October 11 / 16.20 York

16.20

Soft

William Hill EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10800
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
William Hill EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/5 (Won)

  • Win: £1.80
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 3

Last run: 36 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
260,000gns yearling; promise when third (fourth won next time) on debut at Newbury over this trip on soft; the form choice on that run and will be hard to beat with normal improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

21th

4

(6)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Fondo Blanco

9st 10lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Steadily progressive and has a largely solid record; won well in his last handicap attempt, then ran well in Listed grade; gelded since; has C&D form and looks an interesting contender on seasonal debut, with further improvement a possibility; market support should be heeded.

16/1

4th

6

(2)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 75y

Class 1

14:47 Nottingham

Fondo Blanco

9st 1lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Reliable sort who's found some improvement in recent starts, on last two occasions taking second at Ascot (7f, soft) and winning well in a handicap at Haydock (1m, good to soft); first crack at 1m suited him very well last time but another step forward is required.

8/1

4th

6

(2)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 75y

Class 1

14:47 Nottingham

Fondo Blanco

9st 1lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Reliable sort who's found some improvement in recent starts, on last two occasions taking second at Ascot (7f, soft) and winning well in a handicap at Haydock (1m, good to soft); first crack at 1m suited him very well last time but another step forward is required.

8/1

OUR TIP

3/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 62

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Stepped up on debut (AW) form at Newbury last time (sixth won next time) and no surprise to see him run well if handling these much softer conditions.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

(9)

7th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:30 Leicester

Belgrave

9st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Won 6f novice (heavy) here as 2yo but a long way from repeating that promise in 2025 and now tries something new, a drop in trip in first-time headgear.

10/1

5th

5

(2)

18th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 6f 3y

Class 3

15:30 Yarmouth

Belgrave

8st 13lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Promising 2yo who was well suited by slow ground; struggled in three runs this year but should get his ground today and a revival could be on the cards.

4/1

3

(7)

12th Aug 2025

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 4

15:00 Lingfield (AW)

Belgrave

9st 9lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

All races at 6f; progressive 2yo who ended the season with a novice win at Leicester (heavy) but he's had a very slow start to 2025 and has been gelded since last seen in May; some questions to answer over new trip.

14/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 31 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 10lb

2 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Stepped up on debut (heavy) form when winning Pontefract novice on good to firm last time; type to make further progress but has to show these conditions suit as well as a sound surface.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

(1)

25th Feb 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

18:40 Kempton (AW)

Apache Green

9st 5lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: S Woods

Second to one who went on to complete a hat-trick next time before being demoted to second after dead-heating over C&D; beaten a little over a length, but managed only fifth, in muddling contest just four days later; this test should suit better.

9/2

5th

4

(1)

23rd Jan 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

12:57 Wolverhampton (AW)

Apache Green

9st 9lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: S Woods

0-13 but he was was demoted to second after forcing a dead-heat in 1m handicap at Kempton on Monday (bumped rival close home); 2lb well in off the same mark here and he chased home a subsequent winner at this track (8.6f) on his penultimate run; big player.

5/2

2nd

1

(8)

19th Jan 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

13:08 Kempton (AW)

Apache Green

9st 9lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: S Woods

0-9 in handicaps since joining this yard, but a much better effort when chasing home a subsequent winner at Wolverhampton (8.6f, Tapeta) 13 days ago; a player from the same mark.

7/2

20/1

Form: 06

Last run: 56 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Stepped up on debut effort when sixth at Thirsk last time but considerably more needed to win on first run away from good ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

(9)

8th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

20:40 Newcastle (AW)

The Vital Spark

9st 4lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Kevin Ryan

Nothing wrong with the form of his C&D win in March but he has struggled since, including after wind surgery in May; tongue-tie added for the first time and cheekpieces replace blinkers; not discounted.

13/2

9

(12)

25th Aug 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:23 Ripon

The Vital Spark

9st 2lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Kevin Ryan

Can make the running as when gaining his sole success at Newcastle (5f, AW) in March, but his three efforts since returning to turf have been underwhelming; 1lb lower than for his win, but still has enough to prove.

20/1

7th

11

(6)

24th Jul 2025

Soft

0m 6f 2y

Class 5

17:30 Doncaster

The Vital Spark

8st 11lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Kevin Ryan

Made all in a Newcastle handicap (5f, AW) in March but he's been disappointing in both runs since, including after wind surgery at Pontefract two weeks ago; blinkers are now added and he has quite a bit to prove again back up in trip.

