Sunday Lunch At The Border Minstrel Ebf Novice Stakes (gbb Race)

14:45 Newcastle (AW) Wed 02 Sep 2026 6f1y Class 4 Good 11 runners

Mr Fox’s call

Yordan

HIGH Advised 4/9 SP 2/13F Est. 58%

🏆 WON

Mr Fox says

Yordan (SR:159, 4/9) is a class apart in this novice field — the SR gap to the next best (Rake Lane at 135) is 24 points, placing Yordan firmly in the top-class bracket while the rest are workmanlike at best. The market has reinforced this view with a 9% shortening since opening, and Harry Vigors retains the ride for Kevin Ryan, a stable combination with purpose. A form line of 2-1 shows a progressive 3-year-old who won last time out, stepping back at the same class, and the 17-day turnaround suggests the horse is in a good place. At 4/9 the price is short but reflects an unambiguous SR dominance over this field. Each-way alternative: Joud. Main danger: Rake Lane — Rake Lane (SR:135) is the field's second-highest rated runner and despite a 14% market drift, carries 5lb less than Yordan — if the favourite underperforms for any reason, Rake Lane is best placed on SR to capitalise.

Verify· #15576

Full result

Winner: Yordan (IRE) at SP 2/13F. Mr Fox’s picks highlighted in gold.

1 Yordan Fox #1 Kevin Ryan · Harry Vigors(5) 3/10
2 Brash David & Nicola Barron · Joanna Mason 5/1
3 Triple P Tim Easterby · Duran Fentiman 33/1
4 Ennoble Antony Brittain · Harry Russell 10/1
5 Joud Fox #3 Edward Bethell · Cian Horgan(5) 33/1
6 Rake Lane Fox #2 Mark Walford · Jack Garritty 14/1
7 Alpha Platoon Philip Kirby · Cam Hardie 25/1
8 Navertity Fox #4 Stephen Hanlon · Jason Hart 40/1
9 Mystic Wave David Thompson · Aiden Brookes 250/1
10 Miss Tino David Thompson · Barry McHugh 125/1
— Midnight Serenade R Mike Smith · Tom Kiely-Marshall(5) 250/1

Top 4 — how each finished

1 Yordan 4/9 SP 2/13F 🏆 WON
2 Rake Lane 14/1 6TH
3 Joud 22/1 5TH
4 Navertity 20/1 8TH