Darley British EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

Off time: 19:18 | Winning time: 2m 11.12s

(1)

Royal Symbol⁵¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: W Buick| T: C ApplebyWS

10/3

From a good family and made a fine start when landing 1m Kempton maiden in December 2021. That form worked out really well (next 6 behind all won next time, including subsequent Group 2/Listed winners) and he could have plenty more to come up in trip this year. Had breathing op.

Form: 1/

(3)

Artistic Star²¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett

9/4

Galileo colt. Brother to 3 winners, including smart 1¼m-12.5f winner Harpo Marx. Looked a good prospect in making a successful debut in a maiden at Nottingham (8.3f, soft) in October. Will stay at least 1¼m, and is sure to progress.

Form: 1-

(2)

Clever Relation²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: S M Levey| T: H Morrison| D

18/1

Intello gelding who is bred to need time and distance so it was all the more encouraging to see him make a winning start in a 10f novice at Windsor (heavy) 29 days ago. Open to plenty of improvement.

Form: 1

(4)

Torito³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: R Havlin| T: J & T Gosden

7/2

Kingman half-brother to connections' very smart 1¼m-1½m winner Journey. Couldn't justify favouritism in a 1m Newbury novice on his debut but shaped with plenty of promise in third and made the most of a good opportunity at Nottingham (8.3f) 6 months on. Remains open to significant improvement.

Form: 3-1

(6)

Star Of Sussex¹⁸⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: T P Queally| T: G & J Moore

66/1

Showed a lot more than on debut upped in trip when third of 13 in maiden at Lingfield (10f, AW), left poorly placed. Off 6 months. Open to further improvement.

Form: 03-

(5)

Tajawal^v1³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: S & E Crisford| BF

5/2

Fared best of the newcomers when second in 1m Kempton novice in December and sure to have gone very close but for residual greenness (hung badly right) when asked for maximum effort at Wolverhampton 4 months on. Visor on for 1st time and should continue to progress.

Form: 2-3

Forecasts

Artistic Star (9/4), Tajawal (5/2), Royal Symbol (10/3), Torito (7/2), Clever Relation (18/1), Star Of Sussex (66/1)

A very interesting novice featuring 4 previous winners. ARTISTIC STAR looked a good prospect when getting the job done at the first attempt at Nottingham in October and, given his smart pedigree, he's open to oodles of improvement and edges the vote. Royal Symbol hasn't been seen for 17 months, but his debut win couldn't have worked out any better, while Torito and Clever Relation are others with plenty of potential to improve.