Betting.Betfair.com EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

Off time: 18:25 | Winning time: 2m 3.14s

(2)

Abando^p1¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: N Callan| T: M Botti| OR: 97

10/1

Best effort when placed in a Group 3 at Cologne in June for previous yard. Carried head a bit awkwardly when below form on stable/U.K. debut when fifth of 9 in a maiden at Southwell (12.1f) 12 days ago, Remains to be seen if he can rediscover his anything like his best with cheekpieces now fitted.

Form: 353085

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(4)

El Rehaiby¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: K Shoemark| T: Owen Burrows

11/2

Makes plenty of appeal on paper (dam unraced half-sister to top-class 1m-1¼m performer winner Baaeed) and produced a promising first effort when fifth of 8 in maiden at Lingfield (8f, AW, 7/2) on debut 16 days ago. Will be better for that experience and should improve stepping up to 1¼m.

Form: 5

(1)

Saahir

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Darragh Keenan| T: D P Quinn

125/1

3,800 gns 2-y-o, Make Believe gelding. Brother to very smart winner up to 7f Sajir and half-brother to useful 1m winner First Kingdom. Dam 2-y-o 6f winner. This looks a tall order on racecourse debut.

Form:

(5)

Solarize

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston

8/1

Masar colt. Half-brother to 3 winners, including smart winner up to 1¾m Hamada and useful 9.5f/1¼m winner Endless Echoes. Dam unraced. Interesting debutant from a good yard and one to note for market support.

Form:

(6)

Valedictory¹⁷⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Tyler Heard| T: J & T Gosden| BF

1/3

Eye-catching debut when close-up third in a strong 11-runner Doncaster maiden (1m) last September, finishing with a flourish as the penny dropped. Again showed plenty after 7 months off when fourth of 9 in a novice at Newmarket (10f) in April. Gelded in the interim and looks the one to beat.

Form: 3-4

(3)

Tightly Bound¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Jack Callan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Boughey

80/1

Farhh filly was backed at long odds but failed to come on for her debut when 11/1, tenth of 11 in maiden at Leicester (10f, good) 17 days ago, slowly away and ran green. Likely one for handicaps.

Form: 40

Forecasts

Valedictory (1/3), El Rehaiby (11/2), Solarize (8/1), Abando (10/1), Tightly Bound (80/1), Saahir (125/1)

VALEDICTORY has shaped with plenty of promise in a pair of strong maidens and may be able to get off the mark on first start since being gelded. Well-bred Rehaiby should improve from his encouraging debut and rates the main danger, while Abando (placed in a German Group 3) was well below form on his stable/U.K. debut and it remains to be seen if first-time cheekpieces have the desired effect.