13:18 Leicester

Sunday 8 August 2021

All13:1813:4814:2014:5015:2516:0016:33

Longines Irish Champions Weekend EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:18 | Winning time: 1m 24.84s

(10)

Like A Lion²⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-8| J: M Dwyer| T: W Muir & C Grassick| D

11/1

Promising individual. Won 8-runner minor event (10/1) at Salisbury (7f, soft) 28 days ago, well on top finish. May well do even better and difficult to rule out.

Form: 81

(2)

Modern Games¹⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-8| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| D

5/6

Promising type. 5/2, won 9-runner maiden at Newmarket (7f, good to firm) 15 days ago, staying on well. Likely to improve further and he will take all the beating.

Form: 51

(5)

Al Baahy³⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: Sir Michael Stoute

9/2

Once-raced maiden. Eighth of 13 in maiden at Newmarket (7f, good to firm, 25/1) on debut 30 days ago. Should progress and warrants serious respect.

Form: 8

(9)

Ascending⁶⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox

9/2

Once-raced maiden. 18/1, fifth of 12 in maiden at this course (6f, good to firm) on debut 68 days ago. Should improve.

Form: 5

(7)

Cresta

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Ray Dawson⁽³⁾| T: M Meade

12/1

Foaled February 25. £21,000 yearling, New Bay colt. Dam unraced sister to smart winner up to 1¼m Gabrial. Makes plenty of appeal on paper.

Form:

(6)

Jacks Profit⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Darragh Keenan| T: P D Evans

250/1

Once-raced maiden. 150/1, twelfth of 13 in minor event at Kempton (7f) on debut 4 days ago.

Form: 0

(4)

Jilmod

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: R Coakley| T: H Palmer

25/1

Foaled March 9. £82,000 2-y-o, Galileo Gold colt. Dam sprint maiden sister to useful 5f winner Bear Cheek. One to note on debut.

Form:

(1)

Let's Fly Again²⁸

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Fahy| T: C G Cox

150/1

Twice-raced maiden. Ninth of 10 in minor event at Salisbury (7f, soft, 22/1) 28 days ago.

Form: 59

(8)

Nader

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: Louis Steward| T: S bin Suroor

33/1

Foaled April 7. Iffraaj colt. Half-brother to useful 1½m winner Marshall Plan. Dam 1m winner. Of obvious interest on debut, particularly if the market speaks in his favour.

Form:

(3)

Shareef Shareef⁴⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 9-2| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston

40/1

Twice-raced maiden. 11/2, third of 6 in maiden at Ayr (6f, good to firm) 47 days ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 73

Forecasts

Modern Games (5/6), Ascending (9/2), Al Baahy (9/2), Like A Lion (11/1), Cresta (12/1), Jilmod (25/1), Nader (33/1), Shareef Shareef (40/1), Let's Fly Again (150/1), Jacks Profit (250/1)

A decent novice to open the card with a few potential improvers in the line-up. They look to be headed by MODERN GAMES, who took a huge step forward on his second start at Newmarket. He won decisively that day and there is likely more to come. Al Baahy shaped well on debut and he should improve to go close. Like A Lion has to be taken seriously after his Salisbury win too.