July 10 / 14.20 Ayr

14.20

Good To Soft

EBF Stallions Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5372.99
  • 0m 7f 50y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
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EBF Stallions Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 1

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 11lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
7-1 when getting up to win by a nose on his Hamilton debut (6f, good) last month; shaped then as though he would stay this extra furlong (albeit speedily bred on dam's side), but this still won't be easy under his 7lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

3

(9)

20th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 192y

Class 2

15:00 York

Cerulean Bay

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Uncharacteristically below par at Ascot recently but was under a new rider in the Shergar Cup; he's run really well in defeat under Danny Tudhope in some hot handicaps this year and was second in this last season (good to firm); versatile ground-wise; could bounce back with a big performance.

16/1

9th

1

(9)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 213y

Class 2

16:30 Ascot

Cerulean Bay

10st 1lb

J: Jamie Melham

T: David O’Meara

Finished second behind Ebt's Guard in this race 12 months ago when rated 14lb lower; he has earned his lofty rating since then, winning twice at Goodwood last autumn and recording a career-best RPR when second of 18 in the Golden Mile at Goodwood eight days ago; another big run anticipated.

11/2

2nd

1

(13)

31st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Goodwood

Cerulean Bay

9st 12lb

J: Colin Keane

T: David O’Meara

Blew his chance at the start in most recent handicap attempt but generally consistent otherwise in the last year and ties in with several of today's rivals on Royal Hunt Cup form; 2-2 at Goodwood and looks interesting back here despite remaining on a career-high mark.

16/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.90

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
April foal by Too Darn Hot; 110,000gns yearling; half-brother to four winners including the stable's star stayer Subjectivist (7f-2m4f including AW 2yo/Group 1; RPR 122), Sir Ron Priestley (1m4f/1m6f including Group 2; 120) and Alba Rose (Group-placed 7f 2yo; 96); dam Listed-placed 1m 2yo winner (104); beautifully bred and a Group 1 National Stakes entry suggests he is held in some regard; market should be revealing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

22nd Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 100y

13:25 Killarney

Individualism

11st 12lb

J: Calum Hogan

T: E McNamara

Dual Flat winner in Britain (rated 80); fair enough effort on stable debut over C&D in May; last of seven on the Flat 39 days ago, however; up against it.

20/1

7th

3

(4)

14th Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 185y

19:40 Killarney

Individualism

9st 9lb

J: W J Lee

T: E McNamara

Dual winner for Charlie Johnston; fair effort on his stable debut in a maiden hurdle here in May; booking of Billy Lee suggests better is expected today.

7/1

6th

6

9th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 0y

13:53 Killarney

Individualism

11st 12lb

J: Calum Hogan

T: E McNamara

One of three for trainer; won twice on the Flat for Charlie Johnston on good ground; rated 83 in that sphere; signed off British career with a tailed off finish at Hamilton in September; makes hurdling/stable debut now in a first-time tongue tie.

11/1

Form: 7

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Nicely bred but looked in need of the run when seventh of nine on his debut here (6f, good; 28-1) last month; extra furlong should suit on breeding and open to improvement, but it will be needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(5)

30th Aug 2026

Soft

2m 0f 32y

Class 5

17:05 Beverley

Elemental Eye

10st 0lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Iain Jardine

A clearcut winner at Wolverhampton (1m4f, AW; first-time blinkers) and nearly followed up at Ayr, over 1m5f on good; stays this far and handles slow ground, so has to be considered.

7/2

2nd

1

(8)

6th Jul 2026

Good

1m 5f 26y

Class 5

17:30 Ayr

Elemental Eye

10st 2lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Seemed to benefit from combination of drop back in trip and change of headgear when clearcut winner at Wolverhampton (1m4f, AW; first-time blinkers) nine days ago; 6lb higher here and too inconsistent to rely upon heavily but the return to turf won't be a problem.

4/1

1st

12

(1)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 4f 98y

Class 5

16:58 Newcastle (AW)

Elemental Eye

9st 2lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

0-5 on AW and he was never a threat over C&D in March; remote third over 2m at Musselburgh (good) three weeks ago and he now drops back in trip with added blinkers.

12/1

Form: 4532

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Has shown ability in his four starts as when beaten less than a length into second of nine at Carlisle (6f, good to soft) 12 days ago; extra furlong shouldn't be an issue on breeding, but he looks vulnerable to less exposed rivals; stable also runs Catena.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

(9)

22nd Feb 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

18:45 Chelmsford (AW)

Land Lover

9st 6lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Mark Loughnane

bumped start, switched left soon after start, in rear

12/1

10th

6

(1)

27th Jan 2025

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 5

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Land Lover

9st 6lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Mark Loughnane

in touch with leaders

7/1

8/1

Form: 51 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Both starts over 7f at Beverley last month, improving from her debut when scoring by a neck (soft) nine days later (fourth has won since); this looks tougher, but she has nothing to prove stamina-wise nor if the ground remains on the soft side; could go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(5)

2nd Feb 2024

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

17:15 Newcastle (AW)

Catena

9st 4lb

J: Liam Wright

T: Darryll Holland

Turf winner at about 7f; has raced over a range of trips for new connections (1m, 1m4f and 7f) and didn't get much luck in running at Wolverhampton two weeks ago; worth another go at 1m but is quite exposed and unraced here.

10/1

6th

6

(1)

20th Jan 2024

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 6

17:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Catena

9st 6lb

J: Liam Wright

T: Darryll Holland

in touch with leaders

7/1

Form: 2

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
7-1 when second of 13 on his Redcar debut (6f, good) last month; bred for middle distances on the dam's side so the extra furlong should suit and a major player for yard operating at a 26% strike-rate with its 2yos this year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(1)

15th Sep 2023

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:50 Sandown

Dark Encounter

9st 2lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

raced in last, went second but soon lost ground under 2f out, weakening when jockey almost dropped whip final furlong

4/6

1st

2

(5)

8th Sep 2023

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 3

16:30 Newcastle (AW)

Dark Encounter

9st 7lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Improved for the switch to nurseries when keeping on for fourth at York two weeks ago (7f, good to firm; hung left); that effort suggested he was ready for 1m and he needs serious consideration on AW debut.

15/8

4th

18

(17)

24th Aug 2023

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

16:45 York

Dark Encounter

8st 5lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: K R Burke

Promising second of 13 on his Redcar debut (6f, good) in June; hasn't built on that over 7f twice since and needs to get back on the up now handicapping.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.20
Straight Forecast £16.61
Trifecta £249.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Dark Encounter

RP RATINGS:

Land Lover

The Star:

Catena

TOPSPEED:

Land Lover

D Express:

Land Lover

The Sun:

Land Lover

POSTDATA:

Dark Encounter

The Times:

Dark Encounter

Telegraph:

Dark Encounter

The Guardian:

Dark Encounter

Daily Mail:

Dark Encounter

Daily Mirror:

Dark Encounter

Daily Record:

Catena