October 11 / 16.20 York

16.20

Soft

William Hill EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10800
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
William Hill EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/5 (Won)

  • Win: £1.80
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 3

Last run: 36 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
260,000gns yearling; promise when third (fourth won next time) on debut at Newbury over this trip on soft; the form choice on that run and will be hard to beat with normal improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(4)

5th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 7f 212y

Class 1

13:25 Haydock

Fondo Blanco

9st 5lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Dual winner on ground slower than good, including a C&D handicap last September; back on good to soft he chased home a handicap snip last weekend at Goodwood; he'll give his running but that's unlikely to be good enough.

18/1

2nd

2

(8)

29th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:00 Goodwood

Fondo Blanco

9st 9lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Roger Varian

Progressed into a useful sort last term but has a doubt over current form, having posted two duck eggs (both at Ascot) this season; best watched unless the market suggests a revival is likely.

25/1

10th

6

(11)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 213y

Class 2

16:30 Ascot

Fondo Blanco

9st 11lb

J: Mme Marie Velon

T: Roger Varian

Progressive 3yo last year; gelded prior to finishing down the field in the Buckingham Palace Stakes here (7f, good to firm) at the Royal meeting, a run that is easily excused given his draw; now tongue tied; not fully exposed at 1m and he is one to consider.

14/1

OUR TIP

3/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 62

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Stepped up on debut (AW) form at Newbury last time (sixth won next time) and no surprise to see him run well if handling these much softer conditions.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

(9)

7th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:30 Leicester

Belgrave

9st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Won 6f novice (heavy) here as 2yo but a long way from repeating that promise in 2025 and now tries something new, a drop in trip in first-time headgear.

10/1

5th

5

(2)

18th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 6f 3y

Class 3

15:30 Yarmouth

Belgrave

8st 13lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Promising 2yo who was well suited by slow ground; struggled in three runs this year but should get his ground today and a revival could be on the cards.

4/1

3

(7)

12th Aug 2025

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 4

15:00 Lingfield (AW)

Belgrave

9st 9lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

All races at 6f; progressive 2yo who ended the season with a novice win at Leicester (heavy) but he's had a very slow start to 2025 and has been gelded since last seen in May; some questions to answer over new trip.

14/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 31 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 10lb

2 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Stepped up on debut (heavy) form when winning Pontefract novice on good to firm last time; type to make further progress but has to show these conditions suit as well as a sound surface.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

(1)

25th Feb 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

18:40 Kempton (AW)

Apache Green

9st 5lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: S Woods

Second to one who went on to complete a hat-trick next time before being demoted to second after dead-heating over C&D; beaten a little over a length, but managed only fifth, in muddling contest just four days later; this test should suit better.

9/2

5th

4

(1)

23rd Jan 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

12:57 Wolverhampton (AW)

Apache Green

9st 9lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: S Woods

0-13 but he was was demoted to second after forcing a dead-heat in 1m handicap at Kempton on Monday (bumped rival close home); 2lb well in off the same mark here and he chased home a subsequent winner at this track (8.6f) on his penultimate run; big player.

5/2

2nd

1

(8)

19th Jan 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

13:08 Kempton (AW)

Apache Green

9st 9lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: S Woods

0-9 in handicaps since joining this yard, but a much better effort when chasing home a subsequent winner at Wolverhampton (8.6f, Tapeta) 13 days ago; a player from the same mark.

7/2

20/1

Form: 06

Last run: 56 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Stepped up on debut effort when sixth at Thirsk last time but considerably more needed to win on first run away from good ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

(9)

8th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

20:40 Newcastle (AW)

The Vital Spark

9st 4lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Kevin Ryan

Nothing wrong with the form of his C&D win in March but he has struggled since, including after wind surgery in May; tongue-tie added for the first time and cheekpieces replace blinkers; not discounted.

13/2

9

(12)

25th Aug 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:23 Ripon

The Vital Spark

9st 2lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Kevin Ryan

Can make the running as when gaining his sole success at Newcastle (5f, AW) in March, but his three efforts since returning to turf have been underwhelming; 1lb lower than for his win, but still has enough to prove.

20/1

7th

11

(6)

24th Jul 2025

Soft

0m 6f 2y

Class 5

17:30 Doncaster

The Vital Spark

8st 11lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Kevin Ryan

Made all in a Newcastle handicap (5f, AW) in March but he's been disappointing in both runs since, including after wind surgery at Pontefract two weeks ago; blinkers are now added and he has quite a bit to prove again back up in trip.

