Monday promises a packed racing schedule, with fixtures at Brighton, Newton Abbot and Wolverhampton all being broadcast live on Sky Sports Racing. Among the highlights is the quest of Danehill Star, a Tony Carroll‑trained gelding, to secure a hat‑trick of wins. The horse has been in superb form, having triumphed in his previous two outings. The first victory came over the same course and distance, where he edged the field by half a length.
His second win was even more emphatic, as he surged ahead at Bath, finishing more than five lengths clear of his rivals. Those performances have not gone unnoticed by the handicappers; Danehill Star has already been assigned an additional ten pounds.
Nevertheless, the dominant manner of his Bath win suggests he still has a strong chance of adding a third successive victory to his record. One of his main challengers appears to be Newfangled Perhaps, who captured this race last season while carrying a weight just one pound lower than today’s assignment. The horse has hit the right form at the right time, most recently delivering a respectable third place at Windsor.
Another contender, the course specialist Dion Baker, has found it increasingly difficult after his rating rose by 36 pounds since he began his winning streak at the track in late May. Baker’s chances have been slightly revived after a two‑pound drop in the handicap, and he could be in contention if he can rediscover the early‑season form that saw him dominate lower‑class races. On the same card, the Dovecote fourth, Matiwo, returns for the Jodie Standing’s Point‑To‑Point Recruits Novices’ Hurdle.
As a juvenile hurdler, Matiwo impressed last season with a solid win at Newbury and a brilliant fourth‑place finish in the Grade Two Dovecote Hurdle, where he ran among the leaders and beat several future Grade One performers, including Storming George, who later claimed the Top Novices’ Hurdle. Given his current form and a relatively modest handicap, Matiwo is positioned well above his rivals and should prove a tough opponent on his seasonal re‑appearance.
Ride Like A Girl, who showed promise after a wind‑surgery win in May, has not progressed since that victory. If he lines up for his final run after a brief spell, his experience and fitness could make him competitive, though he may struggle against horses that have shown more recent improvement. Scott’s Legacy could emerge as a serious threat if he takes to the obstacles for the first time.
The horse displayed impressive ability in a March bumper at Southwell and might translate that speed and stamina into a strong debut over hurdles. Pappano brings a high level of ability to the field, having earned a flat rating of 96 and previously contested Willie Mullins’ Triumph Hurdle.
However, his two hurdling starts have been unremarkable, and he ran overly keen in his last outing. The horse still has much to prove and could surprise if he settles into a more relaxed rhythm.
In other news, record‑breaking 1‑33 outsider Najidi Storm will face the highly regarded Wootz in the Download the At the Races App Novice Stakes. Najidi Storm made a striking debut, winning by half a length with a sharp turn of foot, and later produced a second‑place finish behind the eventual Cambridgeshire fourth‑place finisher, Gavriel. The horse’s performance faltered in heavy ground at Goodwood, where he became the shortest‑priced loser in British racing history at 1‑33.
Najidi Storm is a half‑sibling to St Leger winner Logician and shares parentage with the promising Okeechobee, indicating ample room for development. The competition will be stiff, with Wootz having already displayed a six‑and‑a‑half‑length debut victory before a less impressive run at Windsor, where he hung left and was beaten by Song Of The Clouds. Continued experience should help Wootz progress. Additional runners include Al Jolson, who secured a comfortable win in his second start, and Shadow Boxer, who is expected to benefit from the extra furlong after a solid debut in April.
For fans who want to stay updated, Sky Sports Racing offers the latest horse racing news, interviews and feature stories, all accessible via mobile apps. The race card also lists several other contests: at 4.27 at Brighton, Royal County Glory will aim for a third win; at 5.00, Macanudo seeks a hat‑trick.
Over at Newton Abbot, Depalma targets his first fence victory for the Skeltons at 1.50, while Gore Point looks to rebound at 3.00 against last‑time‑out winner Juggernaut. Saint Polo, at 3.35, hopes to return to form after a poor chase start, targeting a four‑win streak over hurdles.
The 4.10 slot features an unexposed yet progressive duel between Kom Tu Voudras and Kilnew Supreme. In Wolverhampton, Majestic Flame, at 5.30, aims to regain form after a promising debut in a hot Goodwood maiden, while a 0‑75 handicap at 8.00 sees Trappy, and at 8.30, Anthony Gover pursues a course‑and‑distance hat‑trick.
Finally, Bordeaux will host a listed race later in the day.