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 Hungerford hopeful Coppull impressed me enough 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.
The race will be shown live on Sky Sports Racing, giving viewers a chance to watch the three‑year‑old in action. Clive Cox’s colt took a long time to settle at Newmarket, where the winner, Comanche Brave, got a clear run early. Coppull, a strong‑muscled traveller, should benefit from the additional furlong and a more conventional, less testing track layout. The extra distance may allow him to find a rhythm that eluded him on the quicker Newmarket surface.
Never So Brave earned a solid second place in the Criterion at York over seven furlongs, but he has struggled to produce a decisive finish this season. Godolphin’s Symbol Of Honour is a consistent performer, yet he has never managed to win at this trip, making both horses marginal challengers in the field.
A more intriguing entry, in my view, is William Haggas’s Extremely Zain. The horse has already proven his ability on this course and distance, having run a better race than his final placing suggested in the International at Ascot. He is currently on an upward trajectory, and although the Hungerford Stakes represents a step up in class, his proven form over similar conditions suggests he could hold his own against the higher‑rated rivals.
Millionaire sets the tone in the Geoffrey Freer Dubai Honour, a veteran with four Group One victories and more than £5 million in earnings, looks set 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 my husband Tom Marquand’s most memorable rides, and with an excellent record when fresh, he could easily add an eleventh win on his return from 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 conditions. Gamrai, who fought valiantly in the Copper Horse at Royal Ascot, has since switched trainers, joining George Scott after a stint with John and Thady Gosden. Though now in deeper water, the change of environment might prove beneficial, and he could find a better rhythm under his new connections. Fire can blaze in the Sprint Handicap Having finally secured a front‑running position, Richard Hannon’s Wheels Of Fire is primed to deliver another bold performance in the D&H Excellence In Nutrition Handicap over one mile and five furlongs at Newbury.
He comfortably beat the well‑rated Hypnotised at Sandown, and a six‑pound weight increase may not be sufficient to blunt his momentum. Pat Dobbs, his upcoming rival, appears better suited to a higher weight, which could give Wheels Of Fire the edge. Chris Mason’s Glamorous Breeze earned a respectable run at Goodwood and deserves a close finish. However, the filly has yet to prove herself against Listed and Group company, and despite dropping back into a handicap with a reduced rating, she still has work to do to demonstrate her true ability.
Humam looks to build on a strong Newmarket showing Humam’s front‑running third place in a lively Newmarket contest positions him well for the TPT Fire Handicap over two miles and three‑quarters at Newbury. I was impressed by how the former Andrew Balding trainee stayed on the pace and delivered his best effort since being gelded this winter, a performance that should appeal to trainer Stuart Williams. Running off an unchanged rating, Humam’s 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 significantly to handle the reduced distance.
Eve Johnson Houghton’s commendable Great Acclaim has been competitive in major contests such as the Victoria Cup and Buckingham Palace, but a spell from the handicapper may be necessary to restore his best form. Roxby could spark a big‑race double Malton trainer Nigel Tinkler and his apprentice Alex Jary have a genuine chance of achieving a memorable double at Ripon on Saturday, starting with Lord Roxby in the William Hill/MND Association Great St Wilfrid Handicap over three miles and twenty‑five furlongs. The four‑year‑old, trained out of Middleham Park, returns to the North Yorkshire venue in top condition after beating the well‑fancied Dark Cloud Rising over the same course and distance earlier in the month. He also produced a dominant performance at York earlier this summer, suggesting he can handle a five‑pound weight increase against a field of ambitious rivals.
The likely favourite, Fast Track Harry, showed improvement when fitted with cheekpieces for the first time at Ascot, but I am not convinced the Ascot surface will suit him on this day. The class horse Aramram, meanwhile, must overcome a low draw; he ran poorly from a similar position two years ago in this race.
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 four‑year‑old who ticks many of the boxes for a wide‑open, large‑field sprint. Magic Boy 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 subsequent appearance three weeks later compromised his chances, but the horse remains well‑placed. He draws stall 14, a favourable position at the Garden Racecourse, and his previous form at this venue is a strong indicator of future performance. Having finished second on both of his visits, he appears poised to improve on that effort and may finally secure a career‑best win.
Another noteworthy contender is Clive Cox’s Mythical Composer, who also enjoys a good draw in stall 15. The horse must rebound from a disappointing run at Goodwood, his first start since being gelded, but the change in status could unlock additional stamina and focus. Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.