Our ambassador previews four contests on Newbury’s Hungerford Day and assesses the big races at Ripon – both cards live on Sky Sports Racing.
Extra furlong ideal for Hungerford fancy
Coppull showed me enough in the Group One July Cup to convince me he is up to taking the Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes (3.10) at Newbury on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Racing.
Clive Cox’s three-year-old took a long time to get organised at Newmarket where the winner – Comanche Brave – got first run but this strong traveller should enjoy the extra furlong on a more conventional track.
Never So Brave will have his supporters on the back of his second in the Criterion at York over this seven-furlong trip but is struggling to get his head in front this season while Godolphin’s Symbol Of Honour is solid but has never won over this distance.
A more interesting runner for me is William Haggas’s Extremely Zain, a course and distance winner who ran better than his final placing suggests in the International at Ascot and remains on an upward curve. This is a step up in grade, but he can acquit himself well in an ordinary renewal.
Millionaire sets standard in Geoffrey Freer
Dubai Honour, who has four Group Ones and over £5 million in prize money on his CV, can roll back the years in the opening Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes (1.25) at Newbury.
This eight-year-old has given my husband Tom (Marquand) some of his finest moments in the saddle and, with an excellent record fresh, can make it win number 11 on his return from a summer break.
There is little between Mount Atlas and Tabletalk on their efforts in the Silver Cup at York, but I can’t see either finding the improvement needed to lower the colours of Dubai Honour on these terms.
Gamrai went down fighting in the Copper Horse at Royal Ascot and, whilst he’s in deeper waters now, may just benefit from the change of scenery, having joined George Scott from John and Thady Gosden.
Fire can burn it up in Sprint Handicap
Now he has got his head back in front, Richard Hannon’s Wheels Of Fire can put up another bold show in the D&H, Excellence In Nutrition Handicap (1.55) at Newbury.
He beat the re-opposing Hypnotised comfortably at Sandown and a six-pound rise may not be enough to stop him following up under Pat Dobbs, even though that rival is better off at the weights.
Chris Mason’s Glamorous Breeze is entitled to go close on her solid performance at Goodwood, but Kinswoman has come up short in Listed and Group company and still has something to prove, even though she’s dropping back into a handicap off a reduced rating.
Humam set to build on Newmarket third
Humam’s front-running third in a warm race at Newmarket puts him bang there for the TPT Fire Handicap (2.35) at Newbury. I loved the way this former Andrew Balding runner stuck to the task to register his best effort for Stuart Williams since being gelded in the winter.
Racing off an unchanged mark, his most recent form is more compelling than that of market rival Scoville, who has disappointed in both the Royal Hunt Cup and the Golden Mile at Goodwood and needs to improve for this drop in trip.
Eve Johnson Houghton’s admirable Great Acclaim has been running well in big races such as the Victoria Cup and Buckingham Palace but needs some respite from the handicapper.
Roxby can initiate big-race double
Malton trainer Nigel Tinkler and his apprentice Alex Jary have a great chance of pulling off a memorable big race double at Ripon on Saturday, starting with Lord Roxby in the William Hill/MND Association Great St Wilfrid Handicap (3.25).
Middleham Park’s four-year-old returns to the North Yorkshire track in top form after beating fancied rival Dark Cloud Rising over course and distance at the start of the month. He also put a big field to the sword at York earlier this summer and can cope with a five-pound rise against some smart rivals who have a bit more to prove.
Likely favourite Fast Track Harry put in an improved performance in first-time cheekpieces at Ascot last time but I’m not convinced the track will suit while the class horse in the race, Aramram, must overcome a low draw and he ran badly from a similar position in this race two years ago.
Boy can turn on the Magic in Silver Cup
In the consolation race, the William Hill Supporting MND Silver Cup Handicap (2.55), Nigel runs Magic Boy who ticks plenty of boxes in a wide open, big field dash.
This four-year-old is less exposed than most and showed his potential with a hard-fought win against 18 rivals at York last month before a slow start compromised his chances back there three weeks ago.
Magic Boy is ideally drawn in stall 14 and has previous track form which is always so important at the Garden Racecourse. He has finished second on both his visits but can go one better despite needing a career best.
Another interesting contender is Clive Cox’s Mythical Composer who is also potentially well-drawn in stall 15 but needs to bounce back from a poor effort at Goodwood, his first since being gelded.
Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.