April 21 / 15.15 Newbury

15.15

Soft

Darley Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £25770
  • 1m 2f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Darley Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Evs (Won)

  • Win: £2.00
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 41-

Last run: 184 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dante and Derby entry; brother to connections' Derby winner Adayar; only fourth when 4-5 favourite for debut at Newmarket (7f, good to soft) but there was still plenty of promise in that performance; duly scored when 8-11 at the same course (1m, good) later in October, having to knuckle down seriously but he should improve as 3yo and be well suited by this extra 2f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(5)

23rd Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

18:45 Windsor

Military Order

9st 7lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Charlie Appleby

Record of 5-13 and his last two wins were in Group 3 at Southwell (1m3f) last January and a Listed event at Kempton (1m2f) this spring; ran into some trouble when creditable sixth of 16 in Listed Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot (1m2f, good to firm) and he was only narrowly denied back in a Group 3 at Haydock two weeks ago; was as good as ever with that bold bid and he's the standout contender in this line-up.

4/7

2nd

5

(7)

9th Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 100y

Class 1

15:00 Haydock

Military Order

9st 7lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Charlie Appleby

Best turf form when just over 2l sixth of 16 in Listed race at Royal Ascot (1m2f, good to firm) latest start, a race which Haatem won but this 5yo gave him 3lb and eventually ran on well after trouble in running; on that evidence there's not much between them and they are leading contenders.

4/1

6th

3

(10)

17th Jun 2025

Good

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Military Order

9st 8lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Added to his very good AW record with a stylish win in a Listed race at Kempton (1m2f) in April but he wasn't in quite the same form when fourth (Phantom Flight third) in the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown since and there are doubts as to whether he's still as effective on turf as AW; also has a 3lb penalty for the Kempton win.

8/1

5/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 16- C

Last run: 195 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Dante and Irish Classics entry; justified favouritism by a neck in 15-runner novice here (7f, good) on debut last September; last of six in Group 3 at Newmarket (1m, good) in October but it would be disappointing if he can't put that reverse behind him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

(7)

23rd May 2025

Good

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:50 Goodwood

Exoplanet

9st 3lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

Lightly raced 5yo; good second in Group 3 at Royal Ascot in 2023, then was absent until filling same position in AW Listed contest at Kempton (again over 1m2f; debut for new yard) last month; 0-5 since debut success but his form is largely progressive; possibilities.

6/1

7th

3

(7)

23rd May 2025

Good

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:50 Goodwood

Exoplanet

9st 3lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

Lightly raced 5yo; good second in Group 3 at Royal Ascot in 2023, then was absent until filling same position in AW Listed contest at Kempton (again over 1m2f; debut for new yard) last month; 0-5 since debut success but his form is largely progressive; possibilities.

6/1

2nd

4

(3)

21st Apr 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 1f 219y

Class 1

14:55 Kempton (AW)

Exoplanet

9st 3lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

Absent since running very well in 1m2f Group 3 at Royal Ascot in 2023 (final start for Roger Varian); gelded later that year and sold for 18,000gns last October; betting may prove instructive.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1- D

Last run: 161 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dante and Derby entry; second favourite, won 12-runner maiden at Newcastle (1m2f, AW) in November by a length, leading over 1f out and running on strongly; major potential.
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

33/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
115,000gns yearling; first foal; dam 1m4f winner (RPR 90), sister to 8.6f AW winner All The Rage, half-sister to winners Michelangelo (1m3f Listed), Private Secretary (1m3f Listed) and the dam of St Leger winner Galileo Chrome; that reads well but this is a hot race for debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

14th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 3

16:18 Perth

Trust House

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

On a hat-trick after justifying favouritism at Market Rasen and Ffos Las (both 2m); a combined rise of 16lb - 8lb for latest win - makes life more challenging as he moves into a Class 3 for the first time; however, he's improving and spearheads his yard's triple representation in this field.

5/4

1st

2

21st Apr 2026

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

18:12 Ffos Las

Trust House

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Rewarded strong market support when winning readily at Market Rasen (2m, good to soft) last month, on his second run after a layoff, and is now 2-8 over hurdles; 8lb higher here but still commands respect.

11/8

1st

1

15th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

17:17 Market Rasen

Trust House

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Flat winner for Ralph Beckett in 2023 (1m4f, good); only hurdles win was a Leicester novice handicap (1m7f, heavy) in December 2024; lightly-raced and fair form since; a possible.

