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13:20 Newbury
Current favourite Frantanck didn't seem to get the step up in trip at Sandown last time out and connections are giving it another go today. I wouldn't be convinced backing him as the betting favourite and he looks worth taking on.
Definite made all the running to win Haydock before finishing second at Nottingham last time out. The Ralph Beckett trained three year old now has a tongue tie fitted which should garner more improvement. He is only one of two former distance winners in the field, so there's no issue in regards to today's trip and he looks to hold a solid chance.
Highland Premiere comes back down in class today after a poor showing at Goodwood and this grade should be more to his liking.
General Lee is burdened with top weight and probably needs to come down the ratings to have a stronger claim. Conditional jockey Mohammed Tabti takes a hefty 7lbs off the horses back so I wouldn't write him off entirely.
The selection falls to Rogue Rocket who tackles the ten furlong trip for the first time today. The extra distance should suit as he tends to do all his best work late on. Jockey Connor Planas takes a handy 7lbs off his back which will surely aid his chances. His current odds make him a very attractive proposition.
ROGUE ROCKET (E/W)
written by Luke Tucker
13:40 Ripon
Only five runners for the Hornblower Stakes this year at Ripon, a disappointing turnout but better than some races this weekend. Despite the small field there is still quality on show, the James Tate trained New Definition has been given an official mark of 89 after his five runs. Although perhaps with only one win from those five starts he is starting to look a bit exposed compared to today’s rivals.
Wen Moon won last time out over today's course and distance and that can be a massive advantage on this undulating track. The form however doesn't look the strongest and I'm happy to take him on.
Prince Of Pillo was a €38,000 purchase from the breeze-ups and got his career off to a perfect start over six furlongs at Ayr last month. The Prince Of Lir colt travelled strongly throughout the race and battled through signs of greenness to score by half a length. Keith Dalgleish would not be renowned for first time out winners and this colt will likely have improved since the debut, Keith also does well on his forays to Ripon with a 29% strike rate this year at the track.
PRINCE OF PILLO (WIN)
written by Michael Taylor
13:55 Newbury
Bluelight Bay beat three subsequent winners at Windsor in June but could only manage fifth when last seen in the Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
Candle Of Hope, Ferrari Queen and Citeh D’Or all put their respective unbeaten records on the line today however their wins came against much lesser opposition than they have to compete with today. It would be somewhat of a surprise if any of the aforementioned quartet were able to visit the winners’ enclosure given Victory Dance went so close in Group 2 company last time out. He was four lengths clear of third that day and brings by far the best form to the table. He can’t afford to rest on his laurels but a run similar to last time out would make him very tough to beat.
VICTORY DANCE (WIN) written by Dean Kilbryde
14:10 Newmarket
Only the five head to post for this mile and three quarter fillies handicap, however it’s hard to put a line through any of them.
Atlantis will almost certainly head the market. She had already shown ability in maidens before winning her handicap debut in first time cheek pieces (retained) in what looked a fairly average affair. With a 9lb rise in weight she looks opposable at the prices.
Australian Angel is a consistent type and based on her last two starts is still feasibly weighted. She seemed to improve for the step up to this trip at Sandown last time and that could be the key to unlocking further improvement.
The four year old Sea Sylph is a strong stayer and if some of these struggle in the heat, she has the ability to keep galloping past them in the closing stages.
Rozalia is another with a chance and she could find further improvement after having only eight career starts, which is low for a five year old.
A chance is taken with the likely outsider of the field Single. She likes a galloping track and her latest run at Sandown was very good, only beaten by Mostly Cloudy who was winning his fifth consecutive race. She ran really well over course a distance this time last year off a similar mark and looks the value in a competitive little race.
SINGLE (WIN)
written by Matt Polley
14:30 Newbury
Another five runner field again this afternoon. This time in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes.
Three year old's have taken this contest in three of the last five years and Zechariah is a relatively short price to further improve this stat, especially with the assistance of a weight allowance. Martyn Meade is no stranger to winning this contest having won the race three years ago, his charge doesn't have the guarantee of the truly run race he needs and as such I’m passing him over today.
Away He Goes has been trying himself in better company of late and brings some very useful form to the table. However, his best runs have come with a bit of juice in the ground and whilst he probably does handle a quicker surface, he’d be more appealing with some rain in the forecast.
The lightly raced Universal Order goes back up in trip here and still has to prove that he can compete at this level since returning from a long layoff. Connections may have been targeting this particular event and he looks a danger if this race turns into a sprint.
All be it speculative I'm siding with Outbox who just over a year ago, was second to Hukum at York - a horse who has won this race the last two years. A repeat of that performance should see him firmly in the mix. His ability to be tactically versatile will help in a contest of this nature. He does have form to find so this selection comes with an air of risk but we will hopefully be rewarded with a well-priced winner.
OUTBOX (WIN) written by Tom Bates
14:50 Ripon
Despite attracting one of the smallest fields of the last twenty year's, the draw will likely play a significant part in this with each of the last five winners coming from stalls with double digits.
