Newbury - Fri 15 May 2026
GONE ROGUE rounded off 2025 in good form and demonstrated his well-being with a good second on his return at Windsor 11 days ago. That narrow defeat was a most encouraging effort and there are good reasons to expect another bold showing off the same mark, less Jude Fernandes' 5lb claim. Pearly Squirrel is better than she managed at Doncaster and could provide some each-way value, while Miss Chester, Jet Packer and Riyadh Gem are back on turf with similar chances.
OURSIN was the facile winner of his last two starts and he has stacks of potential to kick on now he tackles handicap company. Given the first of those success came 310 days after his late introduction as a juvenile in December 2024, it's safe to assume the Charlie Hills-trained colt can go well fresh. Fellow last-time-out winners Al Durry, Celeborn and Clouds Hill command respect, but Alcarath takes a drop in class and could be a bigger threat if building on his Newmarket reappearance.
Andrew Balding bids for back-to-back wins in this race with the attractively-bred PURE GRIT, who could well be the answer. A son of Pinatubo whose price tag rose from 90,000gns as a foal to 230,000 euros as a yearling, it seems safe to assume he is held in high regard and looks the pick of the yard's pair. Menhaal, Wilbur and God Given Talent are other expensive purchases to monitor in the betting.
EXTREMELY ZAIN made a huge impression on debut, so much so that he holds an entry in the St James's Palace Stakes. While it is a big bridge from a Newcastle novice in December to the Royal meeting, this looks a nice stepping stone for a colt with an exciting future. Erudition finished a position behind a subsequent winner when third at Leicester - an introduction that will have given connections plenty of encouragement. Stormy Music, Guitar Solo and English Time should also step forward from their first outings, with 400,000-euro Frankel colt Petworth the most interesting of the newcomers.
POINT OF LAW gave the odds-on Del Maro a big fright at Yarmouth and although the winner didn't exactly boost the form in the Chester Vase, the third won a competitive handicap at Ascot last week. The Royal colt is bred to be smart and can make it second-time lucky. The form of Hatteen's comeback second at Nottingham is also working out, although he was a few places in arrears of Glory Road at the same venue last autumn and Ralph Beckett's charge makes his first appearance since that promising debut.
Heyzoom has failed to justify favouritism in both starts so far, most recently filling the runner-up spot at Leicester, but he is sure to give his running again. Besieged shaped with promise when second over a mile at Kempton and is noted, but a chance can be taken on newcomer TROPBIEN. His dam was a Group 2 winner in France and it would be no surprise to see the son of Frankel make an instant impression for the Gosden team.
Rossa Raheen hasn't shown too much in her three starts so far, but could prove a different proposition up in trip on her handicap bow. Armstrong finished just over two lengths clear of the third when second at Yarmouth and is respected, but EXTRATERRESTRIAL gets the nod. The son of Space Blues hit the woodwork in first-time cheekpieces at Southwell and the booking of Jamie Spencer is noteworthy.
Possible showed ability in her four outings in France and is of interest on her first appearance for the in-form Harry Derham yard. Rose Cotton hasn't finished outside the top two in any of her last three starts and is considered, but PATROL produced a better effort when filling the runner-up spot at Newcastle. Off an unchanged mark and with Sean Levey doing the steering, he looks the way to go.
This is a tricky start for punters. A tentative choice is HELLO COTAI who was only narrowly beaten on his first start back in this country after running reasonably well in France. He looks well handicapped. Virtue Patience is consistent and should be thereabouts as well, but a bigger threat looks to be Gone Rogue who has gone close both starts since winning at Brighton and going up in the weights.
A tremendously competitive handicap in which HAND OF GOD looks a reasonable option. Despite being seventh he was only beaten bout three lengths when dropped back to a mile on his seasonal debut and should improve for the longer trip and that run. A strong pace here will suit him and he looks well handicapped, particularly on the form of his win on the Saturday of Royal Ascot last term. Alcarath is light-raced and ran ok off a break last time. His novice form is arguably better than his two runs in handicaps and he is open to improvement as well. With the unexposed Celeborn likely to need the run after a long absence third best could be consistent Parole D'Oro.
With none of these having raced there are just sales prices, trainers' records and pedigrees to go on. The most expensive of them is Menhaal and he is obviously worthy of consideration but preference is for PURE GRIT, one of two from the Balding yard. His half-sister American Sonja was a Group performer and only missed out on a Group 1 by a head in France. The market will inform as to the relative merits of the yard's two runners but it would be a bit of a surprise if this were not the better of them. Third best could be Wilbur, he was pretty expensive at the sales and is out of a dam that ran fourth in the May Hill at Doncaster.
EXTREMELY ZAIN was hugely impressive on his debut and is impossible to get away from here despite the presence of a few expensive newcomers in the field. Pick of those is Petworth, a 400,000 guineas purchase out of a German Oaks winner by Frankel and from the powerful Balding yard. Odogwu, one of two for Roger Varian, is also one for the short-list.
There are some interesting newcomers in this, not least Steamroller whose dam Simple Verse won the Leger and whose half-sister won the Lancashire Oaks. Indhaar also catches the eye out of a Listed-placed dam and half-brother to a Champagne Stakes fourth. Experience though may count for a lot with these middle-distance prospects and best of those to have raced is POINT OF LAW. He ran creditably despite being green on his debut and should come on a good deal for that. Hatteen probably wants 12f really but also ran well on debut at this trip, is a big, honest sort and should have progressed. Phantom Recon, a 340,000 guineas purchase and son of a Group 2 fourth in France is worth watching in the market.
ECHO OF STARS sets a good standard in this and may be just good enough to see of some interesting debutants. Chief among them could be Tropbien whose dam was second the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest and Knight Of Storms a son of 1000 Guineas second Lightning Thunder. A bigger threat though could be Heyzoom who has run creditably both starts and remains open to further progress and Besieged who ran well in a good race on debut.
Kakirra defied a 6lb penalty at Bath last time but didn't win as though he could handle another on, which is what he has acquired here and there is an argument to say that he will be shorter in the market than he should be making a few of the others better value. The pick is THREE SOCKS ON who impressed winning an all-weather handicap last time and is better weighted to follow-up. Madjid is a contender. Lightly-raced, he ran creditably up to this trip on his seasonal debut and is open to improvement. At a price Kalokalo looks well handicapped.
DUST COVER was just touched off at Kempton last time and looks the best option in this intensely competitive closure to the card. He is admirably consistent and fairly weighted, there is just a concern he might be a better horse on the all-weather. Patrol has also been in good form on the all-weather but is confirmed as just as good on turf and he is a good alternative. Autumn's Breeze ran well here in September and probably needed the run on her seasonal debut when below par at Goodwood. At a price she is interesting.
Whilst studying the form, we have a dedicated horse racing free bets page where you can find offers on all today's racing, as well as offers to use for races on our Ante-Post Prices page, which has markets available for upcoming major meetings as well as the Grand National 2026, Royal Ascot 2026 and Cheltenham Festival 2026.
