August 15 / 18.02 Thirsk

18.02

Good To Firm

Irish EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4860
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 13 runners
RTV
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Irish EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

Runners: 13 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 3

Last run: 53 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Made fairly encouraging debut when third of four for Andrew Balding at Wolverhampton (6f, AW; wore cheekpieces) in June but was sold for 16,000gns last month and will need to improve to have a say from stall 12 here; no headgear this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

15

(11)

14th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 2y

Class 6

17:45 Doncaster

Antique Blue

8st 4lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Poor form for current stable and hard to recommend; cheekpieces replace a hood.

50/1

12th

7

(5)

2nd Jun 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 6

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Antique Blue

8st 11lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Some ability in one start for Andrew Balding, but little to shout about in five outings for this yard; hard to recommend despite another drop in grade.

25/1

9th

7

(6)

21st May 2026

Good

0m 7f 6y

Class 6

16:15 Catterick

Antique Blue

9st 3lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Habitual slow starter for whom it is yet to click since joining Ruth Carr; soundly beaten at Doncaster (7f, good to firm; 28-1) just under a month ago; now 4lb lower - a career-low mark - seeking something positive; focus elsewhere.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: 6

Last run: 73 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to 2yo Group 2 winner Berkshire Shadow; well held when last of six at Lingfield (6f, good; gelding soon afterwards) in June but represents a respected Newmarket stable and ought to be capable of better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(1)

30th Jan 2026

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 5

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Balthamos

9st 8lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

0-8 but he's run some good races, including placing in 7f handicaps in December; competitive from this mark but might be vulnerable to improvers.

6/1

5

(4)

12th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:02 Goodwood

Balthamos

9st 7lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Attractively bred grey who has improved with each of his four starts and was a close second on nursery debut at Epsom a fortnight ago (7f, good; unraced on softer), despite pulling hard; contender up 2lb.

5/1

6

(1)

28th Sep 2025

Good

0m 7f 3y

Class 4

13:45 Epsom

Balthamos

9st 6lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Handicap debutant who looks fairly solid, having made the frame over 7f on turf/AW the last twice; in good hands and may be capable of progress at this level; one to consider.

6/1

Form: 08

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten on first two outings (6f/5f) and can't be recommended.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

10

(4)

18th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

19:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Bestfootleads

8st 13lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Brian Ellison

Unexposed after only four runs but ducked sharply left at start and was soon struggling on recent nursery debut at Beverley (7.4f; 66-1); sports cheekpieces today; big leap of faith required to support him.

40/1

8th

8

(8)

30th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 96y

Class 6

15:07 Beverley

Bestfootleads

8st 4lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Brian Ellison

Has shown little, including in a seller, and hard to fancy on nursery debut.

33/1

3

(5)

15th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

18:02 Thirsk

Bestfootleads

9st 7lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Brian Ellison

Well beaten on first two outings (6f/5f) and can't be recommended.

100/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
42,000euros yearling; sixth foal; half-brother to two Italian winners; dam placed 5f-7f (RPR 70), sister to 5f Group 3 winner Hoh Mike and half-sister to smart sprinter Hogmaneigh; riding arrangements suggest Haaderr is the stable's main hope here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

(9)

14th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

15:48 Beverley

Bradbury

9st 3lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Edward Bethell

Progressive 3yo; has done well since tried in an eyeshield with wins over this trip at Leicester (good) and Wetherby (good to firm); 4lb higher; one to consider.

6/4

1st

3

(9)

15th Jun 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

16:50 Wetherby

Bradbury

9st 7lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Edward Bethell

Hasn't always looked straightforward, but got off the mark in today's headgear combination in apprentice handicap at Leicester last week (Heart Sign a length back in third); no penalty; chance.

3/1

Form: 2

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to very useful 7f AW winner La Botte; went down fighting when close second on Haydock debut (7f, good) last month and commands respect here, despite his awkward draw.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(3)

15th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 4

16:10 Catterick

Haaderr

9st 8lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: Edward Bethell

Runner-up on turf on first two starts (including good to firm) before making it third time lucky when comfortably seeing off ten rivals at Southwell (7f, AW) last October; subsequently gelded; this is a slightly belated return to the track but he's potentially useful for in-form Ed Bethell.

10/11

1st

5

(7)

7th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

16:57 Southwell (AW)

Haaderr

9st 7lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Edward Bethell

Seems a winner waiting to happen, having posted second-place finishes over 7f at Haydock and Thirsk; beaten favourite last time but ran well on the figures; related to two AW scorers; respected.

