Newbury Preview Blog
Thursday 12th June 2025
1.30: Grosvenor Sport New Customers Double Odds Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap: Kicking off our preview series will be Newbury on Thursday and the 1.30, which is a Class 5 amateur jockeys’ handicap over a mile and two furlongs. This is likely to be extremely competitive, with a whole host of horses coming into the race with a sufficient chance. It could be worth siding with ALAZWAR here for Archie Watson and Brodie Hamspon. Connections teamed up to win the race last year with Blue Yonder, and this seven-year-old returned to form on seasonal reappearance last month when second of ten and a length and a half behind Saligo Bay on the all-weather at Chelmsford. It’s been a long time in between drinks for him, however, he’ll contest this off just a pound higher than the Chelmsford run, now back on the turf, and he remains on a significantly lower mark than his last winning one.
The in-form Dawn Of Liberation is an obvious huge player and his current form, as he comes into the race having won his last two starts, and should be bang there once again, whilst the unexposed Tex could have a say under talented amateur Simon Walker, as he ran very well on handicap debut at Kempton last month when finishing a neck fourth of thirteen, and is only a pound higher here on the turf. Elsewhere, Enthused returned to form last time at Brighton when a neck second to Lexington Knight, and could get involved if following up here.
Shortlist: Alazwar, Dawn Of Liberation, Tex, Enthused
2.05: Local IQ EBF Novice Stakes: The second race of the afternoon is the 2.05, and this is a Class 4 novice event contested over a distance of six and a half furlongs. It looks as though MOONFALL should be tough to beat in this contest for George Boughey, who’s set to be ridden by Billy Loughnane. He comes into the race with the best form in the book to date, albeit, there isn’t too much to go off here. He posted a very encouraging effort on his racecourse debut when a length and a half in second behind the potentially smart Military Code at Newmarket in April, and whilst he was arguably disappointing second time up when finishing a length third of six at the same track when odds-on, it wasn’t a bad run at all. That experience should count for plenty here, and it would be very disappointing should he not at least go very close here up in trip.
Cape Orator has the second-best form on offer in the field from those who have had a run; he finished sixth of eighteen here in a maiden last month, and should naturally progress from that effort and get closer on his second start for Ralph Beckett and Hector Crouch. Out of the newcomers, Yachtsman looks interesting for the powerhouse combination of the Gosden’s and Godolphin, who’s the mount of William Buck, he’s by Lope Y Fernandez, who won a Group 3 over this distance, and he’s certainly one to keep an eye on in the betting. Another one who looks interesting who makes his debut here is River Spey, he’s by Group 3 winning sprinter Sergei Prokofiev, and could well be a speedy type.
Shortlist: Moonfall, Cape Orator, Yachtsman, River Spey
2.40: Local IQ EBF Novice Stakes: Division two of this six-and-a-half-furlong novice event comes up at 2.40, and we’ve got a further nine runners in this particular contest. The one to beat here looks to be TIME TO TURN, who represents the boys in blue of Godolphin in Charlie Appleby and William Buick. He was sent off the 8/13 favourite on his racecourse debut at Haydock last month, and finishing second of eight behind stablemate Maximised, and whilst he didn’t win on that occasion, it was a very promising run considering how he kept to his task and the rival in front of him since franking the form by winning the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom. He should naturally progress from that run here, and it would be considerably disappointing should he not get the job done the second time around.
Peel Park is the only other runner with experience here, as he finished fourth of nine at Yarmouth last month. He was a fair distance behind the winner that day, as he was six and a half lengths behind Postmorden; however, he should progress and could get closer second time up. Circle Of Magic is an obviously interesting newcomer for Wathnan Racing, and is worth keeping an eye on in the betting; however, he’ll likely need further than this.
Shortlist: Time To Turn, Peel Park, Circle Of Magic
3.15: Grosvenor Sport Cash Back Everyday Handicap: We move back into handicap company at 3.15 with a Class 5 handicap that’s contested over the straight mile. BOUBYAN showed considerable improvement on seasonal reappearance for Andrew Balding last time out at Windsor last month, finishing third of nine and half of a length behind the winner in what was his handicap debut. You could probably mark that run up further, as he didn’t get a clear run and still ran on well in the closing stages. He should go well here off the same mark, and he’s likely to get a clearer passage at this track. Hollie Doyle will take the ride once again.
This is a competitive handicap as you’d expect at Newbury, and there are several others that hold live chances in the race. Something Splendid is certainly one of those, he didn’t stay at Yarmouth last time out when fifth over ten furlongs; however, on his penultimate outing at Nottingham, he finished a length and a half third of ten and will contest this race off a pound lower mark. Manilla Thriller is another significant one to note, she returns to a fairly low level of handicapping here, having contested a Listed contest last time out at Goodwood, and was only three and a half lengths behind the winner. She also didn’t get a clear run and is just three above her last winning mark.
Shortlist: Boubyan, Something Splendid, Manilla Thriller
3.50: Darley EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes: The fifth race of the afternoon at Newbury is more novice action, this time a Class 2 event for the fillies that’s contested over a mile. I think that CONSECRATED could be the one to be on here for William Haggas and Tom Marquand. She created a big impression on her racecourse debut here over seven furlongs in April, winning by three-lengths and the form of that race looks solid, as the horse in third that day Woroodd has since come out and won twice and is now rated 85, and the horse in fourth Cajole came out and won in her next race, and is also now rated 85. William Haggas’s filly was sent off the 7/4 favourite for a Listed event at York next time out, and despite being outpaced, she kept on and wasn’t disgraced in fourth. She’s back in calmer waters here and should have another big say at this track.
