2:30pm Newbury – Geoffrey Freer Stakes (Group 3)
Zechariah announced himself as a promising stayer with a narrow defeat in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot in June.
He was just denied by Eldar Eldarov there, going off at odds of 20/1.
That was an impressive performance in a race formerly won by a star who went on to dominate the staying division, Stradivarius.
The Freddie & Martyn Meade trained colt receives weight from his elders in this contest, and if replicating his Ascot performance he will be the one to beat.
However, he wasn’t as convincing last time out when struggling to handle the test at Newmarket and finishing fourth.
Away He Goes has plenty of experience over the longer distances and in Group company, and finished second in last year’s Goodwood Cup run on soft ground.
He has performed well on good ground in the past, and isn’t without a chance in this small field.
The six-year-old’s trainer, Ismail Mohammed, is currently performing at a 29% strike rate which is a promising sign.
Universal Order steps back up in trip having been campaigned over 1m4f this season.
On current form it’s difficult to see him mounting a challenge and the yard has been struggling for winners in recent weeks.
But the extra distance could allow the gelding to show improvement and in-form jockey Andrea Atzeni takes the ride.
Outbox did well to win at Doha over 1m4f in February, but hasn’t quite fired since.
He was last seen in the Grade Two Belmont Gold Cup Stakes over two miles, finishing a distant seventh of eight and failing to stay.
Perhaps this 1m6f trip will be better suited at this stage in his career and he is a course and distance winner.
Outsider of the field, Silence Please, is a recent addition to Andrew Balding’s yard at Kingsclere, and has previously shown snippets of good form in high-class races, but hasn’t yet been convincing over the longer trips.
More is required from the five-year-old mare.
No bet
3:00 Newbury – Class 2 Handicap
Current market leader Dance Fever finished third at Goodwood when last seen, and if able to build on that performance he will be dangerous, now back down to his last winning mark of 93.
He hasn’t recorded a win this season, performing quite inconsistently and more is required, but he has previously shown good form over the trip and could be in good order ahead of this contest.
Gisburn won his maiden over 6f at the track last season on Good To Soft ground.
He has run better on softer ground than the ground expected today, but he did finish second at Goodwood last time out in similar conditions, staying on well over 7f.
Fivethousandtoone finished second in the Group Two Mill Reef Stakes as a two-year-old, but hasn’t shown much ability at the top level since.
He was gelded in April and has run three times since, finishing a distance behind the winners in two runs at Ascot before being narrowly beaten by Listed winner Run To Freedom in a three-runner race at Salisbury.
A return to 7f could suit the gelding.
Top-weight Silent Film has been disappointing of late, following an impressive run of three successive wins.
He won a handicap at Sandown, ahead of Run To Freedom, before winning at Meydan and Sakhir.
The Charlie Appleby yard is currently performing at a 38% strike rate, but the gelding is only 2lbs lower for two poor runs and may find it tough carrying a hefty weight off his current mark.
The nine-year-old Documenting has plenty of experience in handicaps, and 7f appears to be his optimum trip.
He remains on the same mark as when fifth at Ascot last time out and is capable of making the frame, with Kevin Frost two from five in the past two weeks, recording a win-rate of 40%.
United Front is an interesting contender back down in trip.
Formerly with Aidan O’Brien, the well-bred War Front gelding won his maiden over 6f and finished fourth in a big field handicap won by Champers Elysees, who was rated 115 at her peak.
The now Michael Appleby trained five-year-old has shown glimpses of ability since, performing well on the all-weather over middle-distances.
If able to show the speed required in this shorter race, he could be a surprise challenger off a mark of 89, with 5lbs claimer Frederick Larson aboard.
Able Kane completes the field of seven, stepping back up to 7f. He may be slightly overlooked in the market, but does face a tough assignment 6lbs higher from his last win.
United Front 11/1 (EW) – Michael Appleby, Frederick Larson (5)
3:35 Newbury – Hungerford Stakes (Group 2)
The in-form William Haggas saddles Tiber Flow in this Group Two contest over 7f.
The Carvaggio colt has won twice over the trip this season, on an all-weather surface, and also won a Listed race over 6f at this track.
He was outpaced in the Commonwealth Cup but wasn’t disgraced and his pedigree suggests a step up in trip to a mile may suit in time.
This trip, along with conditions, should be perfect for him and he is likely to be there or thereabouts at the finish.
Six-year-old Pogo recorded back-to-back wins in Group Three contests earlier this season before finishing a narrowly-beaten third in the Group Two Lennox Stakes when last seen.
A return to 7f has brought with it a return to winning ways for the horse and he is sure to be dangerous against his younger rivals.
Course and distance winner Chindit has been regularly facing Baaeed over a mile, but did win a Group Two at Ascot last month and has performed well over 7f in the past, recording a hat-trick of wins as a novice, including Group Two and Listed successes.
He must be respected at this level but does give weight away to his rivals.
Dubai Poet has also been successful over 7f at the course when winning his maiden last year.
He has been performing respectably in tough races since, but more is needed to beat the opponents he faces here.
Likable filly Happy Romance steps back up to 7f, perhaps a furlong further than her optimum trip.
She did perform well over the distance in Riyadh earlier this year, however, finishing a half-a-length third in a Group Three won by the speedy Japanese-bred filly Songline.
At Meydan she finished a surprising second in a Group One, beaten only by A Case Of You and finishing ahead of Platinum Jubilee Stakes winner Naval Crown.
The ground conditions could allow her to see the trip out well enough to mount a challenge, and she does appear overpriced given her experience and class.
Dark Angel colt Wings Of War attempts 7f for the first time, but will need to show more to be competitive in this field, whilst Jumby has put in some decent performances in handicaps and will need to show further progression up in class.
Four-year-old colt Run To Freedom won a Listed contest earlier this season, but looked out of his depth in a Group One at Royal Ascot.
Another runner stepping back up to 7f, more is required to make the frame.
Outsider of the field Primo Bacio has shown class in the past, but has been largely inconsistent since and will need to show significant improvement.
Happy Romance 12/1 (EW) – Richard Hannon, Hollie Doyle
2:50pm Ripon – Great St. Wilfrid Stakes (Class 2 Handicap)
Blackrod beat eighteen rivals in a competitive handicap when first seen this season before finishing a respectable seventh in the Wokingham Stakes.
He runs off a mark of 99 here on debut for new trainer Edward Bethell.
Course and distance winner Summerghand has been a regular in large sprint handicaps, and often puts in a good performance.
He has failed to register a win this season but has been running well enough of late and is interesting off a lower mark of 98.
Another winner over the trip at Ripon is Misty Grey who is drawn widest of all in this contest.
He won at Chelmsford when last seen and is now 3lbs higher in ratings, with 3lbs claimer Pierre-Louis Jamin aboard.
Emperor Spirit finished a distance behind Misty Grey in his recent run on the all-weather, and is only 1lbs lower here.
He didn’t get the run of things there and excuses can be made, but more is required to reverse form.
Last year’s winner Justanotherbottle is 13lbs higher this time out.
He has been inconsistent this season but is more than capable on his day.
Snash has performed well over 6f in recent months and carries a low weight back up in class, whilst in-form Good Earth could be a dark horse and has each-way claims at decent double-figure price.
Misty Grey 8/1 (EW) – Tom Dascombe, Pierre-Louis Jamin (3)
By Katie Midwinter (12/08/22)
THE CONDITIONAL 