EBF Stallions Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 1m 32.87s

(1)

Cerulean Bay¹⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-11| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara

9/2

Found plenty for pressure when landing 9-runner maiden at Hamilton (6f, good to firm, 7/1) on debut 19 days ago. Expected to improve a fair bit on that bare form.

Form: 1

(5)

Dark Encounter¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-4| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke

11/8

Promising effort when second of 13 in novice event at Redcar (6f, good to firm) on debut 16 days ago, no match for winner. Up in trip. Likely to improve.

Form: 2

(2)

Elemental Eye¹⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-4| J: P Mulrennan| T: I Jardine

66/1

28/1, seventh of 9 in maiden at this course (6f, firm) on debut 16 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 7

(3)

Individualism

Age: 2| Weight: 9-4| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston

11/4

Foaled April 11. 110,000 gns yearling, Too Darn Hot colt. Half-brother to several winners, including top-class winner up to 2½m Subjectivist, very smart 1½m-1¾m winner Sir Ron Priestley. Newcomer for successful yard.

Form:

(4)

Land Lover¹²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-4| J: William Pyle⁽⁷⁾| T: Craig Lidster| OR: 78

5/1

Similar form all 4 starts, edged out late when second of 9 in novice event at Carlisle (5.8f, good to soft) 12 days ago. Up in trip and he sets the standard.

Form: 4532

(6)

Catena²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Hart| T: Craig Lidster| OR: 70| D

18/1

Improved on debut run when landing 8-runner novice event at Beverley (7.4f, soft) 20 days ago. That form is nothing to get excited about.

Form: 51

Forecasts

Dark Encounter (11/8), Individualism (11/4), Cerulean Bay (9/2), Land Lover (5/1), Catena (18/1), Elemental Eye (66/1)

CERULEAN BAY will need to improve to defy a penalty and supplement his Hamilton win but 7f is sure to bring out more so a bigger performance is firmly on the cards. Land Lover sets the standard but will likely find one or two too good again, while market support for Individualism on debut would look significant.