July 17 / 15.22 Thirsk

15.22

Good To Soft

Army Benevolent Fund EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £3780
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
RTV
View Course
Army Benevolent Fund EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

OUR TIP

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.00
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 21

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up on debut at Kempton (7f, AW) last month then easily justified odds-on favouritism at Chester (7.5f, good); faces a tougher assignment today than last time but this highly likeable prospect is in good hands to continue to progress and can play a leading role once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(5)

6th Jan 2025

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 2

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Bobby Bennu

9st 5lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Roger Varian

dwelt start, pulled hard, held up in rear, headway from over 2f out, kept on when up the centre inside final furlong, went third inside final 110yds

11/4

3rd

2

(5)

6th Jan 2025

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 2

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Bobby Bennu

9st 5lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Roger Varian

Responded well to first-time hood at Lingfield (7f) in November when last seen, taking record to 3-7; instant removal of headgear is a possible negative (has raced freely at times previously) but he otherwise warrants respect, being a largely progressive sort.

11/4

1st

2

(7)

13th Nov 2024

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 3

13:37 Lingfield (AW)

Bobby Bennu

9st 10lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Roger Varian

Two novice wins on turf; beat all bar an impressive winner at Southwell (7f, AW) most recently, posting his best effort since handicapping; may benefit from first-time hood (can race freely) and has possibilities off unaltered mark.

5/2

7/4

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 01 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 11lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten on debut at Newbury (7f, good) in May but that run wasn't devoid of promise and he took a big step forward when easily making all at Newcastle (7f, AW) last month; this 320,000gns yearling could have plenty more to offer for his top yard and is firmly in calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

(10)

12th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:40 York

Germanic

9st 3lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

Hasn't had much racing and he went close on his handicap debut at Doncaster in September; finished nearer last than first in valuable event at Ascot (again 7f, soft) last Saturday but he faded only from over 1f out and could be well suited by today's drop to sprinting; may still have potential.

10/1

16/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Second foal; Saxon Warrior half-brother to connections' 1m/1m2f winner Dora Milaje (including 2yo debut; RPR 95); dam unraced half-sister to French 1,000 Guineas winner Beauty Parlour; upset in stalls and withdrawn from intended debut at Newcastle last month (11-2 at the time); makes debut in a hot race but no surprise if he runs well, if all goes to plan this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(1)

7th Apr 2025

Good

0m 7f 219y

Class 3

15:27 Redcar

Barefoot Warrior

9st 7lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

in touch with leaders on far side of group, pressed leader from 2f out, edged right 1f out, no extra final 110yds

13/8

2

(1)

7th Apr 2025

Good

0m 7f 219y

Class 3

15:27 Redcar

Barefoot Warrior

9st 7lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Won at Thirsk (1m, good) last August on second start and followed up in Newcastle novice (1m, AW) in September; this unexposed 4yo has potential off his opening mark and he's firmly in calculations.

13/8

1st

1

(12)

10th Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 5

19:00 Newcastle (AW)

Barefoot Warrior

9st 11lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Confirmed the promise of his Thirsk debut in July (7f, good to soft) by winning a 1m novice back there last month; improvement required to defy a penalty but it's not out of the question.

7/2

14/1

Form: 5

Last run: 64 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
110,000gns yearling who has an attractive pedigree and her inexperience was evident on debut at Ayr in May (6f, good; 15-8); she's with a good yard and should be an entirely different proposition at some stage, but she needs to leave that initial form miles behind to threaten today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(1)

7th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 6f 3y

Class 5

15:25 Yarmouth

Melon Twist

9st 2lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

took keen hold, made all, ridden 2f out, edged left but went clear inside final furlong

5/4

2nd

5

(2)

4th Sep 2024

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

17:38 Southwell (AW)

Melon Twist

9st 2lb

J: P J McDonald

T: K R Burke

Improved from May's Ayr debut when beaten 2l into fourth of nine at Thirsk (7f, good to soft) in July; half-sister to an AW winner and cannot be dismissed easily.

15/2

4th

10

(1)

17th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

15:22 Thirsk

Melon Twist

8st 13lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

prominent

14/1

Form: 32

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Third of 16 on debut at Wetherby (7f, good) last month and again showed promise when 7l second of four at Chester (7.5f, good) last time; can win races but he was no match for the winner Bobby Bennu at Chester and improvement is needed this afternoon.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

(7)

17th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 2f 23y

Class 4

16:05 Yarmouth

Warriors Dance

9st 7lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Boughey

Dam was useful over this trip and he's shown enough in three starts over 7f-7.6f to suggest he's worth considering back from a short break on handicap debut now handed a stiffer test and fitted with first-time headgear/tongue-tie; watch the market.

