York Saturday

2.39 John Smith’s Racing Handicap 7f 192yd

The pace is likely to be strong in this mile handicap and that ought to suit Apiarist, who is worth another chance having run into trouble on his last two starts. He was staying on from a poor position when hampered in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last time and had looked a winner in waiting when enduring a luckless run in the Thirsk Hunt Cup prior to that.

He’s now just 1lb higher than when scoring at Lingfield earlier in the season and his sole previous win on turf came at this venue. He will need some luck in running given his come-from-behind style, but is capable of winning a top-end handicap when everything drops right, and the wide-open spaces of York should suit.

3.12 John Smith’s City Walls Stakes (Listed) 5f

Redorange caught the eye at the May meeting here and was impressive when scoring over this trip at Windsor a few days later. A third quick run at Carlisle last time may have been one run too many in a short time, and he’s fancied to bounce back to form having had a short break since the Achilles Stakes.

A very strong traveller at the minimum trip, he looks well worth his place at listed level and should give a good account if putting his best foot forward. Luna A Inbhir Nis is thriving on racing and looked in excellent shape when second in the Coral Charge last time. She takes a slight drop in class here and appeals as a value alternative to the selection.

3.45 John Smith’s Cup (Heritage Handicap) 1m 2f 56yd

The John Smith’s Cup rarely lacks depth and this year’s renewal has the usual mix of upwardly mobile types and seasoned handicappers. Warrant Holder and Yabher are obvious players near the head of the market, but neither has been missed by anyone, and there may still be a touch more juice in the price about Hand Of God.

Harry Charlton’s gelding had looked a pattern horse in the making when landing the Golden Gates Handicap at Royal Ascot in 2024, but he was absent for over 10 months after that and failed to fire in a curtailed four-year-old season, which ended with a poor run in this contest.

He has managed to get firmly back on track this term, and a ready win over this trip at Newbury last time proved that he is fully effective on a left-handed track. He’s 5lb higher here but that rise is well deserved and, with his stable in top form, he’s taken to gain another big-race win on his way to blacktype.

Newmarket Saturday

2.15 HKJC Worldpool Fillies’ Handicap 7f

Machadadorp has done very little wrong and arrives as a filly still heading the right way, which is always a major positive in a race where several of her rivals are more exposed. She has beaten subsequent winners on her last two starts, and although she only just hung on to beat Rogue Invincible at Wetherby, the pair pulled seven and a half lengths clear of the others and the runner-up beat a highly regarded type at Wolverhampton earlier this week. On that evidence, Machadadorp starts out in handicaps on a fair mark and she’s likely to make a bold bid to bring up her hat-trick.

2.52 Weatherbys Handicap 1m

St Anton was behind Moonfall in the Britannia at Ascot last time, as were a couple of others who reoppose, but that run is not the one to define him by. He had been impressive on his previous start when beating Wild Thoughts at Carlisle, travelling strongly and finding plenty when asked, and that form gives him a more compelling chance than his Ascot effort implies.

He had previously scored at this trip on the Rowley Mile and the return to Newmarket is sure to suit Richard Hannon’s runner. Pat Dobbs hasn’t ridden too often this season, but his selective approach is paying off, with 11 wins from 49 rides on turf this season producing a healthy level-stakes profit.

3.25 Betway Bunbury Cup (Heritage Handicap) 7f

Nostrum promised to develop into a leading Guineas contender as a two-year-old for Sir Michael Stoute, and while he has not become the horse many imagined, he’s become very well handicapped if Mick Appleby can rekindle the old spark that David O’Meara failed to find.

Nostrum was nibbled at in the betting on his stable debut over course and distance only to run a strange race. He broke awkwardly before making the running until past halfway and was then eased when beaten. To my eye, he seemed to find a second wind after his rider Ali Rawlinson had given up hope, and he passed the line with something left to give despite finishing well behind Dark Tornado and Aalto.

That pair have much more obvious claims here, notably Aalto, who won this in 2024 and was beaten on the nod last year.

Despite that, I thought that Nostrum might have plenty more to offer and the fact that he was backed last time suggests he’d been showing something of his old spark at home. He’s clearly risky, but the Appleby stable is in form and if there is a time to catch him, it’s likely to be now or never.

4.35 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes (Group 1) 6f

Double Rush has improved in leaps and bounds over the past year or so, with some of his best efforts coming at this venue. He threatened to become frustrating after a brilliant start to last season for Charlie Hills, but has refound his progressive profile since joining Andrew Balding and he achieved as much in winning the Wokingham under a big weight last time as the principals did in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, run just over an hour earlier.

The times of those races were very similar, with Double Rush carrying 4lb more than Almeraq and completing the six furlongs just 0.15 seconds slower. The races were run at a similar tempo and the results suggest that Double Rush is more than ready for this elevation to Group 1 company.

Despite the field gradually coming across to the stands rail in this race 12 months ago, it was those drawn on the far side who dominated, with the 66/1 winner No Half Measures coming from stall 15 of 15 and the next three home from 9, 13 and 11. The Bunbury Cup winner also came from the highest draw despite ending up under the stands rail and that means that Double Rush is well berthed in stall 11 of 11 here.

Recommended:

Apiarist 2.39 York – 1pt win @ 8/1 (general)

Hand Of God 3.45 York – 1pt e/w @ 10/1 (BetVictor, Coral – 5 places; 9/1 general)

St Anton 2.52 Newmarket – 1pt win @ 11/1 (Bet365, Paddy Power, SkyBet; 10/1 general)

Nostrum 3.25 Newmarket – 1pt e/w @ 22/1 (general – 4 places)

Double Rush 4.35 Newmarket – 2pts win @ 10/1 (Hills, Bet365; 9/1 general)