October 03 / 15.30 Ascot

15.30

Good

BetMGM Novice Stakes (GBB/GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £10800
  • 1m 3f 211y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
BetMGM Novice Stakes (GBB/GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 31-

Last run: 289 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Favourite for both runs last season on the AW and prevailed narrowly at Kempton in December (1m3f); top connections have been patient and had him gelded; open to improvement but William Buick rides the yard's other one.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(2)

3rd Oct 2025

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 3

15:30 Ascot

Aegean Prince

9st 10lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Charlie Appleby

Favourite for both runs last season on the AW and prevailed narrowly at Kempton in December (1m3f); top connections have been patient and had him gelded; open to improvement but William Buick rides the yard's other one.

4/1

1st

1

(7)

18th Dec 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 4

16:40 Kempton (AW)

Aegean Prince

9st 7lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Beaten favourite at Chelmsford on his debut six weeks ago (1m2f) but it was a promising start and he looked a stayer in the making; sets the standard and capable of better; one of two runners for stable.

10/11

1st

1

(7)

18th Dec 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 4

16:40 Kempton (AW)

Aegean Prince

9st 7lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Beaten favourite at Chelmsford on his debut six weeks ago (1m2f) but it was a promising start and he looked a stayer in the making; sets the standard and capable of better; one of two runners for stable.

10/11

2/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 2

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
75,000gns yearling; bred to stay well and was strong through the line when beaten a head at Kempton; a line through the winner gives him a similar chance to Race To The Stars on these terms and must have more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

27th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 4

18:08 Cartmel

Military Cross

10st 12lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Sam England

Seven-race maiden for the Gosdens but suffered a few near misses at up to 1m6f; made a quiet stable debut on the Flat (tongue tied after wind surgery) but that was in a strong handicap at York; could make a hurdler.

9/4

14th

12

(11)

13th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 188y

Class 4

17:15 York

Military Cross

9st 0lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Sam England

Second or third every time in September-January in his seven races for the Gosdens, most AW; tried as far as 1m6f and in two forms of headgear; sold for 65,000gns in February and has now had wind surgery and has his tongue tied first time; competitive mark in theory but clearly questions to answer.

14/1

3rd

4

(1)

30th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 4

15:38 Southwell (AW)

Military Cross

9st 9lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Chased home a better-fancied stablemate (who is now BHA rated 88) on his Kempton debut last September and then bumped into another smart sort at Ascot on his second run; his four subsequent defeats have come at odds of 30-100 (again behind a progressive rival), Evs, 8-11 and 6-4 and although he should stay this longer trip well, the fact more new headgear is tried suggests he has his quirks; still of interest on handicap debut.

6/4

Form: 61

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Pretty much all out to prevail in a small field at Newcastle (1m2f) and runner-up is now 0-6; however, showed a willing attitude and looks sure to improve with racing, especially over this longer trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

(10)

25th Apr 2026

Good

1m 2f 100y

Class 4

15:10 Haydock

Winter Flower

9st 6lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Only four ran when she won her novice at Newcastle (1m2f) last September; better form in handicaps on her last two starts, second at Newcastle (1m4f) and a close sixth in a Class 2 at Lingfield when last seen in December; still has time to better now returned to turf.

100/30

3rd

5

(1)

3rd Oct 2025

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 3

15:30 Ascot

Winter Flower

9st 5lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Pretty much all out to prevail in a small field at Newcastle (1m2f) and runner-up is now 0-6; however, showed a willing attitude and looks sure to improve with racing, especially over this longer trip.

6/1

4

(3)

11th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 5

16:55 Newcastle (AW)

Winter Flower

9st 2lb

J: Jason Hart

T: William Haggas

Last of six on her debut at Goodwood (1m2f, good to firm) 19 days ago but she's a half-sister to connections' AW winner Winterfair (RPR 80) and may well take a step forward switched to this surface for her powerful yard.

4/1

Form: 1

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 10lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to Grade/Group 1 winner Yibir (RPR 123) and the high-class Wild Illusion (116); weak 4-1 chance at Southwell but stayed on best and the runner-up then beat Military Cross next time; that was a nice start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(5)

3rd Oct 2025

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 3

15:30 Ascot

Race To The Stars

9st 10lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Half-brother to Grade/Group 1 winner Yibir (RPR 123) and the high-class Wild Illusion (116); weak 4-1 chance at Southwell but stayed on best and the runner-up then beat Military Cross next time; that was a nice start.

