15:42 Newbury

Friday 17 April 2026

All13:5714:3215:0715:4216:2016:5517:25

Darley EBF Novice Stakes (GBB/GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 15:44 | Winning time: 2m 6.05s

(3)

Maltese Cross²⁰⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas

7/4

350,000 gns son of Sea The Stars went one better than on debut when winning a Newmarket maiden last September (narrowly beating subsequent improver Del Maro). That's strong form and with improvement expected over this longer trip, he could be the one to beat.

Form: 21-

(7)

My Love Is King¹⁵¹

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

16/1

Kingman colt was a cosy winner of a 7f Newcastle novice last November and while this is a much deeper race, he's bred to be smart (entered in the Derby) and is entitled to improve now tackling middle distances.

Form: 1-

(8)

Sahara King¹⁶⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon

14/1

Too Darn Hot colt was unfancied in the betting when making a winning start over the extended mile at Wolverhampton last November, and while his pedigree doesn't scream middle distances, he's very much unexposed tackling turf for the first time.

Form: 1-

(5)

Shabab Al Ahli⁷¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby

2/1

500,000 gns yearling, Frankel colt. Derby entrant looked well above average when overcoming considerable greenness to make an impressive winning debut at Southwell (11f) in February, and he's open to significant improvement now switched to turf by leading yard.

Form: 1

(6)

Alfaraz²⁰¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| BF

9/2

300,000 gns Nathaniel colt bumped into a useful one when second in a 3-runner conditions stakes at Epsom (8.5f) in September. Has been entered in the Derby by excellent yard, and he's open to improvement tackling a longer trip on a more conventional track.

Form: 22-

(4)

Ataturk¹⁷⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: D Egan| T: H Morrison

200/1

Golden Horn colt finished well beaten in a 1m novice at this track (heavy) in October. That form isn't worth much, but he does at least tackle a trip more in keeping with his pedigree on first start as a 3-y-o.

Form: 8-

(9)

Barrister¹⁸⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: S Hitchcott| T: R Hannon

80/1

15,000 gns Without Parole colt finished fourth of 12 in a 7f Kempton novice last October. That's proved a particularly strong all-weather maiden and while he should improve upped in trip, Sahara King appears to be the stable's first string.

Form: 4-

(1)

Easwrith Destiny

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Watson| T: D Menuisier

200/1

Leading Light gelding. Dam, ran once in bumper, half-sister to useful 2-y-o 7f winner Stefer. Pitched into a hot novice for his racecourse bow and it's likely to be a tough ask.

Form:

(2)

Joulany^h1¹⁸⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| BF

6/1

800,000 gns Sea The Stars colt. Brother to very smart Al Aasy. Split a useful pair in a strong race at Kempton on debut and wasn't seen to best effect when fourth at York (1m) subsequently. First-time hood on for this step up in trip, and he appeals as the type to improve significantly.

Form: 24-

(10)

Much^t1

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe

40/1

Frankel colt. Closely related to 1½m winner Flower of Scotland and half-brother to smart 1½m winner Promissory and useful 1¼m-1½m winner Royal Scandal. Dam winner of British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes. From a family his yard knows well and needs a market check. Wears tongue strap for debut.

Form:

Forecasts

Maltese Cross (7/4), Shabab Al Ahli (2/1), Alfaraz (9/2), Joulany (6/1), Sahara King (14/1), My Love Is King (16/1), Much (40/1), Barrister (80/1), Easwrith Destiny (200/1), Ataturk (200/1)

A fourth running of this valuable novice, with 2 of the previous winners going on to achieve black type. MALTESE CROSS looks another useful prospect in the making, and he's fancied to follow up his victory in a strong Newmarket maiden last autumn. Fellow Derby entrants Joulany and Shabab Al Ahli are similarly unexposed and merit plenty of respect.