May 17 / 16.15 York

16.15

Good

Darley EBF Novice Stakes (For horses With No More Than Two Runs) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £20616
  • 0m 7f 192y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
ITV
View Course
Darley EBF Novice Stakes (For horses With No More Than Two Runs) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

5/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 2

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
By Dubawi and dam was a French 1m Group 2 winner, from top-class family; has Group 1 St James's Palace entry; 7-2, slowly away in 11-runner Wood Ditton newcomers race at Newmarket (1m, good) four weeks ago but travelled well to get closer and ran on well to go down by a nose to First Conquest; has 6lb pull with the winner and looks open to plenty of progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(3)

17th Jun 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Ascot

Lead Artist

9st 2lb

J: Colin Keane

T: John & Thady Gosden

Trailed home last behind Dancing Gemini at Sandown on reappearance but left that effort well behind to reverse the placings in the Lockinge on good to firm at Newbury, rallying gamely to beat him by a neck and take strike-rate to 4-9; progressive in the main and further Group 1 success from this Juddmonte colt looks very plausible; figures highly in calculations.

9/2

1st

3

(3)

17th May 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:35 Newbury

Lead Artist

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Largely progressive in his first season last year, winning two Group 3 events and looking the type to improve again this term; however, folded tamely and finished last of eight at Sandown (behind Dancing Gemini) on reappearance; may rebound but is hard to support on the back of that effort.

14/1

1st

3

(3)

17th May 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:35 Newbury

Lead Artist

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: John & Thady Gosden

Largely progressive in his first season last year, winning two Group 3 events and looking the type to improve again this term; however, folded tamely and finished last of eight at Sandown (behind Dancing Gemini) on reappearance; may rebound but is hard to support on the back of that effort.

14/1

13/8

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 2

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
185,000euros yearling; by Wootton Bassett out of useful 5f/6f winner; 20-1 for 17-runner maiden at Newbury (1m, good to soft) four weeks ago but came strongly from mid-division to beat all except subsequent Dante winner Economics; that was respected form and he looks highly promising.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

28

(35)

28th Sep 2024

Soft

1m 1f 0y

Class 2

15:40 Newmarket

Under Siege

8st 10lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Andrew Balding

Hasn't fulfilled the promise shown when runner-up to Economics then Lead Artist (1m, good to soft/good) in the spring on his first two starts; unraced on soft/heavy ground; however, this 3yo remains lightly raced and may benefit from today's step up in trip; not written off.

20/1

6th

15

(3)

31st Aug 2024

Good

0m 7f 127y

Class 2

14:40 Chester

Under Siege

8st 10lb

J: David Probert

T: Andrew Balding

slowly away

5/1

1st

9

(6)

15th Aug 2024

Standard

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:10 Chelmsford (AW)

Under Siege

9st 7lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: Andrew Balding

Useful efforts when runner-up to Dante winner Economics and recent Glorious Goodwood Group 3 scorer Lead Artist on his first two starts; beaten at 30-100 at Windsor last time but he found himself at the back of the field after a slow start and can be given another chance.

8/15

10/1

Form: 62-

Last run: 251 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Hampered on debut and much improved when second of nine to a smart rival in novice at Ascot (7f, good to firm) in September; has since left Peter Chapple-Hyam (same owners); will stay 1m and brings among the best form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

(4)

28th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

19:45 Sandown

Dark Tornado

9st 7lb

J: J F Egan

T: Michael Wigham

There was no return to his peak form on his recent stable and seasonal debut at Newmarket (7f, good) but it wasn't a bad performance and he could improve for that run; might not be far away; watch the betting.

20/1

8th

1

(1)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

14:50 Newmarket

Dark Tornado

9st 9lb

J: J F Egan

T: Michael Wigham

Absent since below-par run last August on final start for Denis Quinn (same ownership); however, this lightly raced 5yo returns after wind surgery and he won this last year (good to firm); no surprise if he has a big say.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Brother to 7f-1m2f winner Key To Victory (RPR 109) and half-brother to Blair House (1m1f UAE Group 1 winner) among the dam's winners; 4-1, made most to win 11-runner Wood Ditton newcomers race at Newmarket (1m, good) four weeks ago, which was a cracking start to his career but he hung on by a nose from Lead Artist who is now 6lb better off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(3)

11th Oct 2025

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 1

13:15 Newmarket

First Conquest

9st 5lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Held up; Meydan improvement (mostly on on fast ground) was backed up when third in 1m1f Group 3 here in April but, after 116 days off, it's his fourth of seven in Haydock Group 3 (1m2f, good) nine weeks ago on latest start which makes him a leading contender on form.