9/2

8/1

Form: 24-

Last run: 186 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dante entry; second in maiden at Haydock in September, meeting traffic issues, and again came from the rear when fourth of nine in Listed race at Pontefract (again 1m on good to soft) in October, 16-1 for both; promising and has form chance (trainer also had good 3yo winner yesterday) but others have seemingly shown more striking potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

(11)

28th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 3f 179y

Class 6

13:20 Leicester

Arkendale

11st 1lb

J: Mr Lucas Murphy

T: Barry Brennan

Rediscovered some form when a front-running third at Epsom (1m2f, good to soft) before never dangerous on AW earlier this month; has since changed hands and left Billy Aprahamian; acts on soft but not proven over this far.

14/1

10th

2

(11)

28th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 3f 179y

Class 6

13:20 Leicester

Arkendale

11st 1lb

J: Mr Lucas Murphy

T: Barry Brennan

Rediscovered some form when a front-running third at Epsom (1m2f, good to soft) before never dangerous on AW earlier this month; has since changed hands and left Billy Aprahamian; acts on soft but not proven over this far.

14/1

Form: 1

Last run: 51 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
300,000gns yearling, by Night Of Thunder out of a 6f winner from the family of smart stayers Pale Mimosa and Nearly Caught; 8-11, always prominent but green up the straight when winning nine-runner maiden at Kempton (7f, AW) in March by a neck from an exposed 4yo who's fair at best; needs vastly more against this opposition.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

(3)

9th May 2026

Good

0m 6f 212y

Class 4

16:15 Haydock

One Night Thunder

9st 4lb

J: Sam James

T: Gemma Tutty

Down the field on his reappearance at Thirsk three weeks ago but last summer's form brings him right into the reckoning and he could take a step forward today.

14/1

10th

5

(10)

18th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:23 Thirsk

One Night Thunder

9st 6lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Gemma Tutty

Prominent racer who enjoyed a purple patch last September, winning back-to-back Carlisle handicaps and coming up just shy in his hat-trick bid at Beverley; returns from 170 days off on a tough enough mark and others make more appeal.

16/1

9th

9

(10)

30th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 3

18:00 Southwell (AW)

One Night Thunder

9st 5lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Gemma Tutty

In fine form on turf lately including two wins at Carlisle (7f) last month, while his latest near miss at Beverley (7f, soft) was an even better effort; has winning form on Polytrack, but has failed to beat a rival in two goes on Tapeta (at Newcastle).

6/1

Form: 32- BF

Last run: 182 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dante entry; well bred (1m2f should suit) and a short-priced favourite when placed at Yarmouth (7f, good to soft) and Newbury (1m, soft) last autumn; others have done a bit more but, from powerful yard, he needs respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

6

(11)

12th Aug 2023

Soft

1m 3f 211y

Class 3

15:55 Ascot

Rajasthan

9st 8lb

J: Hayley Turner

T: John & Thady Gosden

Well bred and suited by the step up to 1m2f when coming good at the third time of asking on his Salisbury reappearance in June; that was on good to firm but runner-up on soft as 2yo; the Salisbury form doesn't look anything special but he enters the reckoning as a lightly raced sort from a top yard.

7/2

1st

3

(5)

28th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 1f 201y

Class 4

16:10 Salisbury

Rajasthan

9st 4lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

in touch with leaders

10/11

6

(4)

21st Apr 2023

Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Newbury

Rajasthan

9st 4lb

J: Frankie Dettori

T: John & Thady Gosden

Dante entry; well bred (1m2f should suit) and a short-priced favourite when placed at Yarmouth (7f, good to soft) and Newbury (1m, soft) last autumn; others have done a bit more but, from powerful yard, he needs respect.

6/1

Non-runners

One Night Thunder, Rajasthan

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.30
Straight Forecast £5.89
Trifecta £10.40

Selections

RP Ratings:

Military Order

TOPSPEED:

Exoplanet

SPOTLIGHT:

Chesspiece

Daily Mirror:

Rajasthan

The Guardian:

Chesspiece

POSTDATA:

Military Order

The Times:

Military Order

Telegraph:

Military Order

Daily Mail:

Military Order

D Express:

Military Order

The Sun:

Military Order

Daily Record:

Rajasthan

NEWMARKET:

Exoplanet

The Star:

Exoplanet