Andrew Balding's Never So Brave can secure victory in the Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes (3.10pm) at Newbury on Saturday afternoon. The five-year-old was a revelation last season after being gelded and joining the Balding stable from the retired Sir Michael Stoute.
Bounce back to form
After finishing second in a handicap over seven furlongs at Chester's May Festival on his seasonal return last year, he progressed well to land three straight wins, first in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. He then stepped up to Group Two level in the Summer Mile Stakes back at Ascot and grabbed a first success at the top level with a superb victory in the Group One Sky Bet City of York Stakes on the Knavesmire this time last year.
He hasn't won since, finishing seventh in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes over a mile at Ascot on British Champions Day on his final start of 2025. He's been fifth in the Group Two bet365 Mile at Sandown, seventh in the Group Three Tattenham Corner Stakes at Epsom and second to Qirat in the Group Two Criterion Stakes back down to seven furlongs at York at the end of June.
Conditions seem perfect
He wasn't disgraced back in Group One company and over a mile when sixth to the sadly retired star Bow Echo in the Sussex Stakes at the Glorious Goodwood Festival last month. Back down to Group Two level and in trip to seven furlongs, Never So Brave can finally get his head back in front with conditions seemingly perfect for a revival.
There are a number of dangers including the Charlie Appleby-trained recent six-furlong Newbury winner Symbol Of Honour – to be ridden by William Buick – if he can finally shine over this slightly longer distance; and progressive handicapper and course and distance scorer Extremely Zain, from the in-form William Haggas stable.
Great St Wilfrid at Ripon
At Ripon, Tim Easterby's Manila Scouse can grab victory in the Great St Wilfrid. The six-furlong sprint is as competitive as ever and sometimes it pays to look away from the market principals despite the strong claims of the David O'Meara-trained Dark Cloud Rising – second over course and distance at the start of the month – and last month's Ascot runner-up Fast Track Harry, from the Clive Cox stable.
Manila Scouse is a seven-year-old now but eight-year-old Intervention had a similar profile when he scored last season. Manila Scouse won a similar contest at Thirsk last summer and again at Ayr last month. He disappointed dropped back down to the minimum distance at Hamilton last month. But back up to the six furlongs, over which he has won three times, and from what looks like a reasonable draw in stall 13, he may be able to come out on top ahead of another veteran, Mark Walford's eight-year-old It Just Takes Time, who is drawn low in stall two.
More selections at Newbury and Ripon
Back at Newbury, another Balding-trained five-year-old, Mount Atlas, can land the opener, the Group Three Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes (1.25pm). Mount Atlas won the Group Three Silver Cup at York last month and he can get the better of chiefly Dubai Honour to win this similar 1m5½f contest.
Richard Hannon's Wheels Of Fire can back up a recent victory at Sandown in a similar five-furlong sprint last month with another success in the D&H, Excellence In Nutrition Handicap (1.55pm). Clive Cox's Addison Grey can land a first win of the season in the TPT Fire Handicap (2.35pm). The consistent gelded four-year-old son of Havana Grey put in a rare disappointing effort when ninth at York, but he won the Grey Horse Handicap on this day last year. He bypasses that Newmarket event for this race and it can pay off with victory.
Others who can triumph at the Berkshire track are another from the Hannon stable, Red Tail, who can go one better than his debut second at Brighton last time, in the Darley EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (3.45pm); the Harry Charlton-trained Tryfan in the Swings & Smiles Supported By AP&C Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (4.20pm); and Ed Walker's Golden Knight in the finale, in the Get Following BetVictor On Instagram Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (4.55pm).
Back at Ripon, Emperor Caradoc can win the William Hill Supporting MND Silver Cup Handicap (2.55pm) – the consolation race for the Great St Wilfrid. Paul Midgley's seven-year-old has been running consistently well without winning since his most recent success at Thirsk in May. He is back down to the same handicap mark as that success and can come out on top at biggish odds ahead of chiefly the Ruth Carr-trained Kats Bob and Tim Easterby's Go Vince Go.
Hannon's in-form Best Rate can win the William Hill World Free From MND Handicap (3.55pm). The four-year-old has won twice and finished third at Sandown last month in his last three starts. The Camacho gelding can land another success in the mile handicap.
Others who can triumph at the North Yorkshire track are Ed Bethell's Clocker in the Ashley Smith Memorial William Hill Fillies' Handicap (4.30pm); the James Owen-trained recent York winner Coral Cove in the Juddmonte EBF Restricted Novice Stakes (Bands C-D) (EBF Restricted Race Qual') (GBB/GBBPlus Race) (1.25pm); Eve Johnson Houghton's Does Mary Know in the Racing For Tamara Ripon Hornblower EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (2.20pm); and the returning course and distance scorer Casilli, from the Mick and David Easterby stable, in the finale, the Harrogate Comedy Festival Coming This Autumn Handicap (5.05pm).
Newmarket and other selections
At Newmarket, Strike can win the Betway Grey Horse Handicap (2.10pm) for a second time. Jonathan Portman's eight-year-old won the unique six-furlong contest in 2022 and has been sixth twice and runner-up two years ago. Despite being a veteran, he recently scored at Newbury and has won off this handicap mark in the past. He can triumph again.
Others who can win at Headquarters are the Roger Varian-trained Reem Rak in the Betway Bet 10 Get 40 Fillies' Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (2.43pm); Johnson Houghton's course and distance scorer Eabha in the Betway Bet The Responsible Way Fillies' Nursery Handicap (3.13pm); and Mister Mojito – from the Terry Kent stable – in the finale, the Watch Live Racing At Betway Handicap (5pm).
The Wright Ones selections at other meetings include Hawthorn Road at Perth, Poet's Dawn at Doncaster, Park Hall at Market Rasen, Belle Of Kt at Lingfield, and Institute at Dundalk. Sunday's Nap is Brazilian Rose at Pontefract 4.45pm.
