Ron & Esther Leahy Diamond Anniversary Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 1m 12.13s

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Selected odds by:

(3)

Amorim³⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: Billy Loughnane| T: G Boughey

4/9

Once-raced maiden. Second of 9 in novice (10/3) at Yarmouth (6f, firm) on debut 37 days ago. Likely to make a bold bid to go one better here with improvement anticipated.

Form: 2

(1)

Jooliah

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: J R Jenkins

66/1

Foaled March 29. 12,000 gns yearling, Lightning Spear colt. Half-brother to several winners, including 2-y-o 5f/6f winner Juncart and 5f/6f winner Thornaby Pearl. Dam 2-y-o 6f winner. Yard is not synonymous with winning 2-y-o newcomers.

Form:

(6)

Naranka²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: P Cosgrave| T: George Baker

66/1

Once-raced maiden. Last of 7 in novice at Goodwood (6f, good to soft, 33/1) on debut 20 days ago, missing break. Probably more one for the longer term.

Form: 7

(5)

Robert Anstruther

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: T E Whelan| T: H Candy

16/1

Foaled February 8. 15,000 gns yearling, Time Test colt. Closely related to useful winner up to 1¼m Bowland Park and half-brother to 1½m winner Twenty Years On and 7f winner Distinct Spirit. Yard's newcomers typically come on for a run.

Form:

(4)

Starlight Sami¹⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: Cieren Fallon| T: D J Coakley

11/2

Promising sort. 4/1, third of 9 in novice at Salisbury (6f, good to firm) on debut 18 days ago, finishing with running left. Open to progress and he looks sure to play a leading role.

Form: 3

(2)

Stellar Arrow³²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: Rossa Ryan| T: C G Cox

9/2

Once-raced maiden. Ninth of 13 in maiden at Leicester (6f, good, 7/1) on debut 32 days ago, not knocked about. Open to improvement.

Form: 9

Forecasts

Amorim (4/9), Stellar Arrow (9/2), Starlight Sami (11/2), Robert Anstruther (16/1), Naranka (66/1), Jooliah (66/1)

STARLIGHT SAMI and Amorim both shaped well on their respective debuts and marginal preference is for the former, who finished with running left when fourth at Salisbury after encountering traffic problems at a crucial stage. Amorim was an expensive purchase and looks sure to build on his promising second at Yarmouth. Stellar Arrow was nearer last than first on his introduction at Leicester, but he can be expected to leave that form well behind in time.