16/1

5th
5 (2)
Mwafaq

25/1

Form: 6

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Upset in the stalls and lost chance with a slow start at Pontefract on recent debut; should do better but best watched this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

(9)

3rd Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 213y

Class 5

14:35 Doncaster

Mwafaq

9st 6lb

J: Ethan Tindall

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Progressive 4yo who made it four wins from his last six starts when scoring at Hamilton (8.3f, good to soft) last month; also effective on good/good to firm ground; a 3lb rise should not prevent another big run.

8/1

1st

3

(9)

10th Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 68y

Class 6

21:00 Hamilton

Mwafaq

10st 1lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Won reappearance, completing the hat-trick, at Thirsk (7f, good; from 4lb lower) in April; pressed the winner hard at Ayr (1m, good to firm) three weeks ago; this is a slightly longer trip; useful claimer in the saddle.

7/2

6th
7 (1)
Showstorm

40/1

Form: 04

Last run: 66 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten both starts and needs a big chunk of improvement to figure after short break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

(2)

4th Oct 2025

Good

1m 2f 1y

Class 5

14:46 Redcar

Showstorm

8st 11lb

J: Shane Gray

T: K R Burke

Showed only minor promise in three 2yo races (6f-7f; gelded since) and makes handicap debut after a one-year absence, but today's trip is more in keeping with his stamina and he needs close attention in the betting.

3/1

6th

7

(1)

11th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

16:20 York

Showstorm

9st 4lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Soundly beaten both starts and needs a big chunk of improvement to figure after short break.

40/1

4th

7

(1)

6th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 5

14:15 Catterick

Showstorm

9st 7lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

33-1, slowly away and always in rear on last month's debut at Newbury (7f, good); however, he represents a powerful 2yo stable and it will be interesting to see if he's stronger in the betting on this second start.

12/1

12/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
8,500gns yearling who went for £25,000 at the breeze-ups; stamina on dam's side of pedigree and interesting to see how he gets on over this trip on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(7)

28th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 217y

Class 5

13:25 Redcar

Jungle King

9st 7lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: K R Burke

midfield, outpaced 3f out, some headway over 1f out, weakened from 1f out

10/1

4th

3

(7)

28th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 217y

Class 5

13:25 Redcar

Jungle King

9st 7lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: K R Burke

midfield, outpaced 3f out, some headway over 1f out, weakened from 1f out

10/1

7th

4

(5)

11th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

16:20 York

Jungle King

9st 4lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

8,500gns yearling who went for £25,000 at the breeze-ups; stamina on dam's side of pedigree and interesting to see how he gets on over this trip on debut.

12/1

66/1

Form: 04

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Hinted at ability on turf and AW but looks more a handicap type.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

2

(2)

25th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

18:07 Newcastle (AW)

Oselton

9st 12lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Craig Lidster

Southwell winner (7f); couldn't hold off a late challenge at Doncaster (7f; 13-2) on penultimate start; restless in the stalls and ran too free when favourite at Beverley latest; perhaps a few pounds too high in the weights.

14/1

12th

3

(1)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 96y

Class 6

19:30 Beverley

Oselton

9st 12lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Craig Lidster

Registered sole win on AW but he produced a career-best RPR when going down by only a neck at Doncaster (7f, good to soft) most recently; possibilities, provided that form is backed up.

7/2

2nd

6

(5)

16th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 6y

Class 6

20:15 Doncaster

Oselton

9st 7lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Craig Lidster

Made the breakthrough with a clearcut success at Southwell (7f, Tapeta) last September but he's not gone on from that and was down the field on Thirsk reappearance (7f, good) last month; still 8lb higher than for his win and others are preferred.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.30
Straight Forecast £3.48
Trifecta £10.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Fondo Blanco

Telegraph:

Apache Green

The Star:

Belgrave

The Sun:

Apache Green

RP RATINGS:

Fondo Blanco

TOPSPEED:

Fondo Blanco

POSTDATA:

Fondo Blanco

NEWMARKET:

Fondo Blanco

The Times:

Fondo Blanco

The Guardian:

Fondo Blanco

Daily Mail:

Fondo Blanco

D Express:

Fondo Blanco

Daily Mirror:

Fondo Blanco

Daily Record:

Fondo Blanco