The recent Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes, a valuable 2-year-old flat race held over 5 furlongs and 205 yards on turf, provided plenty of action and insights into potential future stars. While Howd’yadoit claimed the victory, improving further and appreciating the return to 6f, two other horses in the field, Jel Pepper and There’s a Chance, displayed characteristics that suggest they are definitely worth following in their future outings.

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Jel Pepper (IRE): A Promising Favourite Undone by Circumstances

Jel Pepper (IRE), a 2-year-old bay gelding, entered the race as the 6/4 favourite. Despite this strong backing, he finished fourth, failing to meet expectations. However, a closer look at his performance reveals significant potential.

The race report notes that Jel Pepper’s “greenness still apparent at stages”, indicating that he is still learning and maturing. This “greenness” was observed as he “ran green” and was “carried left final 1f” during the race. Such behavior is common for young, inexperienced horses and often improves with more race experience.

Furthermore, Jel Pepper’s performance was also “not helped by the wayward second” (Unbreakable Duke, who was ultimately demoted to third due to interference suffered by Summer Is Tomorrow). This interference likely hampered his ability to finish stronger, as he “weakened final 100 yds”. Despite these challenges, he “still did much the best of those drawn low”, showcasing his underlying talent regardless of an unfavourable starting position relative to the main racing group. His top speed of 41.49 MPH ranked him 5th fastest in the race. With more maturity and a clear run, Jel Pepper could certainly deliver on his favourite status in upcoming races.

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There’s a Chance (IRE): The Late Pacer with Top Speed Potential

There’s a Chance (IRE), a 2-year-old bay filly, finished eighth in the Ballyhane Stakes. Her race was characterised by a “slowly into stride” start, as she “dwelt” and was “outpaced 2f out”. She “raced off the pace” and “couldn’t get going in time in a deeper race”.

However, what truly makes There’s a Chance exciting for future races is her impressive finishing metrics. Despite her slow start and early positioning, she recorded the highest top speed of any horse in the field, reaching 41.82 MPH. This indicates a powerful late burst. Complementing this, she also achieved the highest finishing speed percentage at 98.86%. This metric suggests that she maintained, or even increased, her speed towards the end of the race relative to her average speed.

Her tracker comment highlights “late headway” and that she “kept on inside final furlong, never better”. If There’s a Chance can overcome her initial sluggishness and position herself more effectively early in a race, her demonstrated high top speed and strong finishing ability suggest she has a significant winning potential.

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In Conclusion

Both Jel Pepper and There’s a Chance exhibited qualities in the Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes that make them compelling horses to follow. Jel Pepper, the favourite, showed greenness and was hindered by interference, yet still performed admirably from a low draw. There’s a Chance, despite a poor start, demonstrated remarkable closing speed and the highest top speed in the entire race. As these young horses gain more experience and potentially iron out their current shortcomings, they could well become formidable contenders in their future races. Keep an eye on them!