Monday promises a packed racing schedule, featuring meetings at Brighton, Newton Abbot and Wolverhampton, all broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing. Among the headline attractions is Danehill Star, the Tony Carroll‑trained gelding, who is targeting a hat‑trick in the Bet £20 Get £40 Free Bets Handicap at Brighton. Danehill Star has been in scintillating form lately, having secured victories in his previous two outings. The first win came over the same course and distance, where he edged out his rival by half a length.
He then displayed a dominant performance at Bath, pulling away by more than five lengths. Those impressive displays have not gone unnoticed by the handicapper, who has increased his rating by ten pounds since those wins.
The manner of his Bath triumph suggests he possesses the class and stamina to clinch a third successive victory. The main challenger appears to be Newfangled, who won this very race last season while carrying just one pound less than the current mark. Newfangled has hit the ground running this campaign, most recently finishing a credible third at Windsor, indicating he is in good form and could pose a serious threat to Danehill Star's ambitions. Another contender worth mentioning is the course specialist Dion Baker.
He has struggled to maintain his previous rating of 73, having been forced to concede an additional 36 pounds since his winning run at the track in late May. However, a recent drop of two pounds in the handicap gives him a glimmer of hope, and if he can rediscover the early‑season form that saw him excel on this surface, he may be competitive.
On The Inlet also merits attention. The horse has shown promise earlier in the year and could be a factor if it can return to the lower class where it previously thrived.
A drop in class might allow the gelding to recapture the confidence and speed that marked its early outings. Turning to the novice hurdles, the Dovecote fourth, Matiwo, returns in the Jodie Standing’s Point‑To‑Point Recruits Novices’ Hurdle. Matiwo displayed considerable promise as a juvenile hurdler last season, winning a respectable novice at Newbury before delivering a brilliant fourth‑place effort in the Grade Two Dovecote Hurdle, where he ran alongside the eventual Grade One Top Novices’ Hurdle winner, Storming George.
His current form, combined with an unexposed profile, places him well above the rest of the field, and he is expected to be a tough opponent on his seasonal re‑appearance. Ride Like A Girl, another hopeful, showed a glimpse of ability after wind surgery with a win in May, but has not progressed since.
If this will be his final run after a brief spell, the experience and fitness gained could make him a competitive contender. Scott’s Legacy could be the primary threat if he takes to the hurdles for the first time.
He impressed in a solid bumper win at Southwell in March, suggesting he possesses the athleticism and jumping aptitude required for a successful hurdle debut. Pappano, a horse with a flat rating of 96 and a recent appearance in Willie Mullins’ Triumph Hurdle, has yet to demonstrate his full potential over obstacles. Two lacklustre hurdling starts, including a keenly run effort in his most recent race, indicate that the colt still has plenty to prove and could be a dark horse if he finds his rhythm. In other news, record‑breaking 1‑33 outsider Najidi Storm will contest the Download the At the Races App Novice Stakes against the promising Wootz.
Najidi Storm burst onto the scene with a half‑length win on debut, showcasing a sharp turn of foot. He subsequently produced two more winners, one of which, Gavriel, later placed fourth in the Cambridgeshire. However, the heavy ground at Goodwood proved unsuitable, and he became the shortest‑priced loser in British racing history at 1‑33.
He is a full brother to St Leger victor Logician and a half‑brother to the talented Okeechobee, indicating a strong pedigree and ample room for improvement. The competition will be fierce, with Wootz having impressed with a six‑and‑a‑half‑length debut victory before a disappointing run at Windsor where he hung left and was beaten by the classy Song Of The Clouds. More experience should see Wootz continue to progress. Al Jolson, another entrant, secured a comfortable win on his second start, while Shadow Boxer is expected to benefit from the added distance of an extra furlong after a solid debut in April.
The card also features several other notable contests: at 4.27 pm in Brighton, Royal County Glory will chase a hat‑trick; at 5.00 pm, Macanudo will aim for a third win. At Newton Abbot, Depalma seeks his first fence win for the Skeltons at 1.50 pm, while Gore Point looks to rebound at 3.00 pm after a recent victory by Juggernaut. Saint Polo will try to return to form at 3.35 pm, pursuing a four‑win streak over hurdles.
The progressive pair Kom Tu Voudras and Kilnew Supreme clash at 4.10 pm. Over at Wolverhampton, Majestic Flame hopes to rediscover his best after a promising debut at Goodwood, running at 5.30 pm, followed by a 0‑75 handicap for Trappy at 8.00 pm, and the Anthony Gover targeting a course‑and‑distance hat‑trick at 8.30 pm. Finally, Bordeaux will host a listed action later in the day. Stay up to date with the latest horse racing news, interviews and features by following Sky Sports Racing on your mobile device.