Declan Rix

Published  09.11 - all selections online 

It’s not the most appealing betting Saturday, especially in terms of potentially finding a nice-priced winner. It may well pay to play the obvious today, that’s what I’m hoping.

In the opener at Newbury, live on Sky Sports Racing, hopefully TABLETALK can take the Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes (1.25) for the in-form Tom Clover yard.

The consistent and straight-forward son of Camelot looks to have been found a nice opportunity by connections, especially with old foe Mount Atlas having to concede a 3lb penalty to the field, having beaten the selection 35 days ago at York by a head. On today’s terms at a track the five-year-old has run well on both times he has been here (second in a John Porter Stakes and second in an Aston Park Stakes), it’s not hard to see him reversing the form.

A bigger danger may come in the form of Dubai Honour, a globetrotting eight-year-old and four-time Group 1 winner. Given his age, however, I think it’s fair to say his best days are behind him, for all I still respect the Haggas runner and especially the yard’s ability to keep these older horses sweet. Ideally, he would like a softer surface whereas Tabletalk will very much be at home on fast ground.

Improving and likable four-year-olds Gamrai and Wine Dark Sea are progressive, along with Derby sixth Rebel Rocker, but they all must take a nice jump forward to match the market leaders and it remains to be seen if they can do it in one run today.

Many might well be worried about Tabletalk only winning twice in a 15-run career, and that would be fair, but I can’t fault his attitude under pressure. The reapplication of cheekpieces might just help him get home along with returning to Newbury, a track that has seen him produce two career best efforts the two times he has run here.

Some will understandably want to take on NEVER SO BRAVE in the Group 2 Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes (3.10), the day’s feature race - also live on Sky Sports Racing - given how he curled up at York two starts back.

I’ll be the first to admit it didn’t look great given how well he travelled into the race, but I’m hoping it’s part of a building block that looks to be getting the son of No Nay Never back to his best. Having shown himself to be a highly progressive sort in 2025, which included a Group 1 win, this campaign has been a bit of a damp squib in comparison.

While the case, he has had excuses. On seasonal debut, he was too fresh and well before a poor draw and slow start. Softening ground saw him run below par again at Epsom. True, he was a beaten 6-4 favourite at York next, but in terms of figures it was a big season’s best and he again stepped forward next time out in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes.

That effort behind Bow Echo saw him take another step forward figures-wise and he looks to be working his way back to his peak 2025 form. It was great to see plenty of life about Never So Brave early before he flattened out in the final furlong. It was maybe a worry that he didn’t hit the line well again, but today’s drop in trip and grade can hopefully see him get his head in front.

Andrew Balding’s inmate takes on a host of classy sorts either stepping up to 7f for the first time or returning to the trip having competed over 6f. In terms of ability, the likes of Coppull, Prince Of India and Symbol Of Honour are respected, but in a race that could get tactical, it will be interesting to see how they switch off up in distance. Coppull (9) and Symbol Of Honour (1) also have been drawn on either wing, which isn’t ideal.