15/8

11

(10)

2nd Sep 2025

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 5

18:00 Southwell (AW)

Race To The Stars

9st 4lb

J: Dougie Costello

T: Charlie Appleby

Eighth foal; half-brother to seven winners including Grade/Group 1 scorers Yibir (RPR 123) and Wild Illusion (116); dam a Listed winner (103); already gelded but he is a newcomer of some note and stable's 35% strike-rate with 3yos in novice/maiden races on AW further heightens interest.

13/8

Form: 3422 BF

Last run: 115 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
A beaten favourite in three of his four races and has done some hanging; beaten in what was effectively a match at Salisbury last time (1m4f) when in first-time cheekpieces and the winner hasn't done a great deal since; has been gelded, which might bring him on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(6)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 3

14:32 Newmarket

Marnier

9st 5lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Can lead; chased home two good ones on his debut at Newbury last April but he hasn't built on that and become expensive to follow; did win three-runner maiden at Lingfield (1m4f) in November but his latest second of six at Southwell (1m3f, also AW) was another reversal for supporters; form chance off same mark but tempting to look elsewhere.

7/2

2nd

1

(6)

23rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 4

18:30 Southwell (AW)

Marnier

9st 10lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Off the mark at the sixth attempt when beating two rivals in good style in a maiden at Lingfield (1m4f, AW) in November but he dropped away up the straight having taken a grip in a handicap at Kempton on his return 17 days ago; needs to build on that.

3/1

7th

4

(1)

6th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 3

15:30 Kempton (AW)

Marnier

9st 6lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Well connected; didn't always do himself justice as a 3yo but he was a tough opponent for a good rival (now on a mark of 101) over 1m3f at Yarmouth last May and made a good visual impression when overwhelming two rivals on Lingfield AW in November; interesting on handicap debut.

7/2

OUR TIP

50/1

Form: 35

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner; similar form in his two Flat runs (1m2f/1m4f) and latest Kempton effort leaves him with ground to find on Military Cross, and Race To The Stars on a line through the Gosden horse; perhaps one for another day.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

29th May 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

18:05 Wolverhampton (AW)

Id Go Maniac

11st 2lb

J: Miss Georgia King

T: Alan King

C&D winner in November; got back on track in first-time cheekpieces when second of 13 in 1m2f Windsor handicap 18 days ago; can go well again back up in trip with the headgear retained.

6/1

2nd

2

(5)

11th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

17:12 Windsor

Id Go Maniac

11st 2lb

J: Miss Georgia King

T: Alan King

Left it late when winning a 1m4f handicap at Wolverhampton in November; three lesser runs have followed but he is now 2lb lower than for the win; drops in trip with headgear added.

10/1

5th

4

(2)

25th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:52 Lingfield (AW)

Id Go Maniac

9st 9lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Alan King

Bumper winner who won a handicap at Wolverhampton (1m4f) in November but his form has nosedived in last two starts; now drops back to this trip but he has a patchy profile and others are more convincing.

12/1

200/1

Form: 65

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Started out in bumpers and he's looking fairly limited; behind Hellion at Bath last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:41 Worcester

Hopjes

11st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Harriet Dickin

Placed once over 1m (AW) in the other code and 0-3 over hurdles; well beaten at Hereford latest; watch.

40/1

11th

6

16th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

17:30 Hereford

Hopjes

11st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Harriet Dickin

Two non-completions over hurdles; placed on the AW last month but over 1m and at a very modest level.

100/1

5th

3

(1)

14th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

19:00 Southwell (AW)

Hopjes

9st 9lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Harriet Dickin

Attracted support and ran a better race when a front-running third of seven over C&D ten days ago (Dash Power second); one to consider with a new visor replacing blinkers

5/1

Non-runners

Hellion

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £19.30
Straight Forecast £19.04
Trifecta £122.90

Selections

POSTDATA:

Race To The Stars

TOPSPEED:

Marnier

SPOTLIGHT:

Military Cross

D Express:

Winter Flower

NEWMARKET:

Race To The Stars

Daily Mirror:

Race To The Stars

The Star:

Race To The Stars

Telegraph:

Military Cross

The Guardian:

Military Cross

The Times:

Marnier

Daily Mail:

Marnier

Daily Record:

Marnier