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2.08 Old Gravel Pits Lodges EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 5)
Distance: 1m 100y (1m½f)
Going: Soft
| Rank | Horse (TimeWise Master Rating) | Running Style | Trainer (W-R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Circle Of Magic (218 Total) | P (Pressed leaders) | A Watson (53%) |
| 2 | Mariotto (218 Total) | P (Pressed leaders) | Charlie Johnston (58%) |
(Note: Circle Of Magic and Mariotto share the top rating)
Recent Form and Supplied Comments
Circle Of Magic
He has run well to make the frame on both his starts, latterly when finishing third of six in a 7.5f novice here in July. That race has since produced two winners, and he holds leading form claims after a break.
Mariotto
She failed to build on her debut when last of five in a 1m Thirsk novice 25 days ago. The expectation is that she may still do better in due course.
Spotlight Verdict
Archie Watson’s CIRCLE OF MAGIC is unraced on soft ground but possesses much the best form on offer so is taken to build on earlier promise and get off the mark. Newcomer Haayimm (second choice) was a 230,000gns yearling and needs a close market check. Mariotto, Ghost Division and Adiada can fight it out for minor honours.
Assessment of Chances
| Horse | Strengths | Weaknesses | Suitability/Chances |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circle Of Magic | Holds leading form claims, having placed in both starts, and the form of his last race has been franked by two subsequent winners. | He is unraced on soft ground, which is the current going. | He is taken to build on earlier promise and get off the mark, provided he handles the soft ground. |
| Mariotto | May still improve in due course. | She failed to build on her debut in her most recent run (last of five). | Expected to be fighting it out for minor honours. |
2.38 Connexin’s Ghost Your Broadband Gallop Restricted Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 5)
Distance: 5f
Going: Soft
| Rank | Horse (TimeWise Master Rating) | Running Style | Trainer (W-R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ironwill (271 Total) | P (Pressed leaders) | S C Williams (25%) |
| 2 | Believeinmenow (244 Total) | H (Held up) | N Tinkler (44%) |
Recent Form and Supplied Comments
Ironwill
This Dark Angel colt built on debut promise to land a 6f Brighton maiden 22 days ago. He looks to have more to offer. He is conceding weight all round.
Believeinmenow
He got back on track after a promising debut second when ninth of 19 in a 6f York nursery last month. He holds solid claims back in novice company, sporting headgear (hood) again.
Spotlight Verdict
Soft ground is an unknown for most of these but KODY B holds the clear edge on the form of his recent Chester second and, with further progress on the cards, he looks the way to go. Brighton scorer Ironwill also has better days ahead of him and is next on the list ahead of Believeinmenow and Mereside Spark.
Assessment of Chances
| Horse | Strengths | Weaknesses | Suitability/Chances |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ironwill | Is a recent winner (6f Brighton maiden) and looks to have more to offer. | He has yet to race on soft ground. He must concede weight all round. | Merits serious consideration despite the weight penalty and soft ground unknown. He is named as the second choice by the Spotlight commentary. |
| Believeinmenow | Holds solid claims back in novice company. | His recent run was a ninth place finish in a nursery. | Listed by Spotlight as a horse that can feature, suggesting he is well in the mix. |
3.08 Shelley Fegan’s Bostin 60th Handicap (Class 6)
Distance: 5f
Going: Soft
| Rank | Horse (TimeWise Master Rating) | Running Style | Trainer (W-R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beerwah (201 Total) | P (Pressed leaders) | J & S Quinn (53%) |
| 2 | Larchill Lass (199 Total) | P (Pressed leaders) | M & D Easterby (57%) |
Recent Form and Supplied Comments
Beerwah
He is 0-13 and has not proved easy to catch right this term, finishing sixth of 11 in a 5f Musselburgh handicap ten days ago. Blinkers are refitted.
Larchill Lass
She was a fair 5f juvenile winner but arrives under a cloud, having finished eighth in a 5f Carlisle handicap two weeks ago. She has something to prove.
Spotlight Verdict
Most of these arrive with a question mark against them so this looks a good opportunity for Roy Bowring’s low-mileage WESTGATE WARRIOR (nap) to build on his Nottingham third, now he reverts in trip, and get off the mark. Bern Rossetti could also benefit from the return to the minimum distance and is next on the list ahead of C&D scorer Bust A Moon.
Assessment of Chances
| Horse | Strengths | Weaknesses | Suitability/Chances |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beerwah | None apparent in recent form, relies on the refitted blinkers to spark improvement. | Is a maiden (0-13) and hasn’t been easy to catch right this term; more is required. | Needs to find more if he is to get off the mark here. |
| Larchill Lass | Was a winner as a 5f juvenile. | Arrives under a cloud after a recent eighth-place finish and has something to prove. | Listed by Spotlight as having a question mark against her chances. |
3.38 Eddie And Violet Smith Conditions Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 2)
Distance: 5f
Going: Soft
| Rank | Horse (TimeWise Master Rating) | Running Style | Trainer (W-R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alzahir (377 Total) | P (Pressed leaders) | J Candlish (47%) |
| 2 | Democracy Dilemma (341 Total) | L (Led) | R Cowell (27%) |
Recent Form and Supplied Comments
Alzahir
Recorded his sixth victory of the year with a career-best effort in a 5.4f handicap at York 16 days ago. He is also a winner in the mud.
Democracy Dilemma
This C&D scorer resumed winning ways in some style, easily making all in a 5f handicap at Haydock 17 days ago. He is described as a speedy sort, proven in the mud, and rates the form pick.
