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

5th

1

(1)

26th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 7f 212y

Class 2

13:35 Haydock

Cerulean Bay

10st 0lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Added to fine Goodwood record when second of 18 in the Golden Mile off 1lb higher at the Glorious meeting; two below-par efforts have followed but the first was under a new rider in the Shergar Cup at Ascot and he was caught too far back at the York Ebor meeting since; considered.

6/1

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

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

9th

8

17th Oct 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 188y

15:30 Limerick

Individualism

11st 4lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: E McNamara

Dual Flat winner in Britain but safely held in three maiden hurdles for this yard; potential improver entering handicaps although yard has a seemingly stronger contender here in Lenjoleur De Palma.

14/1

5th

4

23rd Sep 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

13:55 Listowel

Individualism

11st 12lb

J: Calum Hogan

T: E McNamara

Dual Flat winner in Britain and useful in that scene; however, beaten 30l and 25l over hurdles and looks one for handicaps.

50/1

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

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

8th

2

(8)

16th Oct 2026

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 5

16:08 Newcastle (AW)

Elemental Eye

10st 0lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Latest Flat win was C&D in June (7lb higher today) and he also scored over hurdles three weeks ago on latest outing; firmly in the picture.

7/1

1st

1

24th Sep 2026

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

14:49 Perth

Elemental Eye

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Iain Jardine

Plenty of racing on the Flat, winning for a third time when successful over 1m4f on the AW this June; it's proving harder work over hurdles, last time trailing home last here on his handicap debut (16-1).

11/2

8th

8

7th Sep 2026

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

15:20 Perth

Elemental Eye

10st 5lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Iain Jardine

Fair Flat-racer who won in first-time blinkers on the AW (2m; RPR 72) this summer and can probably be excused his recent defeat on heavy ground; showed only minor promise in three maiden hurdles last season but is open to improvement in handicaps this term; market reference recommended.

10/1

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