October 06 / 15.57 Ascot

15.57

Good

Troy Asset Management Noel Murless Stakes (Listed Race)

  • Prize money: £56710
  • 1m 6f 34y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
SKY
View Course
Troy Asset Management Noel Murless Stakes (Listed Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 22117 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Narrowly beat Naqeeb in Newmarket novice (1m4f, good to soft) in July and followed up in the competitive Melrose Handicap at York (1m6f, good to firm) in August; merely seventh in the St Leger three weeks ago (1m6f, soft; one place behind Chesspiece) but retains potential now back down in grade and could play a leading role if Doncaster hasn't left a mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

(4)

27th Jul 2024

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:40 Ascot

Middle Earth

9st 9lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Well held in soft-ground St Leger; otherwise a largely progressive sort at up to 1m6f; has dropped back to 1m4f this season, getting up on the line at Newbury (Group 3) then respectable third at Royal Ascot (Group 2) where a stronger pace would have suited; remains of interest, with this race likely to pan out favourably.

9/1

3rd

8

(8)

22nd Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Middle Earth

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Won the Melrose Handicap at York (1m6f, good to firm) last August and bounced back from soft-ground St Leger flop for Listed win here (1m6f, good) last October; returned with win in Group 3 Aston Park Stakes at Newbury (1m4f, good) last month, when clear with one who readily went one better in Listed race next time; this 4yo is firmly on the up for his top yard; player.

5/2

1st

7

(5)

18th May 2024

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Newbury

Middle Earth

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Won the highly competitive Melrose Handicap at last year's Ebor meeting (1m6f, good to firm); well behind Desert Hero in the St Leger next time (only time he's tackled soft ground) but resumed his progression with success in a 1m6f Ascot Listed race (good) on his final 3yo start; everything about his profile points to him doing even better at four.

4/1

7/2

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 313126

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Third in the Group 2 Queen's Vase over C&D (good) at the Royal meeting before Listed win at Hamilton (1m3f, good to soft) and Group 3 near-miss at Goodwood (1m4f, soft); well beaten in the St Leger (1m6f, soft) three weeks ago but has to be respected under a 3lb penalty in view of his earlier form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(2)

13th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:45 York

Chesspiece

9st 0lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

prominent early, in touch with leaders after 1f, smooth headway and went second 6f out

10/1

6th

6

(2)

23rd May 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

19:07 Sandown

Chesspiece

9st 3lb

J: William Buick

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

disputed lead, prominent after 2f, lost ground over 3f out, weakened and eased 2f out

5/1

7/4

Form: 32211 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Narrowly lost to Middle Earth in Newmarket novice (1m4f, good to soft) in July then easily went one better at Kempton (1m4f, AW); followed up on last month's handicap debut at Haydock (1m6f, good); improving fast and his illustrious pedigree provides hope he has even more to offer; player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(2)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

Naqeeb

9st 6lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

Performed well twice over C&D last term but had the run of the race when belying his 33-1 odds for neck success at Listed level in September (good to soft) and looks no certainty to defy a 3lb penalty back here, unless things again fall his way.

12/1

5th

3

(1)

1st May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:45 Ascot

Naqeeb

9st 8lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

Has raced as far as 2m1f in 2024 and never shorter than 1m2f; third at last year's Royal Ascot came over 1m4f but he broke a losing sequence when diverted from top handicaps to a 1m2f Listed race at Goodwood last September; the prospect of 1m now doesn't seem so ridiculous but a career best is needed.

16/1

1st

4

(4)

24th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:35 Goodwood

Naqeeb

9st 4lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Julie Camacho

On a two-year losing spell and is 0-6 for current yard; still capable of very useful form, having been placed in handicaps at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood this summer; however, this seems a harder task.

16/1

Form: 618453

Last run: 22 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Went up in trip and tackled slow ground for the first time when third at 22-1 in the Group 2 Park Hill Fillies' Stakes at Doncaster (1m6f, soft) three weeks ago; might not be far away if repeating that form but she needs to transfer her improvement back to better ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

(7)

10th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:10 Bath

Lmay

9st 6lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: John & Thady Gosden

took keen hold, raced in second

4/1

8th

5

(2)

3rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Newmarket (July)

Lmay

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

led, headed over 2f out, soon weakened quickly

9/4

2nd

13

(16)

18th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 6f 34y

Class 2

19:15 Ascot

Lmay

9st 3lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: John & Thady Gosden

Lightly raced 4yo whose career highlight was her third in a fillies' Group 2 at Doncaster (1m6f, soft) last September; won her maiden on fast ground; she may have needed last month's comeback run in Group 3 at York but she was well beaten and it's hard to be confident on the back of that; handicap debut.

20/1

40/1

Form: 117-60

Last run: 107 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Promising 2yo who returns from a break having been gelded, and he wears a first-time visor; however, he was soundly beaten on both runs earlier this year and is probably best watched on his comeback.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(5)

31st May 2026

Good

1m 5f 80y

17:20 Listowel

Ndaawi

11st 0lb

J: Mr H C Swan

T: Gordon Elliott

Smart dual-purposer type got the Galway Hurdle in the stewards' room last summer and beat very useful Absurde in conditions' hurdle last month; his Flat run at Chester in September proved that he's worthy of this mark and showed he had a bit of boot when running well over 1m on AW pre-Cheltenham.

6/4

1st

5

5th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 70y

13:50 Cork

Ndaawi

11st 2lb

J: Josh Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

Won the Galway Hurdle last year off 145 (awarded race by stewards) and has also won twice on the level (rated 91); trip and ground fine here and he finished well ahead of Absurde in the County Hurdle last month, though he had a fitness edge that day; talented claimer takes off 5lb and every chance at the weights.

15/8

14th

1

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Ndaawi

12st 0lb

J: Josh Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

Very smart hurdler whose two visits to this meeting have produced a third in the 2024 Fred Winter and second to Kargese in this last year; improved again to win last summer's Galway Hurdle (pipped by Helvic Dream but awarded the race after suffering interference); below par when remote third to Lossiemouth in Grade 1 Morgiana in November but warmed up for this with a fine run on AW Flat last month over a trip short of his best; while his good record in top handicap hurdles (also second in 2024 Galway Hurdle) makes him a dangerous one to discount, he'll require a high-class performance to win off 156.

20/1

Form: 717834

Last run: 43 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Creditable efforts in defeat in 1m4f Listed fillies' races on last two starts, more recently a close fourth at York (good to firm); others have stronger form but she could give another good account now up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(11)

22nd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 188y

Class 1

16:10 York

Climate Friendly

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: James Owen

Close fourth in this race (good to firm) was just about the pick of what she did last year for Jane Chapple-Hyam, going for home 4f out; ten months off, however, before tailed off behind Divina Grace for new yard (same owners); wore cheekpieces last three starts last term, now tries a visor.

25/1

9th

2

(4)

3rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Newmarket (July)

Climate Friendly

9st 9lb

J: Neil Callan

T: James Owen

took keen hold, prominent, outpaced 3f out

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.20
Straight Forecast £11.81
Trifecta £22.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Naqeeb

TOPSPEED:

Lmay

NEWMARKET:

Chesspiece

The Times:

Middle Earth

POSTDATA:

Lmay

The Guardian:

Lmay

The Sun:

Lmay

RP RATINGS:

Naqeeb

Telegraph:

Naqeeb

Daily Mail:

Naqeeb

D Express:

Naqeeb

Daily Mirror:

Naqeeb

The Star:

Naqeeb

Daily Record:

Naqeeb