Hollie Doyle, serving as our ambassador, offers a preview of a packed Saturday agenda that includes the Group Two Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing. Michael Dods has been exceptionally confident about his unbeaten gelding Arapaho Gold, suggesting the horse could secure a flawless five‑out‑of‑five record in the Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes (2.12) at Newbury this Saturday. The colt, who captured the Gimcrack Stakes, is described by his Darlington trainer as the finest juvenile he has ever handled.
Arapaho Gold displays the strongest form among the entrants and has already demonstrated a fondness for both the Newbury track and the race distance, having previously triumphed in the Listed Rose Bowl earlier in the season. Godolphin’s contender Nabati showed promising progress before an unfortunate mishap in the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster last week.
Trainer Charlie Appleby is eager to give the horse a swift comeback and prove its ability at this level. Another horse to watch is the revitalised Breeders' Cup winner Starlust, who will contest the Dubai International Airport World Trophy Stakes (1.02) at Newbury.
Starlust, now under the guidance of Ralph Beckett, previously dazzled at Del Mar two years ago before an unproductive spell at stud. Recent performances in top‑class sprints such as the Nunthorpe and the Flying Five in Ireland indicate that he remains a genuine threat, even when stepping down in class. On a more straightforward surface, Arapaho Gold could regain the lead, potentially at the expense of Shagraan, who is slated to run in cheekpieces for the first time.
Clive Cox’s gelding was runner‑up in this event last year and should relish the softer ground conditions. Roaring Legend proved his enduring class when he was narrowly beaten by last weekend’s Mallard winner Valedictory at Newmarket. He now targets the Dubai Duty Free Autumn Cup Handicap (1.37) at Newbury, where a better effort could see him back on the winner’s circle. Olly Murphy’s eight‑year‑old, a fresh‑looking horse, also merits attention.
The same description fits Alan King’s Insanity, a gelding I have always liked and which is well‑handicapped based on recent form. Primo Lara, partnered by Ryan Moore, is expected to attract considerable betting interest, though the race appears more demanding than the all‑weather contest he won at Kempton earlier this month. Richard Hannon holds the key to the Dubai Duty Free Handicap (2.47) at Newbury with the consistent Boyfriend and his stable companion Stem.
Boyfriend was unlucky at Salisbury when the race became congested, yet he stayed on strongly and might have finished closer with a clear run. Compensation could be well‑awaited for him.
Stem produced a solid performance at Sandown previously and has a prior Newbury win, while Jane Chapple‑Hyam’s Balzac, who improved markedly after being gelded and a strong showing at Ascot, looks to be another major factor. Never miss a story: the latest racing news, interviews, and features are all available on your phone. Find out more. Binhareer is shaping up as a stakes horse in the making, and I expect big things from him in the Ladbrokes Ayr Gold Cup (3.40) at Ayr on Saturday.
William Haggas’ grey ran an impressive race in the Group Three Hackwood Stakes at Newbury in July, maintaining a rating of 103. My husband Tom Marquand is eager to ride him again in handicap company.
A proven course and distance winner on easy ground last year, Binhareer sits high on my shortlist alongside Far Above Dream, who narrowly missed a win in a hot handicap at York. That form was reinforced when the third‑placed Coul Angel surged at the Curragh last week.
At longer odds, I would not discount Richard Spencer’s Run Boy Run, who captured this race a year ago at a lower rating and could be dangerous in first‑time blinkers if drawn on the right side in stall 23. I would love to see Sam England claim the Ladbrokes Ayr Silver Cup Handicap (2.30) aboard the in‑form Trilby, another strong prospect for Tom Marquand.
Trilby won comfortably at Beverley and then stayed on nicely at Haydock, finishing powerfully. The faster the pace, the better for the six‑year‑old, who carries a modest five‑pound penalty.
Wathnan Racing’s Deep Havana also carries a penalty but produced a strong win at Thirsk after a long lay‑off and could improve further. Julie Camacho’s Havana Blue should also play a leading role after an impressive victory at Ascot. Stay up to date with the latest horse racing news, interviews, and features from Sky Sports Racing. On a personal note, I am delighted to report that over the past two weeks I have made significant progress in recovering from the broken leg I suffered at Bath in May.
For a period, I was not seeing the improvements I had hoped for, which was concerning because my knee and ankle were not cooperating. However, I am now witnessing encouraging results, which feels very rewarding. The most notable milestone was getting back onto the simulator a few weeks ago.
At first, I could barely lift my foot onto the iron, but now I am making substantial strides toward riding again. From the outset, I was determined not to lose too much fitness, hoping that once I increased my rehabilitation load, I could regain condition more quickly.
The process has been exhausting but necessary. I have been dedicating an hour each day to gym work at Oaksey House in Lambourn, followed by physiotherapy sessions and hydro‑pool training. Additionally, I have returned to the exercise bike, which has been invaluable for boosting my cardiovascular fitness. I am now checking all the boxes, seeing the fruits of my hard work, and I am optimistic that I will be back doing what I love within weeks rather than months.
Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.