Our ambassador offers a preview of four races scheduled for Newbury's Hungerford Day and provides an assessment of the headline contests at Ripon, with both meetings being broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing. An extra furlong could suit the Hungerford hope Coppull impressed me sufficiently in the Group One July Cup to believe he has the class to contest the Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes over three miles and ten furlongs at Newbury this Saturday, a race that will be shown live on Sky Sports Racing.
The three‑year‑old trained by Clive Cox was a little slow to find his rhythm at Newmarket, where the winner, Comanche Brave, was quick off the blocks. Coppull, a proven traveller, should benefit from the added distance and the more conventional layout of Newbury’s track.
Never So Brave will have the backing of his backers after finishing second in the Criterion at York over seven furlongs, but he has struggled to find a clear lead this season. Meanwhile, Godolphin’s Symbol Of Honour is a solid performer who has never managed a win over this trip, making both horses intriguing but uncertain options.
A more compelling contender in my view is William Haggas’s Extremely Zain. The colt has already demonstrated that he can handle the course and distance, having run a far better race than his final placing suggested in the International at Ascot. He is currently on an upward trajectory.
Although the Hungerford Stakes represents a step up in class, he should be able to hold his own in a solid, ordinary renewal. Millionaire sets the bar in the Geoffrey Freer Dubai Honour, a veteran with four Group One victories and more than £5 million in earnings, could look to recapture past glories in the opening Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes over one mile and a quarter at Newbury.
The eight‑year‑old has provided some of Tom Marquand’s finest rides and, given his excellent record when fresh, could notch his eleventh win on his return from a summer break. The recent form of Mount Atlas and Tabletalk in the Silver Cup at York is fairly evenly matched, yet I find it hard to imagine either horse improving enough to challenge Dubai Honour under these conditions. Gamrai, who fought valiantly in the Copper Horse at Royal Ascot, may benefit from a change of scenery after moving to the stable of George Scott from John and Thady Gosden.
Though now in deeper water, a fresh environment could unlock his latent ability. Fire can blaze in the Sprint Handicap Having finally secured the lead, Richard Hannon’s Wheels Of Fire is poised to deliver another bold performance in the D&H Excellence In Nutrition Handicap over one mile and five furlongs at Newbury. He dispatched the previously opposed Hypnotised with ease at Sandown, and a six‑pound weight increase may not be enough to blunt his momentum, even though his rival Pat Dobbs is better suited to carrying higher weights. Chris Mason’s Glamorous Breeze earned the right to contest closely after a solid run at Goodwood, but the filly has yet to prove herself against Listed and Group company.
Dropping back into a handicap with a reduced rating gives her a chance to showcase her true ability. Humam aims to build on a Newmarket third Humam’s front‑running third in a warm‑weather race at Newmarket positions him well for the TPT Fire Handicap over two miles and three‑quarters at Newbury.
I was impressed by the way this former Andrew Balding trainee stayed on task, delivering his best effort for trainer Stuart Williams since being gelded during the winter. Running off an unchanged mark, Humam’s recent form looks more compelling than that of market rival Scoville, who has underperformed in both the Royal Hunt Cup and the Golden Mile at Goodwood and will need to improve to handle the shorter trip. Eve Johnson Houghton’s commendable Great Acclaim has been a regular feature in major contests such as the Victoria Cup and the Buckingham Palace Stakes, but the horse now requires a breather from the handicap system.
Roxby can spark a big‑race double Malton trainer Nigel Tinkler and his apprentice Alex Jary have a genuine opportunity to achieve a memorable double at Ripon on Saturday, beginning with Lord Roxby in the William Hill/MND Association Great St Wilfrid Handicap over three miles and twenty‑five furlongs. The four‑year‑old, based at Middleham Park, returns to the North Yorkshire venue in prime condition after beating the well‑regarded Dark Cloud Rising over the same course and distance earlier this month. He also dominated a large field at York earlier in the summer and should be able to cope with a five‑pound penalty against a group of ambitious rivals who still have something to prove.
The likely favourite, Fast Track Harry, showed improvement when fitted with cheek‑pieces for the first time at Ascot, yet I remain unconvinced that the track will suit him. The class horse in the race, Aramram, must overcome a low draw; he performed poorly from a similar position in this event two years ago. Boy can turn on the Magic in the Silver Cup In the consolation race, the William Hill Supporting MND Silver Cup Handicap over two miles and fifty‑five furlongs, Nigel fields Magic Boy, a horse that ticks many boxes in a wide‑open, large‑field dash. The four‑year‑old is less exposed than many of his rivals and demonstrated his potential with a hard‑fought victory against eighteen opponents at York last month, although a slow start compromised his chances three weeks later.
Magic Boy enjoys an ideal draw in stall 14, and his previous form at this track is a crucial factor at the Garden Racecourse. He has finished second on both of his visits and should be able to improve on that effort, provided he can produce a career‑best run.
Another intriguing entrant is Clive Cox’s Mythical Composer, who also benefits from a favourable draw in stall 15 but must rebound from a disappointing run at Goodwood, his first race since being gelded. Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.