Spotlight Verdict
None of these can be ruled out but the vote goes to Robert Cowell’s C&D winner DEMOCRACY DILEMMA who comes here on the back of an easy all-the-way victory at Haydock and has shown he can handle the mud. The admirable Alzahir could emerge as the main danger in his bid for a seventh success of 2025 ahead of Coto De Caza.
Assessment of Chances
| Horse | Strengths | Weaknesses | Suitability/Chances |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alzahir | In superb form (six victories this year, recent career-best effort). Proven winner in the mud. | None explicit. Rated 1st by TimeWise but deemed the main danger, not the primary selection, by Spotlight. | Must enter calculations. Predicted to emerge as the main danger. |
| Democracy Dilemma | C&D scorer, proven in the mud, speedy, rates the form pick. Recent victory was easy and all-the-way. | None explicit. Rated 2nd by TimeWise but preferred by Spotlight. | A big shout, having shown he can handle the mud. Taken as the preferred selection by Spotlight. |
4.08 Fango Handicap (Class 4)
Distance: 7f 96y (7½f)
Going: Soft
| Rank | Horse (TimeWise Master Rating) | Running Style | Trainer (W-R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A War Eagle (305 Total) | P (Pressed leaders) | E Bethell (38%) |
| 2 | It Just Takes Time (290 Total) | P (Pressed leaders) | M Walford (45%) |
Recent Form and Supplied Comments
A War Eagle
He opened his account over C&D in June and has advanced his form when twice runner-up since, latterly when edged out late on in a 1m Kempton handicap 41 days ago.
It Just Takes Time
This horse took this race 12 months ago before scoring twice more in the mud later last autumn. He is yet to score this term but has posted some good placed efforts and looks interesting from a reduced mark now that the rain has come.
Spotlight Verdict
Plenty are in with a shout. The thriving Pink Azalea must enter calculations despite her outside berth, while hat-trick seeking One Night Thunder (second choice) and C&D scorer A War Eagle can both have a say too. But last year’s victor IT JUST TAKES TIME handles soft ground really well and is taken to capitalise on a reduced mark.
Assessment of Chances
| Horse | Strengths | Weaknesses | Suitability/Chances |
|---|---|---|---|
| A War Eagle | C&D winner, advancing form (two recent runner-up efforts). | This is his first go on soft ground. | Considered a big player if he takes to the soft ground. Expected to have a say in the finish. |
| It Just Takes Time | Course winner (won this race last year) and handles soft ground really well. Benefits from a reduced mark. | Yet to score this term. | Taken to capitalise on his reduced mark and strong suitability to the soft going. Chosen as the preferred selection (nap). |
4.38 End Of Season Handicap (Class 6)
Distance: 1m 100y (1m½f)
Going: Soft
| Rank | Horse (TimeWise Master Rating) | Running Style | Trainer (W-R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Echo Of Glory (240 Total) | P (Pressed leaders) | D & C Kubler (56%) |
| 2 | Kiss Me My Love (217 Total) | M (Mid-division) | R G Fell (0%) |
Recent Form and Supplied Comments
Echo Of Glory
Resumed with a 1m victory at Bath in June and has been largely in good form since, recording a fifth of eight in a 1m2f Ffos Las handicap 26 days ago.
Kiss Me My Love
She is on a long losing run and comes here on the back of three below-par handicap efforts from 6f to 1m.
Spotlight Verdict
This is wide open but CHARMING FELLOW looks primed for a bold showing after a promising Windsor third and is also a winner on soft ground so edges the vote. Course scorer Law Degree heads the list of dangers ahead of in-form contenders Drumcondra, Homeland and Suzette.
Assessment of Chances
| Horse | Strengths | Weaknesses | Suitability/Chances |
|---|---|---|---|
| Echo Of Glory | Recent 1m victory (June), largely consistent form. | Recent fifth place finish. | Ought to be thereabouts once more. |
| Kiss Me My Love | None apparent in recent form. | On a long losing run and recent handicap efforts have been below par. | Others appeal more. |
5.10 Churchill Tyres Apprentice Handicap (Class 6)
Distance: 1m 1f 207y (1m2f)
Going: Soft
| Rank | Horse (TimeWise Master Rating) | Running Style | Trainer (W-R) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hibernate (247 Total) | L (Led) | E Dunlop (74%) |
| 2 | Mystical Maria (231 Total) | P (Pressed leaders) | R Fahey (32%) |
Recent Form and Supplied Comments
Hibernate
He opened his account at Chepstow (1m2f) in July and advanced his form when a very good runner-up in a 1m2f Leicester handicap two weeks ago. The winner has gone in again since. He carries 2lb extra.
Mystical Maria
She ended a losing sequence at Redcar (1m2f) in August and backed it up with a solid third of seven in a 1m3f Southwell handicap 19 days ago.
Spotlight Verdict
Course specialist Dandy’s Angel has to be respected despite coming here below par, while Richard Fahey’s in-form filly Mystical Maria (second choice) must also enter calculations. But the form of HIBERNATE‘s recent Leicester second reads well and he is taken to come out on top.
Assessment of Chances
| Horse | Strengths | Weaknesses | Suitability/Chances |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hibernate | Strong recent form (very good runner-up), with the form reading well as the winner has since won again. | Must carry 2lb more. | Considered a player and is taken to come out on top. |
| Mystical Maria | In-form filly who recently won and followed up with a solid third place finish. | None explicit. | Must enter calculations and is named as the second choice. |
TimeWise Chronicles 
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