Our correspondent offers a preview of four races slated for Newbury's Hungerford Day and provides an analysis of the headline contests at Ripon, with both meetings being broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing. A Longer Trip May Suit Coppull After a convincing run in the Group One July Cup, Coppull has earned my confidence that he can handle the Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes over three miles and ten furlongs at Newbury this Saturday. The three‑year‑old, trained by Clive Cox, was a little sluggish to find his rhythm at Newmarket, where the winner, Comanche Brave, set a strong early pace. Coppull, however, is a proven traveller and should relish the extra furlong on a more conventional, galloping surface.
Never So Brave will be backed by the form he displayed when finishing second in the Criterion at York over seven furlongs, but he has struggled to assert himself this season and may find the step up in trip challenging. Godolphin’s Symbol Of Honour is a solid performer but has never managed a win over this distance, leaving his chances uncertain. A more intriguing prospect in my view is William Haggas’s Extremely Zain.
The colt is a proven course‑and‑distance winner who ran a better race than his final placing suggested in the International at Ascot. He is still on an upward trajectory. Although this race represents a step up in class, he should be able to hold his own in a standard renewal.
Millionaire Sets the Pace in the Geoffrey Freer Dubai Honour, a veteran with four Group One victories and more than £5 million in earnings, looks set to dominate 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) with his finest moments in the saddle. Fresh and in good form, he could easily notch his eleventh win as he returns from a summer break. There is little to separate Mount Atlas and Tabletalk after their performances in the Silver Cup at York, but I doubt either will improve enough to threaten Dubai Honour on these terms.
Gamrai, who fought valiantly in the Copper Horse at Royal Ascot, may benefit from a change of scenery after moving to George Scott from John and Thady Gosden, even though he is now in deeper water. Fire Can Ignite the Sprint Handicap Having finally secured his lead, Richard Hannon’s Wheels Of Fire is poised to deliver another bold display in the D&H Excellence In Nutrition Handicap over one mile and five furlongs at Newbury. He comfortably beat the re‑opposing Hypnotised at Sandown, and a six‑pound weight increase may not be sufficient to halt his progress under Pat Dobbs, despite Dobbs being better suited to higher weights.
Chris Mason’s Glamorous Breeze earned a close finish at Goodwood and deserves another chance. Though she has fallen short in Listed and Group company, she still has something to prove, even if she is dropping back into a handicap with a reduced rating.
Humam Looks to Build on Newmarket Form Humam’s front‑running third place 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 the pace, delivering his best effort for trainer Stuart Williams since being gelded this winter. Running at an unchanged rating, his recent form appears more compelling than that of his main rival, Scoville, who has disappointed in both the Royal Hunt Cup and the Golden Mile at Goodwood and will need to improve for this shortened 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 respite from the handicapper may be warranted.
Roxby Aims for a Big‑Race Double Malton trainer Nigel Tinkler and apprentice Alex Jary have a strong 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, trained at 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 dispatched a large field at York earlier this summer and should cope with a five‑pound penalty against a group of 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.
The class horse Aramram must overcome a low draw; he performed poorly from a similar position in this race two years ago. Magic Boy Could Light Up 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 right 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, although a slow start compromised his chances three weeks later.
Magic Boy enjoys a favourable draw in stall 14 and possesses previous form at this track, which is always crucial at the Garden Racecourse. He has finished second on both his visits and could finally secure a win, provided he can produce a career‑best performance. Another contender worth noting is Clive Cox’s Mythical Composer, also well‑drawn in stall 15. He must rebound from a disappointing run at Goodwood, his first start since being gelded.
Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.