Saturday 15th August 2026
Author: Jordan Yates (@jordan_yates_)
Welcome back to another Saturday blog, where I have three bets to share this week, all from Newbury. My first pick of the day comes in the opener at 1.25, which is the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes over a mile and five and a half furlongs. I’m going to take a chance on the GAMRAI here, who is having his first run for George Scott since leaving the Gosdens, and is set to be ridden by William Buick. He’s got a bit to find on official ratings here; however, he’s still unexposed and is an improving four-year-old. He’s had three runs this term, opening his account within handicaps in March at Kempton with an impressive three-length success in a Class 2 affair. Following that run, he’s gone close in two further Class 2 handicaps, firstly at Newmarket, before an excellent run when a head second behind Daiquiri Bay in the Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot last time out. These runs also have substance to their respective forms; he had Hopewell Rock behind him at Newmarket, who has since won a competitive handicap at Goodwood, and he also finished ahead of Paddy The Squire at Ascot, who has since gone close in the Old Newton Cup. I think that there could be a lot more to come from him, and he’s well worth a chance at this step up in grade.
You have to add Dubai Honour to the shortlist here for William Haggas; he’s a four-time Group 1 winner and has been running well in top-level events in Australia when last seen back in the Spring. He’s not getting any younger at the age of eight; however, if he’s anywhere near his best, you expect him to be bang there within this grade. All of his big race successes have come away from the UK, though, with his highest graded win over here only coming at Listed level.
Selection: Gamrai – (7/1) (Each-Way)
Shortlist: Dubai Honour – (15/8)
1.25 Newbury
My second bet of the afternoon comes in the following race at Newbury, the 1.55, which is a competitive Class 3 handicap set to be contested over a distance of five furlongs. A case could be made for most of these; however, I’ve come down on RHYTHM N HOOVES for Robert Cowell, who’s the mount of Marco Ghiani. He won this race last year off a rather eyecatching nine-pound higher mark, which on its own has to make him of interest this time around. He hasn’t managed to get his head in front since last year’s success; however, he’s posted several solid efforts among competitive company. Notably, when a neck third of nine at Windsor just two starts ago in June off a three-pound higher mark. He also posted a respectable effort last time out at Ascot when finishing eighth and three lengths behind the winner. He retains a first-time visor here, which he wore at Ascot for the first time, and if he gets some luck in the run here, I believe he could go very close off this career-low mark.
I’d add a couple to the shortlist for this competitive affair; firstly, I think that there could be more to come from Hypnotised for Harry Charlton. He’s an unexposed three-year-old who bounced back to form at Sandown last time out when finishing second behind Wheels Of Fire, in what was his first run since a gelding operation. He’s of interest here off a pound lower mark with progression likely. Another likely player here is Glamorous Breeze for Christopher Mason; she’s an ultra-consistent mare, and posted an excellent effort in a twenty-three-runner handicap at Goodwood last time out when finishing third and three-quarters of a length behind the winner. She’s just a pound higher here, and this strong-travelling sort has every chance of making her presence felt again.
Selection: Rhythm N Hooves – (6/1) (Each-Way) (NAP)
Shortlist: Hypnotised – (17/2), Glamorous Breeze – (7/1)
1.55 Newbury
The third and final bet for me on Saturday comes within the 3.10 at Newbury, which is the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes that’s run over a straight seven furlongs. I’m with the William Haggas charge here, which comes in the form of EXTREMELY ZAIN under Tom Marquand. He’s an unexposed three-year-old, who I think is open to plenty of progression, and looks like a typically promising type for this powerhouse stable. He won his three starts, which included a course and distance success in May, before losing his unbeaten record when fourth at Ascot last time out in July. He was far from disgraced on that occasion, finishing fourth of sixteen in the highly competitive Moët & Chandon International Handicap, with only the much more experienced Aalto and Two Tribes ahead of him in third and second, as well as the winner Amazing Journey, who also had more racecourse experience despite also being three, and is highly progressive. The Haggas-charge was only a length and three-quarters behind the winner on that occasion, which I thought was an excellent effort, and whilst this requires another big step up from him, I think there could be a lot more to come.
The more experienced rivals here have questions hanging over most of them, but it’s perhaps Symbol Of Honour who is shortlist-worthy for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. He won the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes here over six furlongs last time out, and given how he ran on that day, this step up back up to seven furlongs could well suit him. He looks fairly solid in a tough-looking contest.
Selection: Extremely Zain – (5/1) (Each-Way) (NB)
Shortlist: Symbol Of Honour – (9/2)
3.10 Newbury