2/1

5

(14)

15th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

18:02 Thirsk

Haaderr

9st 7lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Edward Bethell

Half-brother to very useful 7f AW winner La Botte; went down fighting when close second on Haydock debut (7f, good) last month and commands respect here, despite his awkward draw.

5/2

Form: 2

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well-bred colt; no match for odds-on winner when clear second of four on recent debut at Hamilton (6f, good) but that was still a promising effort and he features prominently in calculations here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

(17)

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

13:25 Goodwood

Hasbro Market

8st 9lb

J: Mark Winn

T: David O’Meara

Creditable sixth to Startled at York last week but finished out of the first two for the first time and failed to show further progress; that defeat suggests he's not the percentage call in another competitive field.

16/1

6th

3

(10)

13th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:40 York

Hasbro Market

9st 4lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Doesn't seem totally straightforward but he has a solid record (2122) and may do better still; gelded prior to good effort behind Passing Thought at Wetherby (7f, good to firm) on handicap/seasonal debut; in the mix.

5/1

2nd

1

(5)

26th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:35 Wetherby

Hasbro Market

9st 11lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Delivered on debut promise when winning Thirsk novice (7f, good to firm) last August and probably bettered that form when second in a quite valuable Ayr race (7f, soft) a few weeks later; makes handicap debut after seven-month absence (gelded in the autumn) but should have more to offer.

11/2

Form: 50

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed no significant promise on his first two starts (7.4f/7f) and can only be watched at present.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(3)

4th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 96y

Class 6

17:40 Beverley

Hood Wink

9st 3lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

Generally consistent since a Wetherby dead-heat in the spring off 2lb lower; today's stiff 7.4f should be fine and he looks set to go well once more.

5/1

3rd

7

(8)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

17:15 Ripon

Hood Wink

9st 3lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: Tim Easterby

Dead-heated in a 1m handicap at Wetherby in April (good to firm); ran another sound race when third to a stable companion over this C&D last time; worth considering.

4/1

3rd

7

(6)

28th May 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

14:35 Ripon

Hood Wink

9st 4lb

J: Harry Russell

T: Tim Easterby

Dead-heated at Wetherby (1m, good to firm) in April but has failed to back that up twice since (including C&D).

6/1

Form: 2

Last run: 46 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Out of a useful and well-connected 1m/1m2f winner; left well behind by subsequent Listed winner when second on debut at Wolverhampton (7f, AW) at end of June but significant positives can still be drawn from that performance; could have a say here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

(8)

21st Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 6y

Class 5

16:35 Pontefract

Kiss For An Angel

9st 4lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Close second of five at Redcar (1m, good) last November in his sole nursery; however, beaten a long way on both starts this season (1m2f/1m) and that puts him well down the list.

16/1

10th

4

(4)

22nd May 2026

Soft

0m 7f 212y

Class 5

17:15 Haydock

Kiss For An Angel

9st 6lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Beaten a long way on reappearance at Doncaster (1m2f, good to firm) four weeks ago and it's hard to be confident on the back of that; however, he may have needed the run and he was a close second of five at Redcar (1m, good) last November in his sole nursery; a case can be made on that form.

8/1

9th

4

(4)

24th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 43y

Class 5

17:10 Doncaster

Kiss For An Angel

9st 9lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Richard & Peter Fahey

Tapped back into his initial promise when close second of five in Redcar nursery (1m, good) in November; gelded ahead of this comeback and he's another whose pedigree suggests this trip can unlock more.

7/2

Form: 8

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Out of a fairly useful 7f performer but was towards rear throughout on recent debut at Pontefract (6f, good to firm) and has wide draw here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(4)

18th Sep 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

14:22 Pontefract

Pierre Le Picard

9st 4lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Michael Dods

Stepped forward on his second start but it was still modest form when beaten 11l at Thirsk (7f, good to firm) last month; will be of more interest once handicapped.

50/1

9

(13)

15th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

18:02 Thirsk

Pierre Le Picard

9st 7lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Michael Dods

Out of a fairly useful 7f performer but was towards rear throughout on recent debut at Pontefract (6f, good to firm) and has wide draw here.

66/1

6

(8)

6th Aug 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:00 Pontefract

Pierre Le Picard

9st 7lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Michael Dods

£30,000 yearling by Harry Angel; third foal; half-brother to 6f winner Cuban Melody (RPR 78); dam 6f/7f winner (including 2yo; 88), half-sister to 8.6f-1m4f winner Dubai Bounty (dam of smart sprinter Kachy) out of Group-placed 5f 2yo winner; needs a second look but probably one for later on.

