Acturis Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Stakes (Plus 10)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 1m 5.33s

(5)

Spartan Fighter³⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-8| J: D Tudhope| T: D Carroll| D

1/2

Showed good improvement from debut run to win 5f Ripon novice contest when last seen. Beat a subsequent Royal Ascot winner that day and they pulled clear of the field. Looks to be above standard juvenile and the one to beat.

Form: 41

(3)

Auckland Lodge¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁵⁾| T: B Haslam| D

12/1

Reasonable debut at Hamilton in June before making all to win 5f Carlisle median auction race a week later. Beat a heavily odds-on favourite that day but needs to take his form to another level to be competitive with Spartan Fighter.

Form: 51

(1)

Fanzone

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson

8/1

38,000 gns purchase as a two-year-old out of a precocious sire who was a dual Group Two winner. Yard are in flying form and typically excel with juveniles. Worth a market check on racecourse debut.

Form:

(4)

Galactic Glow⁷⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: David Probert| T: W Jarvis| BF

5/1

Well-bred No Nay Never colt who showed promise on debut when third at Doncaster (5f, good) in April. Likely to benefit from that run but form of the race has been mixed since and comes here off the back of a lay-off. Place claims at best.

Form: 3

(2)

She Can Dance²⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 8-11| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| BF

16/1

Didn't show the required improvement from Thirsk debut when 6l sixth in 5f York novice contest last month. Form of that race has been franked and will improve in time but owner has better chance with Spartan Fighter. Best watched.

Form: 56

Forecasts

Spartan Fighter (1/2), Galactic Glow (5/1), Fanzone (8/1), Auckland Lodge (12/1), She Can Dance (16/1)

There have been positive vibes surrounding SPARTAN FIGHTER, who sets the form standard quite considerably when beating Norfolk Stakes winner A'Ali on his latest start and looks to be a group-class juvenile. Fanzone is of interest on debut for a yard 20% strike rate with two-year-olds and could put up a challenge if he has inherited his sire's precocity, while Galactic Glow is entitled to improve from his Doncaster effort.