16.10
SoftDarley EBF Maiden Stakes (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £20616
- 1m 4f 104y
- Class 2
- 6 runners
Runners: 6 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Light rain
Form: 32
Last run: 38 days
W: 9st 7lb
3 yo Colt
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 11 |
29th Sep 2024 Standard 2m 0f 102y Class 5 |
9st 4lb |
Seventh start when off the mark in handicap at Newcastle (upped to 2m, Tapeta) early this month but a heavy defeat at Kempton 13 days ago continued his inconsistent record in handicaps. |
6/1 |
|
7th 8 (7) |
16th Sep 2024 Standard To Slow 1m 7f 218y Class 4 |
8st 9lb |
Good effort here (1m4f) on second start but he ran poorly on a subsequent course start; very mixed in turf handicaps since but the step up to 2m on Tapeta debut at Newcastle recently saw his staying qualities come to the fore; back up 3lb but a major player if holding his form. |
11/4 |
|
1st 7 (6) |
3rd Sep 2024 Standard To Slow 2m 0f 56y Class 5 |
9st 0lb |
pressed leader, prominent halfway, ridden and led narrowly over 1f out, stayed on final 110yds |
9/4 |
Form: 43-33
Last run: 32 days
W: 9st 7lb
3 yo Colt
OR: 76
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11 (10) |
17th Oct 2025 Standard 1m 2f 42y Class 4 |
9st 3lb |
Recent form has been patchy, but he's now 5lb lower than when winning over C&D in May; each-way claims if he can reproduce that sort of form; stable also runs Hosanna Power. |
16/1 |
|
2 (10) |
19th Sep 2025 Soft 1m 5f 26y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
Both wins at 1m2f, on good to firm and the AW; third at Beverley last month before struggling in a Class 4; could go well, though has mostly steered clear of slow ground. |
14/1 |
Form: 6534-
Last run: 195 days
W: 9st 7lb
3 yo Colt
OR: 71
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 1 (8) |
3rd May 2026 Good 1m 3f 15y Class 5 |
9st 9lb |
Changed hands for 45,000gns after string of good efforts for Jedd O'Keeffe in summer 2024, but this stable debut has been a long time coming and he might come on for the run. |
7/1 |
|
3rd 7 (4) |
25th Aug 2024 Good 1m 4f 23y Class 5 |
9st 4lb |
Scored at Doncaster (1m4f) in May and has held his form well since, runner-up at Ripon (1m4f) two weeks ago; he ought to be thereabouts. |
100/30 |
|
2nd 4 (2) |
11th Aug 2024 Good 1m 4f 10y Class 4 |
9st 1lb |
raced in third against rail, outpaced over 2f out, rallied and went second over 1f out, kept on but no chance with winner inside final furlong |
4/1 |
Form: 63-35
Last run: 32 days
W: 9st 7lb
3 yo Colt
OR: 73
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 2 |
23rd May 2026 Good 2m 3f 123y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Got off to a flyer when winning two of his first three starts over hurdles in 2024; has drawn a blank since but he's on a reduced mark and wasn't beaten far when fourth at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) three weeks; has possibilities if he can build on that and he's in the mix. |
13/2 |
|
4th 10 |
2nd May 2026 Good 2m 3f 207y Class 3 |
11st 0lb |
Got off to a flyer when winning two of his first three starts over hurdles in 2024 but has been unable to get his head in front since; his mark continues to drop and cheekpieces are back on replacing a visor; best watched. |
12/1 |
|
6th 8 |
2nd Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 100y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
2-15 over hurdles; winless this campaign but it started quite well and the third at Sandown in December was in a first-time visor that now returns having been missing the last twice; on a fair mark if factoring in Murray Dodd's claim; could stage a revival. |
20/1 |
Form: 3-
Last run: 193 days
W: 9st 7lb
3 yo Colt
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 5 |
14th May 2026 Good 1m 6f 44y Class 3 |
9st 1lb |
Three-time winner whose sole success on turf came over C&D (good to firm) just under one year ago; also scored off this mark on AW (1m6f) in September but has been very in and out on last four starts, including when tried in a hood (removed) and beaten 32l in valuable AW event last time; drops back down in grade from lower turf mark and can make presence felt if on a going day. |
12/1 |
|
11th 11 (4) |
3rd Apr 2026 Standard 2m 0f 56y Class 2 |
8st 10lb |
Inconsistent since finishing second in the Northumberland Vase over C&D last June and well beaten over C&D in January, but back on song when second at Chelmsford (1m6f) in February; capable of a bold show in a first-time hood. |
11/1 |
|
2nd 1 (5) |
12th Feb 2026 Standard 1m 6f 0y Class 4 |
10st 0lb |
Comfortably won at Southwell (1m6f, AW) in September off a 5lb lower mark than today's; respectable effort there over 1m4f following a short break but he was disappointing at Newcastle (2m, AW) 27 days ago; drops in grade and could bounce back. |
3/1 |
Form: 5-
Last run: 135 days
W: 9st 2lb
3 yo Filly
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
17th 9 (16) |
29th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 1m 2f 43y Class 5 |
9st 6lb |
Won a 1m3f maiden at Kempton (AW) last April but she's found it tougher in handicaps since; the hood she wore when well held at Lingfield last month is quickly discarded; others are more obvious. |
14/1 |
|
9th 5 (1) |
28th Feb 2025 Standard 1m 2f 0y Class 5 |
9st 5lb |
Won a 1m3f maiden at Kempton (Polytrack) last April but she's found it tough going in handicaps since, including in two runs this winter; mark continues to fall but she's now 1-7 and needs a hood to make a difference. |
9/1 |
|
5th 3 (4) |
7th Jan 2025 Standard 1m 1f 104y Class 5 |
9st 11lb |
Winner of a 1m3f maiden at Kempton last April; failed to kick on for a switch to handicapping (mostly turf); faded at Lingfield (1m2f; 33-1) five weeks ago but is entitled to strip fitter for that - her first run since June - and a further 2lb ease in the weights is helpful; chance. |
2/1 |
Betting Forcast
6/4 Clockwatcher, 11/2 Flickering Halo, 6/1 Monsieur Melee, 7/2 Torrent, 4/1 Tryfan, 25/1 Kingmont
Verdict
There is something to prove with the switch from AW but CLOCKWATCHER brings the best form thanks to his second at Kempton and that was a promising effort. While four of the other five have similar form to each other, it’s Tryfan who is feared most given that he has had just the one run and shaped well given that such a slow start that day denied him the chance to play a serious part.[Richard Austen]
Selections
Daily Record:
Clockwatcher