Thursday 26th June 2025
Newmarket Preview Blog
1.50: Racecourse Syndicate Association EBF ‘Confined’ Novice Stakes:
We get things underway at Newmarket on Thursday with the 1.50, and this is a Class 4 novice event contested over a distance of six furlongs. There should be considerable improvement here from BECKFORD’S FOLLY for the team of Charlie Appleby and William Buick. He was sent off at 15/8 on his racecourse debut, but could not land a blow when finishing five and a quarter lengths behind the likely progressive Shaatir. As stated previously, he should naturally progress significantly following that run, and that was possibly a warmer race than this. It would be disappointing should he not get considerably closer here.
Rydale Frosty is another who should improve following his first run; in his case, he finished fourth of seven at Goodwood earlier this month and five lengths behind the eventual winner. Out of the newcomers, Glittering Show could prove the most interesting for Marco Botti and Marco Ghiani; he’s worth keeping an eye on in the betting.
Shortlist: Beckford’s Folly, Rydale Frosty, Glittering Show
2.25: Newmarket: Lay & Wheeler Fillies’ Novice Stakes
It’s more novice action at 2.25 and another Class 4 event, this time contested over seven furlongs and specifically for the fillies. Godolphin could well hold the key again here with HEART OF ETERNITY, who is another representative for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. She ran a very encouraging race on debut at Yarmouth earlier this month when finishing a length third of ten, and kept on within the closing stages of the contest. She should take a big step forward from that run here, and that makes her a big player for connections that farm this track for winners. A bold showing is likely.
Ralph Beckett’s Miss Cartesian is another significant player in the race here; she won a novice event on debut at Wolverhampton in November before running a fine race when giving weight away last time out at Yarmouth, finishing second of six and just a neck behind the winner. Elsewhere, Kohayln looks like an intriguing newcomer representing top connections; she’s a Teofilo filly who’s certainly worth a market check on the day.
Shortlist: Heart Of Eternity, Miss Cartesian, Kohalyn
3.00: Hallgarten Wines Jockey Club Partner Handicap
We move into handicap company at 3.00 with a Class 4 event that’s set to be ridden over a distance of six furlongs. This could be the day that SPRING BLOOM has his day in the sun for Robert Eddery and Richard Kingscote. He’s been knocking on the door for a while now, with a string of solid runs within handicap without getting his head in front. His latest effort came on the Rowley Mile here when finishing a length and three-quarters fourth behind Spring Is Sprung, and he’s been dropped a further pound following that run, making him a pound lower than his last winning mark. The step back up to six furlongs looks like the correct decision here, given how he kept on last time, and he should be on the premises once again.
Dashing Dick is a course and distance winner who ran his best race for a while last time out at Yarmouth when finishing a head second of seven, and he remains on what looks like a tempting mark here, just a pound higher than last time out. Ed Walker’s Mollie Foster completes the shortlist for me here, as she bounced back to form at Chester last time when finishing a close-up fourth, and contests this off the same mark.
Shortlist: Spring Bloom, Dashing Dick, Mollie Foster
3.35: Empress Fillies’ Stakes:
The feature race of the day comes up at 3.35 and this is Listed action in the form of the Empress Fillies’ Stakes, which is contested over six furlongs. Richard Hughes could have a useful one on his hands here in BELLA LYRA, who Ryan Moore takes the ride for the first time. The form of her debut run when finishing third behind Tahalel and Fitzella looks particularly strong, with the latter going on to place at Royal Ascot, and she made no mistake on her second start when winning at Windsor earlier this month by three lengths. She looks firmly on the upgrade and could make her presence felt up in grade here.
Anthelia is three out of three for Rod Millman, and makes obvious appeal having won the Listed National Stakes at Sandown last month, beating First Legion in the process, and that’s probably the strongest piece of form here. Elsewhere, Argentine Tango looks to be progressive for Tim Easterby; she also won a Listed event last time out when getting the better of Meelaf by a neck at Beverly, whom she reopposes here. There isn’t likely going to be much between those two again here, as the latter has since run respectably in a French Group 3.
Shortlist: Bella Lyra, Anthelia, Argentine Tango
4.10: laywheeler.com Handicap:
We move on to the fifth race of the afternoon at 4.10, and this is a Class 3 handicap that’s set to be ridden over a distance of seven furlongs. This is a competitive affair; however, it could pay to side with TWO TRIBES who represents the team of Richard Spencer and renews his partnership with Ryan Moore. He’s been in good form since returning to the track in the Spring, placing in all three of his starts, which all came within competitive handicaps, and the last two came off today’s mark, where he finished a close-up fourth at both York and Doncaster. This represents an ease in grade on at least his run here in April on the Rowley Mile and his effort at York, and he should be competitive again.
Top-weight Qazag should have more to offer for Roger Varian and Silvestre De Souasa, he’ll need to bounce back from a disappointing effort when favourite at Newcastle back on New Year’s Day, however, he’s unexposed and still has plenty of scope for improvement. Pam Sly’s Physique has been knocking on the door as of late, and looks a player once more here off the same mark as his close-up third at Chelmsford earlier this month.
Shortlist: Two Tribes, Qazag, Physique
4.45: hnwines.co.uk Fillies’ Handicap
The penultimate race of the afternoon is the 4.45, and this is a Class 4 fillies’ handicap which is set to be contested over a mile. The unexposed ORANGE SKY could take a big step forward here for the team of George Boughey and Billy Loughnane. She was a maiden winner over seven furlongs last season, and despite being beaten at a short price at Newcastle last month, it was still a solid enough run when finishing third of eight over the same distance. She likely needed the run on that occasion, having been off the track since September, and she should improve significantly on her second start here. She makes her handicap debut here and her breeding suggests that this step up in trip should suit.
The experienced Little Keilee is an obvious player here for James Owen and Silvestre De Sousa. She’s gone close on her last two starts, finishing half of a length second in each of her last two outings, the most recent coming over course and distance last Saturday. She should go close off the same mark. Brighton winner Salve Electra can conclude the shortlist here for James Horton and Adam Farragher; she got the better of the heavily-supported Immediate Effect last time out, and can continue her progression here.
Shortlist: Orange Sky, Little Keilee, Salve Electra
5.20: Boodles Handicap
Signing us off for the afternoon at Newmarket will be the 5.20, and this is a Class 5 handicap that’s contested over a distance of two miles on the July course. This is the weakest race of the day; however, it’s competitive if nothing else. This could be the day for DEREHAM, who represents John Berry and is the mount of in-form jockey Saffie Osbourne. He posted his best effort for a while last time out at Yarmouth when finishing second of nine over fourteen furlongs, and remains on a five-pound lower mark than when winning this race in 2023. He also won the race in 2022 off a six-pound higher mark. The fast ground is a slight concern; however, his latest run came on a quick surface, and I still believe he’s got every chance of a third success in the contest.
The dual-purpose Chillhi could be well-treated for James Owen and Silvestre De Sousa; he’ll need to bounce back from a poor run over hurdles last week at Bangor, however, he should be competitive off this mark now he’s back on the level. Last time out winner Young Endless can also feature if he follows up his success at Wolverhampton last week, he’s up five pounds, but could well have more in hand for Kevin Frost and Ben Sanderson.
Shortlist: Dereham, Chillhi, Young Endless
