July 05 / 14.13 Beverley

14.13

Good To Firm

Matthew Ireland Memorial EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4050
  • 0m 7f 96y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Matthew Ireland Memorial EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Iffraaj half-brother to winners Alice Fairfax (6f 2yo; RPR 86) and Subaltern (1m2f AW; 52), out of 1m winner (88), from family of Dubawi; heed the market signals.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

2

(5)

18th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:12 Thirsk

Act Of Honor

9st 3lb

J: Oisin McSweeney

T: Fionn McSharry

Poor form in two runs last year for Kevin Ryan; changed hands for 11,000gns in the autumn and gelded; needs this run for a handicap mark and probably best watched unless strong in the market.

50/1

5th

1

(5)

8th Aug 2025

Good

0m 6f 212y

Class 3

19:25 Haydock

Act Of Honor

9st 7lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Kevin Ryan

14-1 when well-beaten last of six on last month's debut at Beverley (7.4f, good to firm); should leave that form well behind in time but probably best watched for now.

25/1

1

(5)

5th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 96y

Class 5

14:13 Beverley

Act Of Honor

9st 7lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Kevin Ryan

Iffraaj half-brother to winners Alice Fairfax (6f 2yo; RPR 86) and Subaltern (1m2f AW; 52), out of 1m winner (88), from family of Dubawi; heed the market signals.

9/2

Form: 4

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
19,000euros yearling, 260,000euros breeze-up 2yo; made the frame in 6.5f contest at Newbury, shaping as if this longer distance will suit; open to improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(7)

23rd Sep 2025

Heavy

1m 0f 100y

Class 5

14:08 Beverley

Circle Of Magic

9st 7lb

J: James Doyle

T: Archie Watson

He has run well to make the frame on both his starts, latterly when third of six in 7.5f novice here in July; unraced on soft ground but that race has thrown up two winners so he holds leading form claims after a break.

11/10

2

(1)

5th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 96y

Class 5

14:13 Beverley

Circle Of Magic

9st 7lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Archie Watson

19,000euros yearling, 260,000euros breeze-up 2yo; made the frame in 6.5f contest at Newbury, shaping as if this longer distance will suit; open to improvement.

4/1

4th

3

(5)

12th Jun 2025

Good

0m 6f 110y

Class 4

14:40 Newbury

Circle Of Magic

9st 7lb

J: James Doyle

T: Archie Watson

19,000euros yearling, 260,000euros breeze-up 2yo; second foal; dam placed 5f 2yo (RPR 71), out of maiden half-sister to US 1m/1m1f winner; this Australia newcomer has to be of interest given his purchase price.

4/1

Form: 51

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Bought in for £42,000 after coming with a strong late surge to win Chester seller (7f, good) last time; avoids a penalty and may remain competitive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

12

(10)

11th Aug 2026

Good To Soft

1m 1f 35y

Class 3

19:00 Hamilton

Strength Of Spirit

9st 4lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: K R Burke

Made a winning reappearance at Musselburgh (1m, good to soft; first start since being gelded) in April and he also went close there over 1m1f in June; down the field at Goodwood (1m2f, good to firm) 12 days ago having raced freely, but it's likely this slight drop back in trip will suit.

20/1

10th

11

(10)

30th Jul 2026

Good

1m 1f 197y

Class 2

13:50 Goodwood

Strength Of Spirit

8st 9lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: K R Burke

Three wins from ten races, the latest win in April on reappearance; well beaten here in May but that was 7f and he's done much better when finishing close up from towards rear over 1m1f at Musselburgh on his two outings since; better is needed but 1m2f looks plausible.

25/1

4th

8

(2)

30th Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 208y

Class 3

15:00 Musselburgh

Strength Of Spirit

8st 11lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Three wins at 7f and 1m (on this track; good to soft) but topped those efforts when a running-on close third, just behind Pandemonium over C&D (good; same terms) this month; should have more options now he's shown he stays this far; solid chance for last year's winning yard.

11/2

Form: 3

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
550,000gns yearling; leading form contender on his third-place finish in small field at Hamilton (6f) and he's bred to be suited by this longer trip; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(3)

8th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:14 Newmarket (July)

Vincenzo Peruggia

9st 6lb

J: David Egan

T: Charlie Johnston

Has failed to back up a good reappearance effort and finished behind two of today's rivals, albeit having raced wide, at Glorious Goodwood most recently (first run since being gelded); something to prove.

12/1

16th

3

(11)

30th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:55 Goodwood

Vincenzo Peruggia

9st 8lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Charlie Johnston

Fast-ground 2yo novice winner who reappeared with good second in a handicap at Musselburgh (1m, good to soft) in April; however, two lesser runs have followed; gelded since and has to get back on track.

50/1

25th

25

(12)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:50 Ascot

Vincenzo Peruggia

8st 11lb

J: David Egan

T: Charlie Johnston

Last season's novice win came on good to firm (7.5f); this year's defeats at Musselburgh (1m, good to soft; ran well) and Newmarket (good to firm; not so well from the front) mark him down as an unlikely winner of this.

50/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
50,000gns yearling; by Camelot out of a maiden half-sister to 6f 2yo Group 1 winner Reckless Abandon; sole runner on the card for last year's winning yard; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

8

(8)

29th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 0y

15:40 Curragh

Della Pace

9st 0lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: George Boughey

The best of four runs this season came when third in a Goodwood Listed race over 1m2f; a similar effort when fourth in a Naas Group 3 in June; needs to find a fair bit more.

20/1

4th

3

(1)

24th Jun 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 84y

18:40 Naas

Della Pace

9st 2lb

J: W J Lee

T: George Boughey

Kempton maiden winner at two; beaten in a four-runner handicap at Wolverhampton; had shown better form in making the frame in two Listed races over 1m2f on turf, both at Goodwood; hard to see her winning at this level.

10/1

3rd

3

(10)

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:35 Goodwood

Della Pace

9st 2lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: George Boughey

2yo maiden winner whose best form (from six races) came when fourth of eight in a C&D Listed race (good) two weeks ago; slowly away at 40-1 that day and made late progress, so still looks capable of a bit better; that could still mean minor honours, though.

10/1

Form: 86

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Twice-raced filly who has the weakest claims and looks likely to be more interesting when switched to nurseries.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

(1)

30th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 44y

Class 3

15:45 Goodwood

Dunkeld Dreamer

9st 4lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Five-time winner with form on all sorts of surfaces; in good heart until finishing nowhere in a Class 2 handicap at last week's Ebor meeting and that's readily forgiven.

6/1

12th

15

(1)

21st Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 2

17:20 York

Dunkeld Dreamer

8st 5lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: K R Burke

Won the Queen Mother's Cup for female amateur jockeys here (1m4f, good) in June; not beaten far when fourth of five at Hamilton (1m5f, good) since but there's a suspicion that this will prove too competitive.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.70
Straight Forecast £6.70
Trifecta £12.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Vincenzo Peruggia

LAMBOURN:

Circle Of Magic

Telegraph:

Strength Of Spirit

NEWMARKET:

Della Pace

The Times:

Act Of Honor

RP RATINGS:

Vincenzo Peruggia

POSTDATA:

Vincenzo Peruggia

The Guardian:

Vincenzo Peruggia

D Express:

Vincenzo Peruggia

Daily Mirror:

Vincenzo Peruggia

Daily Mail:

Circle Of Magic

The Sun:

Circle Of Magic

The Star:

Strength Of Spirit

Daily Record:

Strength Of Spirit