15.45
SoftDarley EBF Novice Stakes (Winning 3yo To Receive Free Entry To 2025 Betfred St Leger) (GBB/GBBPlus)
- Prize money: £21600
- 1m 3f 197y
- Class 2
- 5 runners
Runners: 5 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Light rain
7/4 (Won)
- Win: £2.20
- Place: £1.20
Form: 5-270
Last run: 35 days
W: 9st 4lb
3 yo Colt
OR: 85
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 1 (3) |
1st May 2026 Standard 1m 4f 98y Class 4 |
9st 11lb |
Powerful yard, who won this two years ago, had a few disappoint at short prices of late; this lightly raced 400,000gns yearling holds obvious claims, having been gelded since winning his novice last summer (highly tried a couple of times prior) though. |
4/5 |
|
1st 5 (1) |
24th Jul 2025 Soft 1m 3f 197y Class 2 |
9st 4lb |
Solid second in Doncaster maiden on seasonal debut (1m2f; useful winner has advertised the form since); seemingly out of his depth in Epsom Listed event and Royal Ascot handicap since; respected back in calmer waters. |
7/4 |
5/2
- Place: £1.60
Form: 74- BF
Last run: 274 days
W: 9st 4lb
3 yo Colt
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 4 (2) |
26th Sep 2025 Good To Soft 1m 6f 0y Class 3 |
9st 5lb |
1,000,000gns yearling; progressed in three qualifying runs and he readily fought off a challenge to make winning handicap debut at Kempton (1m4f, AW) last month; 5lb rise is only a footnote for an unexposed sort who looks like he'll relish this step up in trip. |
7/2 |
|
2 (7) |
11th Aug 2025 Standard To Slow 1m 3f 219y Class 4 |
9st 10lb |
1,000,000gns yearling; progressive form in three starts on turf without living up to his breeding, finishing second of five on his return from nine months off in a valuable Doncaster novice (1m4f, good; first start since being gelded) 18 days ago; may step up again now handicapping with stable 67-210 (32%) here in past five seasons. |
11/4 |
|
2nd 2 (2) |
24th Jul 2025 Soft 1m 3f 197y Class 2 |
9st 4lb |
Godolphin runner who is well bred and cost 1,000,000gns as a yearling; failed to meet expectations in two Newmarket events last term but perhaps he'll do better as a 3yo and now gelded; not written off. |
5/2 |
5/2
Form: 1-
Last run: 306 days
W: 9st 10lb
3 yo Colt
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 8 (6) |
4th Jul 2026 Good 1m 1f 209y Class 2 |
9st 5lb |
Off the bridle a long way out over 1m at Newmarket 15 days ago but he did stick at it for fourth of 13, suggesting this return to 1m2f for the first time this year may suit; nicely handicapped on his second at Newbury on his final 3yo start. |
7/1 |
|
4th 8 (13) |
19th Jun 2026 Good 1m 0f 0y Class 3 |
9st 13lb |
Runner-up last September in his first two handicaps (1m2f/1m, soft/good to soft) and not beaten far when ninth of 24 on reappearance in the Spring Cup at Newbury (1m, good); perhaps unsuited by Epsom when down the field a fortnight ago and this unexposed 4yo remains one to be interested in. |
7/1 |
|
13th 11 (14) |
5th Jun 2026 Good To Soft 1m 0f 113y Class 2 |
9st 1lb |
Wide-margin win (7f, heavy) on his sole start at two promised plenty and, after being campaigned over 1m2f and 1m4f, he recorded a clear career best when second of 15 over 1m at Newbury (good to soft) on his final start at three; subsequently gelded and his reappearance when beaten less than 4l at Newbury in April was perfectly respectable; unexposed and he's respected. |
9/2 |
14/1
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 9st 4lb
3 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 2 (5) |
26th Apr 2026 Good 1m 6f 0y Class 4 |
9st 8lb |
Raised his game for two 1m4f wins this winter and ran respectably in another AW race three weeks ago after 81 days off; a close call on turf on handicap debut (1m6f, good) last November gives plenty of encouragement that he will prove as effective moving away from AW this afternoon; in the mix. |
5/2 |
|
3rd 2 (2) |
4th Apr 2026 Standard 1m 4f 51y Class 4 |
9st 8lb |
Didn't need to improve to win an uncompetitive C&D novice in the winter but did it impressively and he bettered that at Southwell (off 2lb lower than today) next time, coming from off a steady pace to get up in a busy finish; remains open to further improvement. |
2/1 |
|
3 (5) |
4th Nov 2025 Good To Soft 1m 5f 218y Class 5 |
9st 9lb |
Similar form in two middle-distance novice events (wearing blinkers that now return; 1m4f/1m3f) before a lesser effort on the AW when tried in cheekpieces; could easily make an impact in his first handicap. |
3/1 |
8/1
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 9st 4lb
3 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 3 (4) |
24th Jul 2025 Soft 1m 3f 197y Class 2 |
9st 4lb |
46,000euros foal; Persian King half-brother to three French winners, notably Lady Day (1m/1m1f including Listed; RPR 105), out of unraced half-sister to dual Arc winner Treve; heed the market signals. |
8/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £5.30 |
| Straight Forecast | £5.60 |
| Trifecta | £9.50 |