6/1

5th

9

(9)

17th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

15:22 Thirsk

Warriors Dance

9st 4lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: George Boughey

in touch with leaders

12/1

2nd

2

(1)

29th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

0m 7f 127y

Class 3

16:45 Chester

Warriors Dance

9st 7lb

J: Grace McEntee

T: George Boughey

First foal of a Group-placed 1m winner whose siblings include Oaks/dual Arc winner Enable; attracted support into 15-2 on recent Wetherby debut (7f, good) and he ran well to finish third of 16 behind a useful prospect; has quite a bit to find with Upscale but he should know more this time and is open to progress over this longer trip.

4/1

Form: 09

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Down the field at big odds on both runs; transformation needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(6)

17th Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

16:24 Newcastle (AW)

Spring Festival

9st 2lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Hasn't beaten many in five starts over 7f-1m2f on turf; down another 5lb for this AW debut and needs to improve for the new surface.

10/1

6th

7

(1)

17th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 2f 43y

Class 5

13:57 Doncaster

Spring Festival

9st 1lb

J: Mark Winn

T: David O’Meara

in touch with leaders

16/1

8th

9

(1)

29th Jul 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

16:45 Ayr

Spring Festival

9st 7lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Made debut on June 11th and down the field at big odds on all three runs (7f); however, there's potential in his pedigree and his half-brother Autumn Festival left his first three runs behind to win for this yard on handicap debut in 2022, when attracting market support; interesting.

7/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
10,000gns yearling; second foal; dam 6f/7f winner (RPR 91); others make greater appeal than this Lightning Spear newcomer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

(10)

7th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

16:45 Pontefract

Electric Lightning

8st 10lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Mark Walford

ducked sharply left start, soon recovered and pressed leader

20/1

8th

9

(6)

10th Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 5

19:00 Newcastle (AW)

Electric Lightning

9st 4lb

J: Jack Garritty

T: Mark Walford

Ran okay for fourth at Southwell last month (7f) but he was left behind by Lattaash in the final furlong; not sure to reverse those placings despite the revised terms.

20/1

4th

4

(13)

18th Aug 2024

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

14:50 Southwell (AW)

Electric Lightning

9st 4lb

J: Jack Garritty

T: Mark Walford

Trainer (also runs A Friend To All) best known for older handicappers and this 10,000gns yearling didn't offer much at 125-1 on his Thirsk debut last month.

66/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
9,000gns foal, 32,000euros yearling; third foal; closely related to Italian 7f/1m winner Il Paladino Rosso; dam maiden from 5f-7f (RPR 51), half-sister to US 8.5f dirt Grade 3 winner Trophy Chaser; a useful standard is required on debut and this Due Diligence gelding may be best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(1)

11th Aug 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:40 Ripon

Degale

9st 4lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: David & Nicola Barron

took keen hold, made all, drifted left over 2f out, soon faced challenge, ridden inside final furlong, kept on well final 110yds, won going away

13/8

3rd

7

(4)

3rd Aug 2024

Good

0m 7f 218y

Class 4

14:45 Thirsk

Degale

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: David & Nicola Barron

took keen hold, led

100/1

8th

5

(8)

17th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

15:22 Thirsk

Degale

9st 4lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: David & Nicola Barron

held up in rear, outpaced over 3f out, hung left but kept on from over 1f out, no telling impression

33/1

50/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fifth foal; Pastoral Pursuits half-brother to 6f-1m winner Tyrone's Poppy (RPR 98; started out with this yard); dam prolific 6f-1m winner for stable (97); could have a future but may be one for further down the line.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

8

(8)

28th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

1m 0f 6y

Class 5

16:12 Pontefract

Poppy Galore

9st 7lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Trailed home last of nine in 7f event at Thirsk 11 days ago; related to two winners for his stable and may do better in due course.

40/1

9th

7

(3)

17th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

15:22 Thirsk

Poppy Galore

9st 4lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

midfield

50/1

Non-runners

Ten Pounds

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.40
Straight Forecast £2.48
Trifecta £9.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Germanic

TOPSPEED:

Bobby Bennu

The Guardian:

Ten Pounds

Daily Mirror:

Bobby Bennu

The Sun:

Bobby Bennu

RP RATINGS:

Germanic

POSTDATA:

Germanic

NEWMARKET:

Germanic

The Times:

Germanic

Telegraph:

Germanic

Daily Mail:

Germanic

D Express:

Germanic

The Star:

Germanic

Daily Record:

Germanic