14:30 | Salisbury | Wednesday 12th August 2026

74 Expert View: Still green, improved a little from debut beaten 6l in a novice at Windsor last time; acts on sound surface; should improve but likely wants at least 7f.

Form Snapshot: Foaled 1 Mar. Dam a lightly raced maiden. Unplaced in both starts. Finished 6l behind Real Bullet when sixth of 9 at 9-1 on his latest outing at Windsor over 6f (good to firm) last month.

2 (1)

Easy Answer (IRE) 57

ch c ; No Nay Never - Easily

Callum Shepherd

M L W Bell

Star rating: 4

30 2 9-7 -

D G

83 Expert View: Out of depth down the field in Coventry Stakes (Group 2) at Ascot most recent; debut form worth marking up; off a short-break; effective 6f, acts on good, fast ground should suit action; flashy sort, open to improvement down in class.

Form Snapshot: Foaled 20 Mar. Dam a lightly raced maiden. Placed once in two starts. Beaten 11l behind Great Barrier Reef at 100-1 when 15th of 21 on his latest outing in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Ascot over 6f (good to firm) in June.

3 (5)

First Mate (IRE) 8

b c ; Naval Crown - My Favourite Thing

Tom Marquand

Eve Johnson Houghton

Star rating: 4

77 2 9-7 -

84 Expert View: Green and never travelled well beaten in a novice at Ffos Las latest; bred to be a sprinter, acts on good to firm; drop in trip a plus but must bounce back.

Form Snapshot: Foaled 19 Feb. Half-brother to Romanovich, won five times between 7f and 1m 1f. Unplaced in both starts. Beaten 14l behind Perfect Nation at 14-1 when last of 7 on his latest outing at Ffos Las over 7f (good) earlier this month.

4 (6)

Flick Of An Eye (IRE)

b c ; Blackbeard - Caribbean Princess

David Probert

S & E Crisford

Star rating: 4

2 9-7 -

70 Expert View: 12 May; £150,000 breeze-up purchase by Blackbeard; half-brother to Prince Of Calypso, useful at 11f; trainer in form including with newcomers; can go well.

Form Snapshot: Foaled 12 May. Half-brother to Hashtagmetoo, won three times between 7f and 1m 5f.

5 (9)

Gold Reef City 26

b c ; Dark Angel - Solar Gold

R P Downey

R M Beckett

Star rating: 2

73 2 9-7 -

69 Expert View: Still green early, ran to form 9l third in a maiden at Nottingham most recent run; top course trainer; wide draw; sire sprinter, dam miler; should improve for top yard.

Form Snapshot: Foaled 16 Apr. Full brother to Dark Sun, won at 5f. Unplaced in both starts. Third of 5 behind Tawakal beaten 9l at 3-1 on his latest outing at Nottingham over 6f (good to firm) last month.

6 (10)

Goodwood Meteor 30

b c ; Minzaal - Time Of Change

Rob Hornby

M P Tregoning

Star rating: 2

96 2 9-7 -

71 Expert View: Every chance, ran to form beaten 7l in a novice at Windsor last time; wide draw; effective 6f on good to firm; improvement required to get off the mark.

Form Snapshot: Foaled 15 Mar. Dam unraced. Unplaced in both starts. Finished 7l behind Ferrystream when sixth of 12 at 12-1 on his latest outing at Windsor over 6f (good to firm) last month.

7 (8)

Hackpen Hill (IRE) 22

b c ; Sioux Nation - Dignified

K Shoemark

E Walker

Star rating: 1

84 2 9-7 -

66 Expert View: Ran to form when fourth beaten 8l in a novice here latest; hood first time; wide draw; sire sprinter, dam middle distance performer; major improvement needed.

Form Snapshot: Foaled 22 Jan. Dam a lightly raced maiden. Unplaced in both starts. Finished 8l behind Gentle Hurricane when fourth of 5 at 15-2 on his latest outing over this course and distance (good to firm) last month. He is wearing a hood for the first time.

8 (3)

Ongombo 44

b g ; Siyouni - Pink Phantom

Paddy Bradley

C Fellowes

Star rating: 2

86 2 9-7 -

72 Expert View: Again ran to a modest level beaten 7 1/2l in a maiden at Kempton last time; bred to be effective 10-12f; might need longer trips.

Form Snapshot: Foaled 22 Mar. Dam won twice at 1m 2f and 1m 4f. Unplaced in both starts. Finished 8l behind Firehorse when sixth of 10 at 18-1 on his latest outing at Kempton over 6f in June.

9 (2)

Saturn Star (IRE)

ch c ; Starspangledbanner - Sweet Affection

H Crouch

R M Beckett

Star rating: 4

2 9-7 -

79 Expert View: Sold for 125,000 guineas as a 2yo; colt by top-class miler Starspangledbanner; half-brother to Sea Suite, useful at 7f; dam fair middle-distance performer Sweet Affection; probably effective 6f; top yard can get them ready first time; of interest.

Form Snapshot: Foaled 15 Mar. Half-brother to Sea Suite, won twice at 7f and 1m.

