16:30 Wolverhampton

Monday 22 December 2025

All16:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Read Meg Nicholls' Blog At betmgm.co.uk EBF Restricted Novice Stakes (GBB Race)

(1)

Baggie Boy

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: Jack Jones

16/1

Sergei Prokofiev gelding. Half-brother to Italian 6.7f-1¼m winner Faroujah. Dam unraced, closely related to very smart winner up to 1½m Kutub. Debutant looks worth a market check on paper.

(9)

Free Your Spirit⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: Billy Loughnane| T: R Hughes| BF

9/4

Starman colt. Half-brother to useful winner up to 1m Love de Vega. Strong in the market but shaped as if in need of the experience (carried head awkwardly) when fourth of 5 in novice at Lingfield (8f, 1/3) on debut 5 days ago. Clearly thought capable of better and no surprise to see him run well.

Form: 4

(7)

Hamish Leek²⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: James Horton

25/1

Bated Breath gelding ran to a similar level as on debut when seventh of 13 in maiden at Chelmsford City (7f, 9/1) 26 days ago. Ought to progress at some stage, most likely in handicaps.

Form: 97

(10)

Meritocratic²⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: George Wood| T: James Horton

5/1

Showed more than first time up when 18/1, sixth of 13 in maiden at Chelmsford City (7f) 26 days ago. Betting should offer clues with yard also saddling Hamish Leek.

Form: 96

(2)

Okiru²⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: L Morris| T: A Watson

7/1

Blue Point colt left debut form well behind when third of 9 in novice (22/1) at Newcastle (7.1f) 20 days ago, having run of race. Could take another step forward.

Form: 73

(5)

Galileo Blue¹⁹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Cieren Fallon| T: H Palmer

7/2

Makes some appeal on pedigree and knew much more than on debut when fourth of 10 in novice (28/1) at Kempton (8f) 19 days ago, well positioned in steadily-run race. Entitled to give another good account.

Form: 94

(6)

Sunday Sinatra¹³¹

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Libby Swallow⁽⁷⁾| T: Ollie Sangster| OR: 45

100/1

Thrice-raced maiden. 300/1, tenth of 11 in novice at Salisbury (6f, good). Off 131 days and little appeal this side of handicaps.

Form: 000

(8)

Telling Time¹⁸⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: Jack Doughty| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 47

100/1

Thrice-raced maiden. Tenth of 12 in novice at Kempton (7f, 250/1). Off 180 days. First run for yard after leaving Mark Usher but likely to be a longer-term project.

Form: 080

(4)

Backfire⁶⁰

Age: 2| Weight: 8-12| J: K T O'Neill| T: S Dixon

33/1

Little win threat in two starts for Peter Chapple-Hyam. Will be better off in handicaps for new yard.

Form: 56

(3)

Sunshine And Roses⁷

Age: 2| Weight: 8-12| J: Harry Davies| T: J Channon| OR: 62| BF

5/2

Placed 3 times on the all-weather prior to running right up to her best when creditable fourth of 8 in maiden at this C&D (2/1) 7 days ago, appearing unlucky having met trouble on the rail. Sets the standard here.

Form: 623394

Forecasts

Galileo Blue (9/4), Sunshine And Roses (3/1), Meritocratic (4/1), Free Your Spirit (9/2), Okiru (8/1), Hamish Leek (12/1), Baggie Boy (20/1), Backfire (66/1), Telling Time (100/1), Sunday Sinatra (100/1)

The most exposed runner SUNSHINE AND ROSES was unlucky not to finish closer over C&D last time and she sets the standard in a winnable novice. Galileo Blue showed much more at Kempton and could be the main danger if improving for the drop back to 7f, while Free Your Spirit may be capable of better, having been well-backed on debut last week. Of the rest, Okiru merits consideration if the market expects him to take another step forward.