10/1

20/1

Form: 95

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Not beaten far when last of five at Ayr (7f, good to soft) last month, his second start, but that performance is quite tricky to evaluate and he almost certainly needs to improve again here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(7)

13th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 3

14:22 Musselburgh

Real Man

9st 2lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Six-race maiden whose best form, namely third-place finishes (7f/1m) in August/September, gives him a major chance in this field; did too much up front at York on Saturday; wears first-time headgear.

3/1

5

(5)

11th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 192y

Class 2

14:40 York

Real Man

8st 4lb

J: Andrew Elliott

T: K R Burke

Close third of five on nursery debut at Thirsk (1m, good) last month and again ran well when third of nine at Haydock (7f, good to soft) a fortnight ago, when shaping as though this return to 1m may be a plus; chance.

9/2

3rd

2

(1)

27th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 6f 212y

Class 5

17:00 Haydock

Real Man

9st 9lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

No extra towards the finish when third of five on 1m Thirsk nursery debut (good) three weeks ago; the drop back to 7f could suit and the fact he went off at 5-6 at Thirsk suggests he's thought to be well treated by a leading stable which won this race last year; has a handy inside stall; reasons to be positive about his prospects.

7/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
45,000euros breeze-up 2yo; tenth foal; half-brother to seven winners including Hertford Dancer (9.4f AW 2yo/11.6f turf Listed; RPR 104), Sunpass (1m2f; 93) and Anglo Irish (1m2f-1m4f AW; 92); dam 1m2f winner (84); will probably need further than 7f to be seen to best effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

12th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 4

17:41 Market Rasen

Steel Fixer

11st 0lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Brian Ellison

52-rated Flat maiden; headed before two out, weakened quickly and pulled up (reportedly made a respiratory noise) in the race won by Tiny Riot at Hexham (2m, good; 14-1) on Saturday; with that in mind, even with a tongue-tie added, this represents a quick turnaround.

16/1

3

6th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

17:05 Hexham

Steel Fixer

10st 12lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Brian Ellison

Flat maiden (0-6) but marginally higher-rated than stablemate Jambearee, and the fact that Nathan Moscrop takes the ride suggests he's their principal hope; raced too freely and weakened on AW at Newcastle (1m2f) on Tuesday; wears first-time cheekpieces.

14/1

5th

5

(5)

1st May 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

16:45 Newcastle (AW)

Steel Fixer

8st 13lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

Quite well related, being a half-brother to three AW winners; overraced and hit traffic in a messy Wolverhampton handicap (1m4f) on his AW debut ten days ago, but that was at least a step up on his turf efforts.

12/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
22,000gns yearling; first foal; dam unraced sister to 1m4f Listed winner Voodoo Queen, half-sister to 7f Listed winner Tinker Toy; stable has only occasional first-time-out winners.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

(9)

15th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

18:02 Thirsk

Green Bay Dancer

9st 2lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

22,000gns yearling; first foal; dam unraced sister to 1m4f Listed winner Voodoo Queen, half-sister to 7f Listed winner Tinker Toy; stable has only occasional first-time-out winners.

25/1

Form: 60

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Displayed some promise before weakening on first two starts, latterly in quite valuable 7f York novice last month, but is not the most obvious answer here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

(3)

15th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

18:02 Thirsk

Jennys Palace

9st 2lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Ivan Furtado

Displayed some promise before weakening on first two starts, latterly in quite valuable 7f York novice last month, but is not the most obvious answer here.

33/1

11th

18

(9)

25th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

18:38 York

Jennys Palace

8st 11lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Ivan Furtado

Has an attractive pedigree and she was prominent for a long way on last month's debut at Newcastle (7f, AW), but was soundly beaten at 16-1 and others have far more substance to their claims.

25/1

9

(9)

26th Jun 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

16:20 Newcastle (AW)

Jennys Palace

9st 2lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Ivan Furtado

13,000gns yearling; sixth foal; Palace Pier half-sister to four winners notably Sea King (1m2f-1m5f including AW/Australian Group 3); dam 7f 2yo/1m6f Listed winner; check the betting but she may need this debut run.

16/1

Non-runners

Goldie Bear

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.80
Straight Forecast £6.30
Trifecta £60.70

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Haaderr

SPOTLIGHT:

Goldie Bear

NEWMARKET:

Balthamos

POSTDATA:

Haaderr

The Times:

Haaderr

Telegraph:

Haaderr

Daily Mail:

Haaderr

D Express:

Haaderr

Daily Mirror:

Haaderr

The Sun:

Haaderr

The Star:

Haaderr

Daily Record:

Haaderr

The Guardian:

Goldie Bear