Newbury Saturday

1.50 Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes (Group 3) 1m 5f 61y

The small field here means that the race could turn tactical which could suit Candleford but is against the free-going Ambiente Friendly.

Pinhole is favourite after a handicap win at Ascot, and he did beat Furthur in the Chester Vase when both were behind Derby hero Lambourn. Furthur got revenge in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot when the pair were again minor players and the pair should be closer together in the betting on balance.

My gut feeling is that Pinhole is too short rather than Furthur too big, and the value may lie with Epic Poet, who wasn’t himself physically before the Hardwicke Stakes last time, running accordingly, but is the pick of these on the balance of his form, notably a close second to Rebel’s Romance in the Yorkshire Cup on his previous start. He’s suited by this trip on a sound surface and should arguably be favourite.

2.25 D&H, Excellence In Nutrition Handicap (Class3) 5f 34y

Faustus has run twice over course and distance and won both times, so gets the call despite a poor effort at Goodwood, a track which he seems to hate these days. Prior to that, he had made all the running here to beat Aces Wild.

The runner-up, fourth and sixth all won handicaps on their next respective starts and that all points to the form being stronger than it first appeared.

When Faustus won this last year, he again made all from a higher mark and he remains fairly treated despite a rise in the weights for his win in July.

His Goodwood record is woeful, with four visits seeing him beat only a handful of rivals in total, so it’s easy to ignore his recent flop, and while stall 9 is higher than ideal, he is likely to stick to the middle of the track and where he goes, the others will likely follow, negating those draw worries.

Of the others, I respect the chances of Sugar Hill Babe more than the early market does and she may be worth a saver.

3.00 TPT Fire Handicap 7f

Jumby can blow the start but has always been at his best on fast turf over seven furlongs, winning the Hungerford Stakes on this card as a four-year-old and was beaten in a three-way photo for that race last year.

Now 6lb lower in the weights than he was 12 months ago, he looks to have leading claims back in handicap company and he was beaten just over a length by Royal Zabeel at Newmarket last week. He’s perhaps not as reliable as he once was, but is simply too well handicapped to ignore.

3.35 Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes (Group 2) 7f

There are plenty to consider in the Hungerford, with the verdict going to King’s Gamble after much deliberation.

Ralph Beckett’s four-year-old was back to something like his best when a length and three quarters second to Rage of Bamby over an inadequate six furlongs here in the Hackwood Stakes last month, and the extra furlong swings the pendulum in his favour as the pair meet on the same terms.

King’s Gamble stays a mile as he showed when second in the Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood last summer, but this seven furlongs is probably ideal.

The Hackwood was his first start since then and he’s sure to be sharper for it, while he’s very lightly raced for one his age and may yet find improvement.

Ripon Saturday

2.45 William Hill Supporting MND Silver Cup Handicap 6f

High draws tend to have the best of it in big fields at Ripon, so Fortamour comes into the reckoniong in stall 13.

His Ripon record reads six wins and a further seven places from 24 starts, and he ran right to the best of his recent form when a close fourth in a 0-95 here last time out, despite his blindfold coming off late. That form is solid.

Dicko The Legend showed the benefit of wind surgery when coming with a late rattle to get up at York last time, but I suspect that was the target rather than this, and he’s now higher than he’s won off before.

At bigger odds, Ziggy’s Ariel is more interesting still. Two runs over course and distance have yielded a win and a half-length second, the latter as recently as June. She didn’t handle Brighton last weekend but will benefit from a return to Ripon and looks well positioned in stall 12.

3.20 William Hill/MND Association Great St Wilfrid Handicap 6f

High draws usually have the best of it in this race, but speed among those drawn low can turn the draw on its head and it’s those in the lowest few stalls who appeal here, in the hope that Intervention can drag them to the far rail from stall one.

Intervention was a good third in a Racing League event at Chepstow and looks the likeliest leader of the far-side contingent. I like those who handle Chepstow as both tracks are ridged/undulating and tend to suit a similar type of horse.

He’s key to be landing the exotics as I’d want him to lead and go hard to set it up for others, and the one who makes most appeal at the prices is Mister Sox who put up a career best when winning in a good timefigure over course and distance last time and who is unbeaten in two starts at the track.

Grant Wood was below form here last time but may have needed the run and won well on his previous visit. I’ll include him with the two mentioned in exotics, throwing in the consistent Rousing Encore from a low draw as well.

Recommended:

Epic Poet 1.50 Newbury – 1pt win 7/2 (Ladbrokes, Coral)

Faustus 2.25 Newbury – 1pt win 14/1 (general)

Jumby 3.00 Newbury – 1pt win 6/1 (general)

Ziggy’s Ariel 2.45 Ripon – 1pt e/w 16/1 (general – 5 places)

Mister Sox 3.20 Ripon – 1pt e/w 10/1 (Hills, Paddy Power – 5 places)