Newbury — 26 August 2026

Class 5 · 7f · Good To Firm · 15 ran

We passed. Likely winner: Primal (6/4)

Won by: Mobadir (IRE) at 5/2 · then Primal (GB), Magi Melchior (GB)

What we said: Primal sits favourite on solid recent form and the best jockey in the race, but this is a 15-runner nursery stuffed with unexposed types moving up in trip off placed or winning efforts — Regal Tiger (422, quickest early pace figure of the field), Mobadir (won last time, stepping up to 7f), and Sovereigns High (3/5 last time) all have live claims, and nothing separates them enough at these prices to make a confident stand.

Class 4 · 6f110y · Good To Firm · 10 ran

We passed. Likely winner: Solar Swing (3/1)

Won by: Crusherman (IRE) · then Kicking Bear (FR), Flick Of An Eye (IRE)

What we said: Solar Swing sets the market at 3/1 but he's an unraced type from a Boughey/Loughnane pairing this system has seen underperform its price tag repeatedly, and Perfect Strike's only piece of form is a well-beaten 7th of 9 at this same trip and going, leaving nothing you can trust enough to back; Yabreen and Crusherman are drifting into this rather than being supported. Too many first-time or lightly-raced types with thin evidence to build a genuine case on any of them at these prices.

Class 4 · 6f110y · Good To Firm · 9 ran

We passed. Likely winner: Kingdom Of Kush (10/3)

Won by: Scythe (IRE) at 7/1 · then Kingdom Of Kush (IRE), Uncle Zello (GB)

What we said: Nine largely unexposed maidens with blank form lines give little to grip: Battleworthy, Kingdom Of Kush and Saturn Star all sit close together on ability implied by the market, and Battleworthy has actually drifted in the overnight book rather than shortened, undercutting the strongest-looking case. With no course form, no revealing pace shape and a wide draw that carries no bias here, there's no single horse whose case clears the bar at its price.

Class 4 · 6f · Good To Firm · 11 ran

Our bet: Somers Isles (9/4)

Won by: Starburster (IRE) at 5/1 · then Bidsta (IRE), Somers Isles (IRE)

What we said: The only filly in this maiden with genuine form on the board, a clear-cut second over 7f at Newbury just 40 days ago, and today's drop back to 6f plays into the hands of a speedy Churchill filly from a in-form Andrew Balding yard. Oisin Murphy takes over and the placed effort on quick ground gives her a proven foundation none of the unraced types here can match.

Class 4 · 1m · Good To Firm · 13 ran

Our bet: Accademia (7/2)

Won by: Abundant (IRE) at 7/4F · then Cloud Forest (GB), Zatsgood (GB)

What we said: Two smart wins on the bounce, the latest at this course and distance over today's trip, and she carries only 9-3 with a rating that has room to run further. The step up in class hasn't stopped her lately, and the good-to-firm ground matches her only two wins.

Class 4 · 7f · Good To Firm · 6 ran

Our bet: Lion Of Mali (12/5)

Won by: Lion of Mali (GB) at 6/4F · then Cool Molly (IRE)

What we said: Consistent recent form reads 215122, and the runner-up effort 25 days ago came at the exact same trip and same good-to-firm ground he faces again today, which is a rare like-for-like match in a small field. He's the more battle-tested of the market principals at this trip, with proven placed form rather than a single career run over it.

Class 4 · 1m2f · Good To Firm · 9 ran

Our bet: Edwin Hubble (9/2)

Won by: Magical Merlot (GB) at 4/1 · then Empirical (IRE)

What we said: Won last time out over today's exact trip and going just 20 days ago, and carries the highest form-rating figure of any sound contender in the field, with Oisin Murphy taking over aboard a runner the market has quietly shortened for overnight. The profile — fresh, in-form, stepped up in class only marginally, and matching today's conditions to the yard — gives him more upside than his price suggests.