Summerghand went agonisingly close to taking the 2019 renewal when comfortably accounting for his side of the draw, only to bump into one drawn better on the opposing side. Rather inconsistent this season, he was much too far back to land a telling blow at Goodwood last time although that performance wasn't as bad as his finishing position may suggest. With solid performances both at York and Ascot previously he still retains plenty of ability. Clearly very well handicapped off a mark of 98 (last won off 107) he makes a terrific amount of appeal for the O'Meara/Tudhope combination although his draw in stall three, looks a significant negative.
Justanotherbottle made every yard when winning this last term and he has been very strong in the betting throughout the week. Fairly hard to predict this season, his mark looks a shade high for win purposes although his last three victories have been recorded here and he clearly warrants respect on that score alone.
Embour has twice shown encouragement after undergoing an op for his wind, his third at Catterick was a step in the right direction and that was followed up with an eye-catching sixth at Goodwood. Winless for over a year, one would require plenty of faith to play the Ruth Carr seven-year-old however he is 9lbs below his last winning mark and six below the mark he finished a fair sixth in this last season.
Mark's Choice likes it at this venue and claimed the consolation race for this last season. He won that contest off the exact same mark he has today. Rather in and out so far this campaign, he arrives with serious questions to answer on his debut for Adrian Keatley although he has undergone a wind operation and the application of a first-time visor could perk him up. Partnered by the highly promising 7lb claimer, William Pyle, he appears well drawn in stall twelve and a return to form could be on the cards.
Blackrod failed to land a telling blow at Ascot when last seen although he bolted up in a competitive affair the time before. He still looks to have plenty of improvement left in him and shouldn't be far away. Having raced just the nine times so far and a winner of four of those, he could prove to be above this grade in time and respect is afforded despite the yard change (Michael Dods to Edward Bethell) looking rather puzzling.
Emperor Spirit, Misty Grey and Hyperfocus are others with claims but our vote shall be split between course specialist, Mark's Choice and the well handicapped Embour, with Summerghand feared most of those towards the head of the betting.
MARK'S CHOICE (E/W)
EMBOUR (E/W)
written by Chris Connolly
15:00 Newbury
A rather competitive handicap for which a closely bunched field of seven will go to post.
Top weight Silent Film has solid form as a three year-old and started his four year-old campaign with back to back victories. However, things went south on his return to England when finishing at the rear in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. He did the same once again in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket. Although he’s back in preferred company, he has a tough ask given that he’s lumbered with top weight.
Gisburn is a dual winner over six furlongs and seems to fare better in races with smaller fields. He ran well on his first two starts this season but was disappointing in two large runner handicaps subsequently. He bounced back last time out when he was second at a big price and although he's the current favourite he doesn't look a solid bet for punters.
Dance Fever is back down to his last winning mark and put two luckless runs at Ascot behind him when best of the rest behind the smart Hebrides at Doncaster. He followed that up with a decent run at Goodwood when having a few things go against him. Adam Kirby and Clive Cox have teamed up to take this race twice before and they look to have a live contender to do so for a third time.
DANCE FEVER (WIN)
written by Kieran McHugh
15:18 Newmarket
This mesmerizing, one of a kind contest sees an all grey field line up for the annual 'Grey's Race' from Flat HQ here at Newmarket. This six furlong sprint may only have the seven runners set to go to post but it looks competitive none the less.
The current market leader Mister Bluebird holds a strong chance after his win three starts back. The encouraging booking of talented claimer Harry Davies also enhances the chances of Heather Main's charge. A consistent type who looks hard to bet against.
If push came to shove I'd say that the current double figure odds of Wentworth Falls looks far too big for a horse who finished second in this race last year off a higher handicap mark. If you are looking for an each way option I'd be tempted to side with the veteran but sadly the smaller field helps guide me back towards the favourite.
MISTER BLUEBIRD (WIN)
written by Rory Paddock
15:35 Newbury
Tiber Flow tops the market for the William Haggas team. The son of Caravaggio was far from disgraced when stepping up in grade in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup. He was beaten just over four lengths at Royal Ascot and a reproduction of that effort will make him difficult to beat. The ultra-consistent Pogo is the top-rated horse in the field and he wasn’t beaten far in the Group 2 Lennox Stakes when last seen. Charles Hills' seven-time winner has yet to win above Group 3 level, but he shouldn’t be far away.
The Richard Hannon pair Chindit and Happy Romance both have live chances. The former was a course and distance winner when landing the Greenham last season. He rarely runs a bad race including when looking better than ever two starts back in the Summer Mile. Hollie Doyle partners Happy Romance who’s a dual winner at Newbury but has yet to win beyond six furlongs (Only one attempt).
Double Or Bubble has taken her form to new heights this season winning a Group 3 and finishing a close fifth in the July Cup. She’ll find this test easier but may be better over six furlongs.
TIBER FLOW (WIN)
written by Peter Keogh