

All13:3014:0014:4015:1515:5016:2516:5517:25

Darley EBF Novice Stakes (GBB/GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 2m 30.2s

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Selected odds by:

(5)

Rahiebb³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: S De Sousa| T: R Varian| OR: 90| BF

7/2

Frankel colt who overcame considerable greenness to make a winning debut in 1m novice at Newcastle. Still looked green when second under a penalty there 5 weeks ago and remains a useful prospect up in trip again.

Form: 12

(1)

Antrim²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: K Shoemark| T: J & T Gosden| BF

2/1

Dubawi colt. Dam, 1¼m winner, closely related to top-class winner up to 1½m Enable. Held back by inexperience when fifth of 7 in novice (5/4) at Yarmouth (10.1f, good to firm) on debut 21 days ago, not knocked about. Has plenty of scope to improve.

Form: 5

(3)

Caliban

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Watson| T: A M Balding

16/1

75,000 gns yearling, Sea The Moon gelding. Dam, 11.6f-1¾m winner, half-sister to useful winner up to 1¼m Voice of A Leader.

Form:

(7)

Emerald Island

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Rossa Ryan| T: D Menuisier

28/1

€110,000 yearling, Galiway colt. Half-brother to 3 winners, including 9f/9.5f winner Gentora and winner up to 9f Siyounor, both useful. Dam lightly-raced half-sister to smart 1¼m/11f winner Pagera.

Form:

(6)

Minhad²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Paddy Bradley| T: I Mohammed

28/1

Universal colt. Dam 2-y-o 7f winner out of useful winner up to 1m (2-y-o 5f/6f winner) Dingle View. 50/1, showed plenty to work on when third of 7 in novice at Yarmouth (10.1f, good to firm) on debut 21 days ago, running on. Should have more to offer.

Form: 3

(2)

Opportunity¹⁷⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas

13/8

475,000 gns Frankel colt. Brother to useful 1m-1½m winner Zagato and half-brother to several winners, from excellent family. 7/2, promising start when fourth in extended 1m Nottingham maiden in October. Could be a lot more to come up in trip.

Form: 4-

(4)

Renato²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Marco Ghiani| T: M Botti| OR: 82| BF

14/1

Left debut form well behind upped in trip when close second of 13 in maiden at Kempton (11f) in December. Matched that form 4 months on when runner-up at Southwell 3 weeks ago and can make presence felt again.

Form: 92-2

Forecasts

Opportunity (13/8), Antrim (2/1), Rahiebb (7/2), Renato (14/1), Caliban (16/1), Minhad (28/1), Emerald Island (28/1)

RAHIEBB had created quite a big impression when making a winning debut at Newcastle so is worth another chance to defy a penalty having still looked green when runner-up back there 5 weeks ago. This does look a warm maiden, though, with likely improvers Opportunity and Antrim heading the dangers.