Matthew Ireland Memorial EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:13 | Winning time: 1m 37.16s

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Selected odds by:

(5)

Act Of Honor

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan

14/1

Foaled March 19. Iffraaj colt. Half-brother to 1¼m winner Subaltern and 2-y-o 6f winner Alice Fairfax. Dam 1m winner out of winning close relative of high-class winner up to 1m Dubawi. Ticks plenty of boxes on paper and confidence behind him on debut would look significant.

Form:

(1)

Circle Of Magic²³

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: A Watson

2/1

€260,000 breeze-up acquisition who offered something to work on when fourth of 9 in novice at Newbury (6.5f) on debut 23 days ago, coming from further back than the trio who beat him. Looks sure to progress and he's well worth a second look.

Form: 4

(4)

Strength of Spirit²²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 76| D

5/2

Ulysses colt who left debut form behind and did very well in the circumstances when off the mark in 13-runner seller at Chester (7f) 22 days ago, the bare margins involved underestimating him. Easy enough to envisage him playing a part back in novice company with prospect of more to come.

Form: 51

(3)

Vincenzo Peruggia²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: D Egan| T: C Johnston

15/8

550,000 gns buy as a yearling who knew his job and produced a promising first effort when third of 5 in novice at Hamilton (6f) 20 days ago. Still it's feasible to think he will come forward from that and another with claims for in-form stable.

Form: 3

(2)

Della Pace

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Spencer| T: G Boughey

16/1

Foaled February 27. 50,000 gns yearling, Camelot filly. Dam, third at 6f at 2 yrs, half-sister to 2-y-o 5f/6f winner Reckless Abandon and winner up to 1½m Best Approach (both smart). Appealing newcomer and interesting what the market makes of her for stable who took this 12 months ago.

Form:

(6)

Dunkeld Dreamer⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: A Elliott| T: K R Burke

80/1

Cheap purchase who took a step forward from her debut effort without ever threatening when sixth of 10 in maiden at Newcastle (7.1f) 9 days ago, keeping on gradually final 1f. Will have nurseries as an option after this and they promise to be more her thing.

Form: 86

Forecasts

Vincenzo Peruggia (15/8), Circle Of Magic (2/1), Strength of Spirit (5/2), Act Of Honor (14/1), Della Pace (16/1), Dunkeld Dreamer (80/1)

It may well have been a seller STRENGTH OF SPIRIT landed at Chester 22 days ago, yet the bare margins involved wildly underestimate Karl Burke's colt superiority that day, and returned to a novice with a wide-open feel, he could well be up to confirming the impression made then. Vincenzo Peruggia and Circle of Magic are both likely improvers from their respective debuts and rate next best. Debutantes Act of Honor and Della Pace both command a market check.