10 (4)

Forbidden Fire

b f ; No Nay Never - Arabian Queen

Oisin Murphy

A M Balding

Star rating: 5

2 9-2 -

81 Expert View: Yard won this last year; 19 Apr; No Nay Never filly; half-sister to See The Fire, top-class at 10f for this stable; dam top-class at 10f winning G1 International at York; top course jockey; top trainer; very interesting.

Form Snapshot: Foaled 19 Apr. Half-sister to Spirit Mixer, won seven times between 1m 4f and 2m.

2025: (11 ran) Five Ways ( 10 ) , Age 2 , Wgt 9-4 , SP 2/1 - Jason Watson / A M Balding

Forecast: 3/1 Easy Answer , 9/2 Forbidden Fire , 9/2 Saturn Star , 5/1 Flick Of An Eye , 10/1 Arctic Tsar , 10/1 Gold Reef City , 12/1 Ongombo , 12/1 Goodwood Meteor , 20/1 First Mate , 20/1 Hackpen Hill

Last Updated: 11 Aug 2026 10:32:06

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Hcp Today’s Official Rating or Higher

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BF Beaten favourite last time out
MM Horse is within the top 10 steamers for the day
MM Horse is within the top 10 drifters for the day
ATR Horse is being backed by one of our tipsters

90 Official Rating
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WS2 This was the horse's second outing after receiving Wind Surgery

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Verdict
Expert View Verdict

Verdict

EASY ANSWER didn't come up to scratch in the Coventry, but he was by no means disgraced and his debut third at Yarmouth suggested that a race such as this should be within his compass. Gold Reef City has performed below market expectations on both appearances to date so 125,000gns breeze-up purchase Saturn Star looks the pick of the Ralph Beckett duo, although Forbidden Fire and Flick Of An Eye are more interesting newcomers.

Top Tip: Easy Answer (2)
Watch out for: Forbidden Fire (10)

Easy Answer appeals most of those with experience. His debut placed effort is worth marking up as he was given too much to do and his latest run at Royal Ascot is worth ignoring as he was out of his depth. He should find this much more suitable and can run well but he could be vulnerable to a talented newcomer with a trio looking dangerous. The Simon Crisford yard has been in excellent form with its newcomers so Flick Of An Eye is worth following in the betting. Saturn Star was an expensive purchase and 6f on fast ground looks a good place to start. He is respected for his top stable but FORBIDDEN FIRE gets the verdict. The only filly in the race has an attractive pedigree with her half-sister a multiple Group winner for this yard. Her dam was also a Group 1 winner at York's Ebor meeting so she could have too much class for this line up.

1-2-3 Selections

Previous Winners

Year	Going	Ran	Winner	Draw	Age	Weight	OR	Form	Last run	Trainer (Distance)	Jockey	SP	Time
2025	Good to Firm	11	Five Ways	10	2	9 4	-	4	25 days	A M Balding (37 miles)	Jason Watson	2/ 1	1:14.72
2024	Good to Firm	12	Nascimento	6	2	9 4	-	30	57 days	M L W Bell (151 miles)	Jamie Spencer	4/ 1	1:13.83
2023 (Div 1)	Good	8	Mister Sketch	9	2	9 7	-	2	25 days	Eve Johnson Houghton (56 miles)	Charles Bishop	8/ 13	1:14.60
2023 (Div 2)	Good	9	Persica	8	2	9 7	-	7	3 days	Richard Hannon (28 miles)	S M Levey	10/ 1	1:15.78
2022	Good to Firm	12	Celtic Champion	12	2	9 4	-	34	15 days	A M Balding (37 miles)	Jason Watson	7/ 4	1:13.88
2021 (Div 1)	Good	10	Boafo Boy	9	2	9 5	-			J A Osborne (43 miles)	Shane W Kelly	100/ 1	1:17.10
2021 (Div 2)	Good	10	Ribhi	3	2	9 5	-			M P Tregoning (8 miles)	Jim Crowley	20/ 1	1:15.79
2020	Good to Firm	10	Minzaal	7	2	9 2	-	4	15 days	Owen Burrows (42 miles)	Jim Crowley	1/ 2	1:13.36
2019 (Div 1)	Good to Soft	11	Ascension	1	2	9 5	-	0	26 days	R Varian (151 miles)	Jack Mitchell	13/ 8	1:17.18
2019 (Div 2)	Good to Soft	11	Impressor	3	2	9 5	-	4	15 days	M P Tregoning (8 miles)	M Dwyer	13/ 8	1:17.38
2018	Good	10	Flashcard	1	2	9 2	-			A M Balding (37 miles)	Rob Hornby	33/ 1	1:15.29
2017 (Div 1)	Good to Firm	10	Exceedingly Diva	1	2	8 11	-	2	51 days	M P Tregoning (8 miles)	Kieran Shoemark	4/ 1	1:13.37
2017 (Div 2)	Good to Firm	9	Rogue	6	2	9 2	-	444	11 days	Richard Hannon (28 miles)	R L Moore	5/ 2	1:14.97

Race Favourite Stats

Year	Favourite Finish Position	Winner Market Position
2025	1	1
2024	3	2
2023	1	1
2022	1	1
2021	5	8
2020	1	1
2019	1	1
2018	2	7
2017	4	2

Race Record

Distance	Record Time
6f	1:07.53