Our ambassador gave us a preview of four key contests on Newbury's Hungerford Day and offered a look at the headline races at Ripon, both of which will be shown live on Sky Sports Racing. **An extra furlong could suit the Hungerford outsider** Coppull left a strong impression in the Group One July Cup, enough for me to believe he can handle the Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes over three miles and ten furlongs at Newbury this Saturday. The race will be broadcast on Sky Sports Racing, giving fans a chance to see the three-year-old in action. Trainer Clive Cox admitted that Coppull needed a long time to settle at Newmarket, where the winner, Comanche Brave, broke well and took the lead early.
Coppoll, however, proved to be a resilient traveler and should benefit from the added distance on a more conventional Newbury track. Another contender, Never So Brave, has drawn support after finishing second in the Criterion at York over seven furlongs, but he has struggled to find his rhythm this season. Godolphin’s Symbol Of Honour is a solid performer, yet he has never succeeded at this particular distance, making his chances uncertain.
A more intriguing entry, in my view, is William Haggas’s Extremely Zain. The colt has already won over this course and distance, and his performance in the International at Ascot suggested he was better than his final placing indicated. Although this race represents a step up in class, Extremely Zain has been on an upward trajectory and should be able to hold his own in a standard renewal. **Millionaire sets the tone in the Geoffrey Freer** Dubai Honour, a veteran with four Group One victories and more than £5 million in prize money, is looking to remind everyone of his class in the opening Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes over one mile and a quarter at Newbury.
Now eight years old, Dubai Honour has delivered some of the finest rides for my husband Tom Marquand, and his fresh form suggests he could notch his eleventh win after a summer break. The field also includes Mount Atlas and Tabletalk, who were close in the Silver Cup at York, but I doubt either can improve enough to challenge Dubai Honour on these terms.
Gamrai, who fought valiantly in the Copper Horse at Royal Ascot, has moved to George Scott from John and Thady Gosden. Though he is now in deeper water, the change of scenery might help him rediscover his best.
**Fire can blaze in the Sprint Handicap** Having finally found his stride, 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 comfortably defeated the re-opposing Hypnotised at Sandown, and a six‑pound weight increase may not be enough to stop him, even though Pat Dobbs, his rival, tends to thrive at higher weights. Chris Mason’s Glamorous Breeze earned a solid run at Goodwood and deserves a close finish, 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 show her true ability.
**Humam looks to build on a Newmarket third** Humam’s front‑running third place in a warm‑weather race at Newmarket puts him in a strong position for the TPT Fire Handicap over two miles and three‑quarters at Newbury. I was impressed by how this former Andrew Balding runner stayed on the pace, delivering his best effort for Stuart Williams since being gelded over the winter. He heads into the race with an unchanged rating, and his recent form appears 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 admirable Great Acclaim has been competitive in major events such as the Victoria Cup and the Buckingham Palace Stakes, but a spell away from the handicapper may be beneficial.
**Roxby can spark a big‑race double at Ripon** Malton trainer Nigel Tinkler and apprentice Alex Jary have a genuine chance of pulling off a memorable big‑race double at Ripon on Saturday, beginning with Lord Roxby in the William Hill/MND Association Great St Wilfrid Handicap over three miles and a quarter. The four‑year‑old from Middleham Park returns to the North Yorkshire venue in top form after beating the well‑fancied Dark Cloud Rising over the same distance earlier in the month.
Roxby also performed admirably against a large field at York this summer and should be able to handle a five‑pound weight increase against smart rivals who still have something to prove. The likely favourite, Fast Track Harry, showed improvement when wearing cheekpieces for the first time at Ascot, but I am not convinced the track will suit him. Meanwhile, the class horse Aramram will need to overcome a low draw; he ran poorly from a similar position two years ago in this race.
**Magic Boy could turn the tables in the Silver Cup** In the consolation race, the William Hill Supporting MND Silver Cup Handicap over two miles and five‑furlongs, Nigel runs Magic Boy, a four‑year‑old who checks many of the boxes for success in a large, open field. Magic Boy is less exposed than many of his rivals and demonstrated his potential with a hard‑fought win against eighteen opponents at York last month. A slow start in his most recent outing at York three weeks ago compromised his chances, but the horse remains well‑drawn in stall 14, a position that often proves advantageous at the Garden Racecourse.
He has finished second on both of his previous visits and could finally claim his first victory, provided he can produce a career‑best effort. Another interesting entrant is Clive Cox’s Mythical Composer, drawn in stall 15. The colt must rebound from a disappointing run at Goodwood, his first start since being gelded, but the draw could work in his favour. The interview was conducted by Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft, giving viewers insight into Hollie Doyle’s perspectives on the day’s racing and the prospects of each horse mentioned.