Our ambassador offers a preview of four races on Newbury's Hungerford Day and gives his take on the headline contests at Ripon, with both meetings being broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing. An extra furlong could suit the Hungerford hopeful After a strong showing in the Group One July Cup, Coppull has convinced me that he possesses the stamina and class to take on the Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes over three miles and ten furlongs at Newbury this Saturday. The race will be shown live on Sky Sports Racing, giving fans a chance to watch the three-year-old in action. Coppull, trained by Clive Cox, was a little reluctant to settle at Newmarket when he faced the winner Comanche Brave, but the extra distance at Newbury should play to his strengths.
The course there is more conventional and the added furlong will likely allow him to settle into a comfortable rhythm, something that was missing in his previous run. Never So Brave, who impressed with a second‑place finish in the Criterion at York over seven furlongs, will have his supporters hopeful. However, he has struggled to find a clear lead this season, and his form suggests he may not be up to the task over the longer trip. Godolphin’s Symbol Of Honour is another solid contender, but he has yet to win at this distance, making his chances uncertain.
Perhaps the most intriguing entry for me is William Haggas’s Extremely Zain. The colt has already proven himself over the same course and distance, and his performance in the International at Ascot was far better than his finishing position indicated. Although this race represents a step up in class, Extremely Zain has been on an upward trajectory and could handle an ordinary renewal with confidence.
Millionaire sets the tone in the Geoffrey Freer Dubai Honour, a seasoned campaigner with four Group One victories and more than £5 million in earnings, looks ready to recapture past glories in the opening Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes, a mile and a quarter contest at Newbury. The eight‑year‑old veteran has provided some of Tom Marquand’s finest rides and, with a strong record when fresh, could notch his eleventh win after a summer break. The form line between Mount Atlas and Tabletalk, both of whom ran in the Silver Cup at York, offers little to suggest either will improve enough to challenge Dubai Honour’s dominance at these terms.
Meanwhile, Gamrai, who fought valiantly in the Copper Horse at Royal Ascot, may benefit from a change of environment after moving to George Scott from John and Thady Gosden. Fire can blaze in the Sprint Handicap Now that he has regained 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 comfortably defeated the well‑rated Hypnotised at Sandown, and even a six‑pound weight increase may not be enough to stop him from continuing his run under Pat Dobbs, who is also well‑placed on the weights.
Chris Mason’s Glamorous Breeze earned a respectable placing at Goodwood and deserves a close finish in this race. Although she has struggled to match up against Listed and Group competition, the handicap drop and a reduced rating give her a chance to prove her worth. Humam looks to build on a strong Newmarket run Humam’s front‑running third in a warm‑weather race at Newmarket suggests he is primed for the TPT Fire Handicap over two miles and three‑quarters at Newbury. The former Andrew Balding trainee displayed tenacity and produced his best effort since being gelded this winter, making him an attractive option for Stuart Williams.
He is carrying an unchanged mark, 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. Scoville will need to improve to stay competitive over the reduced distance. Eve Johnson‑Houghton’s Great Acclaim has been a consistent performer in high‑profile races such as the Victoria Cup and the Buckingham Palace Stakes, but a respite from the handicap may be beneficial to preserve his form.
Roxby could spark a big‑race double Malton trainer Nigel Tinkler and 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 a quarter. The four‑year‑old returned to the North Yorkshire circuit in top condition after beating the well‑fancied Dark Cloud Rising earlier this month.
He also performed admirably against a strong field at York this summer and should be able to handle a five‑pound weight increase against a group of promising rivals. Fast Track Harry, who showed improvement after wearing cheekpieces for the first time at Ascot, is another contender, though I am not convinced the track will suit him.
The class horse Aramram must overcome a low draw; he ran poorly from a similar position in this race two years ago, so a better starting gate could make a difference. 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 five‑furlongs, Nigel fields Magic Boy, a four‑year‑old who checks many of the boxes for a wide‑open, large‑field sprint. He is less exposed than many of his rivals and demonstrated his potential with a hard‑fought victory against eighteen opponents at York last month. A slow start in his most recent outing at York compromised his chances, but the experience should serve him well.
Magic Boy draws stall 14, a position that suits him well given his previous form at the Garden Racecourse. He has finished second on both of his prior visits and is eager to improve on that effort, aiming for a career‑best performance. Another interesting runner is Clive Cox’s Mythical Composer, who also enjoys a favourable draw in stall 15.
The gelding needs to bounce back after a disappointing run at Goodwood, his first start since being gelded, but his pedigree and training suggest he could be a serious factor. Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.