Darley EBF Novice Stakes (GBB/GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 15:26 | Winning time: 2m 32.8s

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Selected odds by:

(2)

Gold Cup Day¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Cieren Fallon| T: W J Haggas| D

1/1

Needed the experience on debut at Newbury last month and duly improved when making all in a Salisbury maiden (1½m, firm) 13 days ago. Looks a useful colt in the making and he's the one to beat.

Form: 51

(3)

Middle Ages³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Rob Hornby| T: A M Balding| D

10/3

Camelot colt who was too green to do himself justice on sole 2-y-o start. Landed the odds on return in a 1½m Ripon maiden (good to firm) and he remains open to improvement.

Form: 8-1

(5)

Bahadur³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Ben Sanderson| T: S Woods

50/1

Safely held in a 1¼m novice event on debut here last month and he's probably more one for the longer-term.

Form: 5

(1)

Dangerman¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: J & T Gosden

16/1

No show on Newbury debut and while he seemingly fared better when second in a 3-runner Doncaster maiden (10.2f, good to firm) a fortnight ago, it's worth pointing out that he was flattered by his proximity to the odds-on winner in what was a slowly-run affair.

Form: 82

(4)

Minhad²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: D Egan| T: I Mohammed

6/1

Showed plenty to work on when third of 7 in novice at Yarmouth (1¼m, good to firm) on debut last month. Performed to a similar level at Haydock next time and it could be that he'll be seen in a better light in handicaps later on.

Form: 35

(6)

Pole Star⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Billy Loughnane| T: C Johnston

9/2

Good pedigree and shaped well when fourth on recent debut in a 6-runner Chester maiden (12.3f, good), beaten just 2 lengths. Open to plenty of improvement and this stiffer track could prove more suitable.

Form: 4

Forecasts

Gold Cup Day (1/1), Middle Ages (10/3), Pole Star (9/2), Minhad (6/1), Dangerman (16/1), Bahadur (50/1)

This looks between POLE STAR and Gold Cup Day, with marginal preference for the former who was considerately handled on his introduction at Chester. Gold Cup Day looks very promising but conceding 6 lb to the selection could prove beyond him, for all that he is also open to improvement. Middle Ages brings potential to the table, too, but he will need to take a sizeable step forward in order to trouble the aforementioned colts.