Weekend panel including tips for Newbury, Newmarket, Ripon and Pontefract

Will Never So Brave make his class tell in the Hungerford Stakes?

David Ord: He ran to a Timeform performance rating of 126 when winning the Sky Bet City Of York last season. In five runs since he’s not broken 120. And in current form he he’s merely on a par with six or seven of these. I’ll be taking him on, particularly after he didn’t really live up to his name when beaten by Qirat at York two starts ago. I quite like PRINCE OF INDIA going back up to seven furlongs after running into late trouble when sixth thrown in at the deep end in the July Cup last time. Arguably he’s better at this trip and arrives here right at the top of his game, a comment that doesn’t apply to many in this.

Nic Doggett: I'm not sure what I make of him running here rather than at York if that is the case. If you look at his start in the Criterion, Oisin Murphy really had to get after him early, but then at Goodwood in the Sussex he was probably a little keen after jumping okay, so I don't think he's going to be an easy ride for David Probert (who judged things perfectly when they teamed up to win the Summer Mile last year). SYMBOL OF HONOUR has had plausible excuses on each defeat at seven furlongs and I think he just idled when winning over six here last time, form that has been franked by the placed horses running well in the Stewards' Cup. I also like his Chipchase third and his unbeaten record at Newbury sways the vote for me.

Ben Linfoot: I think a lot depends on how you view his performance at York two starts ago. He travelled into that Group 3 like he was going to pick Qirat up and run away with it, but was somewhat outbattled by the Juddmonte horse when the chips were down. That’s a concern. He ran okay in the Sussex Stakes and there’s no doubt he has the class to win this at his best, but with doubts about his attitude creeping in it’s probably a race in which to take him on.

What’s your angle in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon?

DO: He’s a bit of a Hail Mary but I think EYE OF DUBAI is potentially interesting for John and Sean Quinn. The five-year-old’s form figures this season read 11-10-8 – the latter last of eight at Hamilton last month. But the drop to five furlongs that day was always going to be against him and he hinted at Epsom the start before that he was starting to find his feet again. This is only his fourth start of the campaign; he’s a horse who runs himself into form and he’s now dropped to a mark two pounds below his last winning one. His form figures at the track read 1-2-1 and granted a decent draw, he might just pop up at a big price.

ND: I can see where Dave is coming from, but I was a bit surprised to see that John Quinn has never won this race given his fine record with sprinters in the north. With the exception of 2021 winner Justanotherbottle, each of the last seven had either won or placed on their most recent start, so I'm looking at horses in form (as a starting point). By my calculations, the last 100+-rated winner – and I think the only one this century – was Markab who beat the 107-rated top-weight Tamagin by a head in a particularly strong renewal in 2009. And I like that this race is often won by a horse below that elite echelon that you often need to get a big run in the heritage handicaps, especially at the southern tracks. Last year's runner-up KODIAC THRILLER ticks a lot of boxes. He runs this track very well, ran a blinder in defeat here in July when nearly pitching his rider off at the start, and appeared to relish travelling just in-behind a strong pace when winning at York last time; he still looks fairly treated despite a career-high mark.

BL: Ideally you want Ripon form but at the very least you need to be proven on an undulating sprint track. Goodwood and Newmarket form has often come to the fore in this race and you usually need an in-form sprinter, too, so I would immediately shortlist Dark Cloud Rising, Lord Roxby, Kodiac Thriller and Flight Control as horses of interest before the draw and final field is revealed.

Everybody loves a grey – have you got one in the 14:10 Newmarket?

DO: That’s good news given the state of my beard and I do. ACT OF VIOLENCE. He’s just the sort of new recruit that Tony Carroll excels with and he found the key to the five-year-old’ on only his second start for the yard last time. He routed his field from the front at Ripon under Silvestre De Sousa, who rides again on Saturday. The handicapper hasn’t missed him, he’s up eight pounds, but still four below the perch from which he won for his previous team and is clearly in good heart.

Nic: Like Dave, I'm going to put up another who hasn't been in his new surroundings for long. MAELSTROM signed off for William Haggas and Cheveley Park with a woeful run at Newcastle in November but shaped well from the front at Windsor last month. That was his first run for Stuart Williams/since being gelded, and he's likely to come on plenty for the outing. With former winner Archduke Ferdinand and Havana Blue likely to help set a strong gallop, he should get a good tow into the race, and we know from his three-year-old season that six furlongs on quick ground is his cup of tea (Earl Grey? Sorry).

BL: It’s no surprise to see the aforementioned Archduke Ferdinand the antepost favourite after he won this race off 75 and was fifth off 86 last year. He’s back for more off a rating of 79 after bouncing back to winning form at Redcar last time. One I might be tempted to side against him with is James Fanshawe’s NEVASCA CINZA who is an interesting handicap debutant. His maiden form at Brighton and Ffos Las has worked out well – he was beaten by horses now rated 83 and 88 – so he might’ve been let in lightly off 72.

WATCH last year's Grey Horse Handicap

Give us one for the Sky Bet Sunday Series at Pontefract please?

DO: I’m interested in RATHGAR who carries top weight in the Sky Bet Price Boosts Handicaps at 17:15. Jack Channon’s charge has already enjoyed a fine campaign, winning at Newbury and Epsom in April and has performed creditably in three runs since. His sights were raised at York, Sandown and Goodwood and he was beaten less than four lengths into tenth in the Chesterfield Cup last time. He’s down to a Class 3 0-95 on Sunday. Callum Rodriguez is already booked, and he looks sure to run his race. If he does, he’ll be there or thereabouts.

ND: I love the Sky Bet Sunday Series, in part because it feels like the scheduling was done by someone who booked a holiday and then forgot to renew their passport until driving to Liverpool for a one-day paper version. If you can cast your mind back to the last raceday (Thirsk on the May 31), LETSBEFRANK finished third behind Brielle who has since gone on to win a listed race on the July Course, while runner-up Valley Of Flowers has also added a win to her ledger. He's not the most original of selections having won the £100,000 bonus in 2024, but, with two wins in this year's series and only 2lb higher than when winning this race to complete the feat two years ago, you can bet he will be prepared to the minute.

BL: Not for the first time I'm happy to take on Doggett as I thought Charlie Johnston’s POLE STAR ran well in the stayers’ race at the Shergar Cup and he’s looking well handicapped now off a rating of 84. He’s top weight in Sunday’s penultimate race over a trip of 2m1f and a bit and the test of stamina, combined with his reduced rating, could see him back in the winner’s enclosure.

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