Fran Berry's Sporting Life blog

Last Saturday at the Shergar Cup was just a really great day. There was a great atmosphere everyone was very friendly and it was a big thrill (to win).

I said in last week's blog that I thought I had a few chances but it couldn't have gone any better; Jamie (Spencer) and Neil (Callan) and I really got into it and we got a big kick out of winning. There is so much travelling in racing now that lots of us knew each other already so there was plenty of banter in the weighing room between the teams.

It was fabulous to win on Great Hall for Mick Quinn and Golden Apollo was a nice ride to pick up and he got there late. I'm sure Tim Easterby already has a plan in mind for him and he's definitely one to keep onside as he's still improving; something like the Ayr Silver Cup would be a possible this season, he's that sort of horse.

I've got a busy two days coming up which is grand and it's nice to be close to home at Newbury at this time of year too!

I've got some nice rides on Friday but the pick has to be Boragh Steps for Joseph O'Brien in the Bathwick Tyres St Hugh's Stakes. She's done nothing wrong so far and the two that finished in front of her last time both have entries in the Group Two Futurity Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday. Obviously it's important for a filly to pick up some Black Type and it could be significant that Joseph has brought her over for what looks to be a wide-open Listed race. She has an entry in the Cheveley Park too which can't be a bad thing and I'd have to be hopeful of a good run.

The feature on Saturday is the Betfred Hungerford Stakes where the Lennox form looks key with Librisa Breeze and Breton Rock. I've picked up a lovely ride in Nathra who had been off for nearly a year prior to running at Ascot. That was a messy race where she didn't get the breaks and you'd think she'd be entitled to improve for it too. If you look back at her form from last year, winning the Nell Gwyn and finishing second in the French Guineas, then she's entitled to be right there in this company.

I ride another filly for John Gosden in the Betfred Geoffrey Freer Stakes in impressive last-time-out Listed winner To Eternity. You could argue that she benefited from a very good tactical ride from James Doyle that day, racing alone on the stands' side rail, but she won very well in spite of being off for a year and again, given that absence, it's possible she'll come on or the run.

I'm also on Hyde Park for the same yard and he'll need to put a couple of more modest runs at Newmarket over six furlongs and at Royal Ascot over a mile behind him if he's to challenge in the seven furlong handicap. It's possible the trip might help as his best run this season came over seven at Goodwood when he wasn't beaten far behind Sutter County. He's only just above that mark now and is tried in a tongue tie.

Click here for all of Sky Bet's latest betting at Newbury.

The Denford Stakes often throws up a good horse and it's a big step up from a maiden to Listed company but Ripley shaped well on debut at Goodwood. She has all the big-race entries and looks a nice prospect for Charlie Hills. Charlie won this race with Just The Judge in 2012 and she came into it in on the back of just one run so hopefully that's a good sign!

I've got rides in both divisions of the Betfred 'Supports Jack Berry House' Handicap and am on See The Rock in division one. We've put a hood on him as he was far too keen at Lingfield and did well to finish second on his first run on the Flat in a while. If the hood works, then he'd have to have every chance.

It may be worth forgiving So Celebre his disappointing run at Haydock in division two as that came back on the back of a busy enough season over hurdles. He had been progressive over obstacles, winning a valuable prize at Ascot before turning out with credit a week later at Aintree's Grand National meeting and he may be able to show his true running here having been freshened up.

Footman looks pretty well exposed after six starts and a rating of 81 but the handicapper did put him up by 4lbs for his latest second and his second to Arab Moon in June probably looks better now than it did at the time as the winner won again last week and the third, Winston C, has won since and finished a good third at Goodwood. There's always a chance in a maiden like this that one of the unraced or lightly-raced horses will turn out to be top drawer but his chance is there for all to see.

I ride two for Ron Harris at Bath in the evening and start off on Majestic Hero in the Be Wiser Insurance Handicap. He's back down to the same mark as when second at Newmarket and winning at Epsom in April and he wasn't beaten far at Windsor two runs back; he'd have a good chance on that form.

I was only just beaten on Fantasy Justifier at Nottingham in the week where he travelled really well in the first-time cheekpieces over six furlongs. He's switching to blinkers for the Novia Financial Handicap in the hope they can sharpen him up and the drop to this stiff five with an uphill finish could suit him ideally. He's in good form and well treated at the moment, the only worry is if this comes too soon.

Henry Candy's horses tend to improve with racing so I have to be hopeful for the chances of Choosey in the Chartwell Funding Mortgage Classic EBF Maiden Stakes as the trip looks right for him. He ran a good race in a novice at Beverley last time, despite losing a shoe, where he was giving weight away to most of the field and the winner and the fifth finished first and second back at the track on Wednesday.

I end the day on Curtsy for Hughie Morrison in the BYP Handicap and she's been fairly consistent this season. She wasn't beaten too far at Chepstow last time and ran well at Redcar in May.