4/1

4th

1

(3)

9th Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 100y

Class 1

15:00 Haydock

First Conquest

9st 10lb

J: David Probert

T: Charlie Appleby

Won handicap debut at 2024 Newmarket July meeting and next seen adding 1m1f handicap and 1m2f Group 3 wins at Meydan in January; ran creditably in defeat since in a Group 2 there and Group 3 at Newmarket but today's company demands much better, including as he gives weight to all; off 116 days.

16/1

3rd

1

(3)

15th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

1m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

First Conquest

9st 5lb

J: James Doyle

T: Charlie Appleby

Low-mileage 4yo who is 2-3 at the Newmarket tracks and 3-4 since wearing a hood; campaigned at Meydan this year, unsuited by steady pace when beaten favourite in Group 2 most recently; incurs 3lb penalty for Group 3 success the time before but may still have further progress in him.

13/2

Form: 3

Last run: 122 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has useful pedigree; 16-1 for maiden at Newcastle (7f, AW) in January when she made a promising debut to run on into third of nine; this race is a tough assignment, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(8)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 2f 50y

Class 6

16:22 Nottingham

Mystical Maria

11st 7lb

J: Mr Eireann Cagney

T: Richard Fahey

Acts on soft; back in form on last four starts, winning by a neck over 1m2f at Redcar and Leicester (15 ran) on the first and latest occasions; back up another 3lb but has to be a leading player.

11/4

4th

3

(8)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 2f 50y

Class 6

16:22 Nottingham

Mystical Maria

11st 7lb

J: Mr Eireann Cagney

T: Richard Fahey

Acts on soft; back in form on last four starts, winning by a neck over 1m2f at Redcar and Leicester (15 ran) on the first and latest occasions; back up another 3lb but has to be a leading player.

11/4

1

(10)

14th Oct 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

17:15 Leicester

Mystical Maria

9st 9lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Richard Fahey

Back in form on last three runs, winning at Redcar (1m2f, good to firm) before sound runs at Southwell (1m3f) and Beverley (1m2f, soft; beaten a short head, third has won since); interesting.

6/1

Form: 4

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
150-1 fourth of 12 in novice at Redcar (7f, soft) 15 days ago and can do better, but that's not in the same parish as some of the form in this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

9

(3)

6th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

19:30 Newcastle (AW)

Longhaired General

9st 1lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

Two attempts over C&D, including off 2lb higher in this race last year, comprise his only wins for Craig Lidster; effective when fresh; interesting returned to this scenario on stable/seasonal debut.

14/1

10th

13

(9)

3rd May 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:50 Newmarket

Longhaired General

9st 2lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Craig Lidster

Lightly raced front-runner who showed promise on turf last summer and won at Newcastle (1m, AW) in February; well beaten the last twice, however, most recently at Ascot on Wednesday; has to get back on track.

25/1

10th

13

(9)

3rd May 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:50 Newmarket

Longhaired General

9st 2lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Craig Lidster

Lightly raced front-runner who showed promise on turf last summer and won at Newcastle (1m, AW) in February; well beaten the last twice, however, most recently at Ascot on Wednesday; has to get back on track.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.20
Straight Forecast £4.22
Trifecta £13.10

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Lead Artist

SPOTLIGHT:

Under Siege

TOPSPEED:

Dark Tornado

POSTDATA:

Lead Artist

NEWMARKET:

Lead Artist

Daily Mail:

Lead Artist

D Express:

Lead Artist

The Sun:

Lead Artist

The Times:

Under Siege

The Guardian:

Under Siege

Daily Mirror:

Under Siege

The Star:

Under Siege

Daily Record:

Under Siege

Telegraph:

Dark Tornado