16/1

5th
5 (2)
Mwafaq

25/1

Form: 6

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Upset in the stalls and lost chance with a slow start at Pontefract on recent debut; should do better but best watched this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(7)

3rd Sep 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 5

14:17 Newcastle (AW)

Mwafaq

9st 7lb

J: Ethan Tindall

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Three-time winner this year, the most recent coming when narrowly holding off Amidst The Chaos at Doncaster (1m, good to firm) in July; did well to finish as close as he did at Lingfield (1m2f, AW) 12 days ago after his blindfold was removed late and has good claims if seeing out this stiffer 1m2f.

7/2

5th

8

(9)

22nd Aug 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

17:10 Lingfield (AW)

Mwafaq

9st 2lb

J: Ethan Tindall

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Progressive 4yo who landed his third win of the year, at Doncaster (1m, good to firm) last month in gritty fashion; no disgrace in going down by a neck at Hamilton (8.5f, good) three weeks ago and remains in top form; worth following on this step up in trip.

7/2

2nd

4

(9)

1st Aug 2026

Good

1m 0f 68y

Class 5

20:30 Hamilton

Mwafaq

9st 12lb

J: Ethan Tindall

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Progressive 4yo who scored over C&D (good to soft) in June before making it five wins in his last seven starts when overcoming interference to shade a close finish at Doncaster (1m, good to firm) four weeks ago; he and the second were clear of the rest on Town Moor so a 4lb rise may not stop him.

4/1

6th
7 (1)
Showstorm

40/1

Form: 04

Last run: 66 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten both starts and needs a big chunk of improvement to figure after short break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

(2)

4th Oct 2025

Good

1m 2f 1y

Class 5

14:46 Redcar

Showstorm

8st 11lb

J: Shane Gray

T: K R Burke

Showed only minor promise in three 2yo races (6f-7f; gelded since) and makes handicap debut after a one-year absence, but today's trip is more in keeping with his stamina and he needs close attention in the betting.

3/1

6th

7

(1)

11th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

16:20 York

Showstorm

9st 4lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Soundly beaten both starts and needs a big chunk of improvement to figure after short break.

40/1

4th

7

(1)

6th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 5

14:15 Catterick

Showstorm

9st 7lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

33-1, slowly away and always in rear on last month's debut at Newbury (7f, good); however, he represents a powerful 2yo stable and it will be interesting to see if he's stronger in the betting on this second start.

12/1

12/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
8,500gns yearling who went for £25,000 at the breeze-ups; stamina on dam's side of pedigree and interesting to see how he gets on over this trip on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(7)

28th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 217y

Class 5

13:25 Redcar

Jungle King

9st 7lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: K R Burke

midfield, outpaced 3f out, some headway over 1f out, weakened from 1f out

10/1

4th

3

(7)

28th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 217y

Class 5

13:25 Redcar

Jungle King

9st 7lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: K R Burke

midfield, outpaced 3f out, some headway over 1f out, weakened from 1f out

10/1

7th

4

(5)

11th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

16:20 York

Jungle King

9st 4lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

8,500gns yearling who went for £25,000 at the breeze-ups; stamina on dam's side of pedigree and interesting to see how he gets on over this trip on debut.

12/1

66/1

Form: 04

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Hinted at ability on turf and AW but looks more a handicap type.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

2

(2)

25th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

18:07 Newcastle (AW)

Oselton

9st 12lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Craig Lidster

Southwell winner (7f); couldn't hold off a late challenge at Doncaster (7f; 13-2) on penultimate start; restless in the stalls and ran too free when favourite at Beverley latest; perhaps a few pounds too high in the weights.

14/1

12th

3

(1)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 96y

Class 6

19:30 Beverley

Oselton

9st 12lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Craig Lidster

Registered sole win on AW but he produced a career-best RPR when going down by only a neck at Doncaster (7f, good to soft) most recently; possibilities, provided that form is backed up.

7/2

2nd

6

(5)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 6y

Class 6

20:15 Doncaster

Oselton

9st 7lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Craig Lidster

Made the breakthrough with a clearcut success at Southwell (7f, Tapeta) last September but he's not gone on from that and was down the field on Thirsk reappearance (7f, good) last month; still 8lb higher than for his win and others are preferred.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.30
Straight Forecast £3.48
Trifecta £10.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Fondo Blanco

Telegraph:

Apache Green

The Star:

Belgrave

The Sun:

Apache Green

RP RATINGS:

Fondo Blanco

TOPSPEED:

Fondo Blanco

POSTDATA:

Fondo Blanco

NEWMARKET:

Fondo Blanco

The Times:

Fondo Blanco

The Guardian:

Fondo Blanco

Daily Mail:

Fondo Blanco

D Express:

Fondo Blanco

Daily Mirror:

Fondo Blanco

Daily Record:

Fondo Blanco