Her clear rival looks to come in the form of Blue Bolt for Andrew Balding and newly appointed Juddmonte rider Colin Keane. She put a disappointing racecourse debut behind her to be an impressive winner over a mile at Windsor last month, getting the job done by the tune of four lengths. She looks to have plenty of potential moving forward and should post a bold bid here. Elsewhere, Seren Star could be an improver who’s seemingly the second-string for William Haggas here. She was only half of a length behind the winner on debut at Newmarket back in April, and whilst she may not have the potential of the other two here, she could well be the best of the rest.
Shortlist: Consecrated, Blue Bolt, Seren Star
4.25: Grosvenor Sport Win Rewards Everyday Handicap: The 4.25 is Class 3 handicap action that’s contested over a distance of seven furlongs. This is another extremely competitive-looking contest, but it could pay to side with PHOTOSYNTHESIS for Peter Chapple-Hyam, who’s set to be ridden by Rossa Ryan. He won a couple of handicaps last year and posted a very encouraging effort when making his return to the track after over a year off, at this track over six furlongs in April, finishing three-quarters of a length third of eleven in another Class 3 event. He was slightly outpaced at Ascot the time after on good-to-firm ground, but wasn’t totally disgraced when eventually finishing fifth. The step up to seven furlongs here looks the right move, and he’s likely to go well under an eye-catching jockey booking.
The two unexposed geldings, Believe The Storm and Twisting Physics, could both improve past their rivals here, as they have both shown that they possess a potentially decent level of ability within novice company. Hickory is a battle-hardened handicapper and has returned to form this season, and a repeat of his Victoria Cup victory on his penultimate start could see him tough to beat here; however, he’s now four pounds higher. Looking through the rest of the field, Altmore could be well-handicapped for William Haggas and Tom Marquand; however, he’ll need to bounce back from a disappointing seasonal reappearance at York. He should improve significantly, though, on his second start of the campaign.
Shortlist: Photosynthesis, Believe The Storm, Twisting Physics, Hickory, Altmore
5.00: Pump Technology Pentair Jung Pumpen Distributor Handicap: The penultimate race of the day at Newbury comes up at 5.00 and this is a Class 4 handicap over six furlongs. At the time of writing, there is currently a maximum field of twenty runners in the race, which would be fantastic if they all lined up on race day. Out of said twenty, TAN RAPIDO could go well for Charlie Fellows and Kieran Shoemark. He comes into the race in good form on the all-weather and bumped into a smart rival last time out when finishing a length and a half second behind Drama at Kempton, as that rival is now rated 94. The step up to six furlongs seemed to unlock improvement in him, and he’s got every chance of going well again here on the turf off a two-pound higher mark. He’s only had two starts on the turf to date, and he won one of them.
As stated previously, midweek handicaps don’t generally come much more competitive than this, and many of these have live chances. Mesaafi comes into the race in fine form, having won his last two outings, and he may not have finished his current rate of progression here under a penalty. Similarly, Abbey Heights won well last time out at Kempton and would have a chance if following up that run here under the eye-catching jockey booking of William Buick. The David Evans old boy Rohaan is no stranger to a big-field handicap, and if he returns to his best form would have a chance off his current mark. Right down the bottom of the weights, Caffu Zafeen isn’t written off for David Simcock, he’s still a maiden but has tumbled down the weights and should improve for his seasonal reappearance at Windsor as that was his first start since wind surgery. He has the services of Jamie Spencer, who has produced some fine rides over the years in these types of races.
Shortlist: Tan Rapido, Mesaafi, Abbey Heights, Rohaan, Caffu Zafeen
5.33: Harriet Cozens Big Birthday Handicap: Concluding the action at Newbury on Thursday will be the 5.33 and this is a Class 4 handicap that’s contested over a mile and four furlongs. I think that DANGERMAN makes a lot of appeal here for John & Thady Gosden, who is the mount of William Buick in the silks of Godolphin. He was well-beaten on his racecourse debut here in April; however, he has since shown improved form when finishing second and fourth at Doncaster and Newmarket, respectively. His most recent start at Newmarket came over today’s distance, and he kept on well in the closing stages to be only beaten by two and a half lengths. Further improvement is likely now that he’s handicapping, and he should have enough in the locker to be competitive at this level.
Fellow Godolphin challenger Desert Shadow is another who’s open to improvement on handicap debut for Saeed bin Surroor, and a big run from him would be no surprise here. Out of those who currently have handicap experience, the Mark Usher trained Vilaine Verlaine looks sure to go well again, as she’s posted two solid efforts since going handicapping, most recently finishing a length and three-quarters behind Chilli Queen over today’s trip at Kempton last month. Whereas, Circus Of Rome, would have a chance at the top of the weights if bouncing back from a fairly underwhelming run over ten furlongs here last time out. That run did come within Heritage Handicap in the London Gold Cup, and he should be more at home within calmer waters here.
Shortlist: Dangerman, Desert Shadow, Viliane Verlaine, Circus Of Rome
