14:30 Doncaster

Sunday 24 March 2024

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

William Hill Epic Boost Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 1m 30.7s

(3)

Balmacara¹⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton

5/2

60,000 gns yearling, New Bay gelding. Half-brother to 1½m winner Vision of Hope. Dam13.3f winner. Showed plenty of ability on debut despite looking badly in need of the experience when third at Newmarket in November, rallying having pulled hard/hung right. Will improve.

Form: 3-

(5)

John L Sullivan^t⁷²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: O J Orr| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

200/1

Good pedigree though sales price plummeted last year and he offered little both starts on the AW in the winter.

Form: 9-8

(6)

Judge Frank³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Billy Loughnane| T: H Main| OR: 72

50/1

Fair form when second in Newbury novice on debut last summer but below that level in 3 outings since, including on return.

Form: 296-6

(1)

Manhattan Mirage¹⁸⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: David Egan| T: D J S Ffrench Davis

4/1

€80,000 foal, €170,000 yearling, Inns of Court half-brother to winner up to 7f Gubbass and 2-y-o 5f/6f winner Persian Force, both useful. Placed both starts at 2 yrs, including when second in Yarmouth novice, coming from further back than winner and pulling clear of rest. Has left Alice Haynes.

Form: 32-

(7)

Paddy Powerful^h1²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Josephine Gordon| T: P S McEntee

250/1

Went with little promise both starts at Kempton. Hooded for 1st time.

Form: 70

(2)

Strong Opinion¹⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: C Appleby

1/1

1,000,000 gns yearling, Dubawi colt who stepped up a lot on debut when runner-up at Newmarket in November. Open to further improvement and could be useful. Has been gelded.

Form: 42-

(4)

Ghaihaban¹⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding

6/1

Runner-up both starts in novices, stepping up on debut at Newmarket in November. She may do better still and surely won't be long in winning a race.

Form: 22-

Forecasts

Strong Opinion (1/1), Balmacara (5/2), Manhattan Mirage (4/1), Ghaihaban (6/1), Judge Frank (50/1), John L Sullivan (200/1), Paddy Powerful (250/1)

One-million-pound yearing STRONG OPINION was much improved from debut when beaten only by a useful sort at Newmarket in November and gets the nod over Balmacara, who made a promising start when third on the same card at the Rowley Mile. Ghaihaban looks capable of winning one of these so is another to consider.