April 16 / 15.00 Newmarket

15.00

Good To Firm

Blandford Bloodstock Abernant Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £48203.5
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
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Blandford Bloodstock Abernant Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

1st
6 (7)
Sajir

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 1345-1

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
French raider whose form includes a Group 3 win and good effort in the Prix Jean Prat last term; justified favouritism at Chantilly (6.5f, AW) on reappearance and looks interesting with further improvement plausible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

(3)

21st Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:40 Ascot

Sajir

9st 5lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: A Fabre

Lightly raced, French-trained 4yo who has been better than ever this year, winning the Group 3 Abernant at Newmarket (6f, good) before solid second to Topgear in Group 3 at Longchamp (7f, good to soft); however, needs to raise his game further if he's to make his mark in this competitive Group 1.

20/1

1st

6

(7)

16th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Sajir

9st 9lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: A Fabre

French raider whose form includes a Group 3 win and good effort in the Prix Jean Prat last term; justified favouritism at Chantilly (6.5f, AW) on reappearance and looks interesting with further improvement plausible.

4/1

1st

6

(7)

16th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Sajir

9st 9lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: A Fabre

French raider whose form includes a Group 3 win and good effort in the Prix Jean Prat last term; justified favouritism at Chantilly (6.5f, AW) on reappearance and looks interesting with further improvement plausible.

4/1

OUR TIP

14/1

  • Place: £4.40

Form: 43340- D

Last run: 192 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Useful on the continent, having been successful in Italy and made the frame in Listed/Group sprints in France; needs some improvement on debut for new yard but market support should be heeded.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(7)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 34y

Class 1

13:30 Newbury

Grand Grey

9st 3lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Kevin Ryan

Ran well in the Group 3 Abernant in April on his stable debut (6f, good) but he's been unable to build on it in three runs since; others have more pressing claims.

20/1

2

(8)

12th Jul 2025

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:35 York

Grand Grey

9st 1lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Kevin Ryan

Ex-French 4yo who excelled himself on stable debut when second in Group 3 Abernant at Newmarket (6f, good); hasn't repeated that form in two runs since, although he faced a stiff task in Group 1 at Royal Ascot on latest; no surprise if he bounces back and he'll be a major player if he does; just as effective at 5f as 6f in France; tongue-tie on for first time in Britain.

11/2

8/1

Form: 42011- D

Last run: 207 days

W: 9st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Very useful 6f/7f handicapper who ended last season with two wins, including the Ayr Gold Cup, looking better than ever; well worth his place at Group level and has a fighting chance on the figures.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(8)

7th Sep 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

16:30 York

Lethal Levi

9st 7lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Went very close in a Group 2 at the Curragh (6f, good) in May and comfortably made all in Listed race at Newmarket last month (6f, good to firm; Elmonjed second); carries a 3lb penalty today but has leading claims nevertheless at a track where he has plenty of strong form.

6/1

1st

6

(7)

22nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

13:20 Newmarket (July)

Lethal Levi

9st 3lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Had a fine 2024 campaign once blinkers were added, winning two Newbury handicaps then blitzing his rivals in the Ayr Gold Cup; 0-4 this year but he has been running with great credit in good company; drops into Listed company and his record of 211 over C&D features a notable 3yo handicap win; looks sure to go well.

3/1

3

(5)

28th Jun 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

14:25 York

Lethal Levi

9st 8lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Last season's Ayr Gold Cup winner who has returned in good nick, going down by only a short head in a 6f Group 2 at the Curragh (good) five weeks ago; also had some good 7f form last year.

11/1

Form: 205/0- D

Last run: 363 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Absent since finishing down the field in this race last year, failing to match his 2022 Abernant effort (creditable fourth); very useful on his day but the betting may prove best guide to expectations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

10

(3)

16th Apr 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Run To Freedom

9st 9lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Henry Candy

Capable of smart form, such as placed efforts in two July Cups, but is getting long in the tooth and seems unlikely to break his Abernant duck at the fourth attempt (record in this race reads 404); losing spell goes back almost three years.

25/1

11

(9)

18th Oct 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Run To Freedom

9st 4lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Henry Candy

Has run well at long odds in several Group 1s, including when second in this race in 2022 (150-1) and when third to No Half Measures in this year's July Cup (40-1), but he was never a threat in the Sprint Cup six weeks ago and his overall record is none too consistent.

50/1

9

(11)

6th Sep 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Haydock

Run To Freedom

9st 5lb

J: Trevor Whelan

T: Henry Candy

Runner-up in the July Cup at Newmarket (6f, good to soft) in 2023 and, having been lightly raced since, he was a 2l third of 14 to No Half Measures in that same Group 1 two months ago (good to firm); each-way claims if reproducing that form but his profile indicates it's far from guaranteed.

66/1

Form: 140-21 CD

Last run: 75 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Finished fourth in last season's French 1,000 Guineas; suited by the drop back to 6f at Meydan (Listed) most recently, taking her form figures over this trip to 7111; she's 1-1 over C&D and warrants respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

8

(11)

30th Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

13:55 Goodwood

Romantic Style

9st 6lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Close fourth in last season's French 1,000 Guineas (1m, soft) and easily won Listed race at Meydan (6f, good to firm) in January; probably not seen to best effect when 2l fifth of seven in Group 3 Abernant at Newmarket (6f, good; slowly run) in April; could take step forward now back up to 7f.

13/2

5th

7

(5)

16th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Romantic Style

9st 6lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Finished fourth in last season's French 1,000 Guineas; suited by the drop back to 6f at Meydan (Listed) most recently, taking her form figures over this trip to 7111; she's 1-1 over C&D and warrants respect.

Evs

5th

7

(5)

16th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Romantic Style

9st 6lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Finished fourth in last season's French 1,000 Guineas; suited by the drop back to 6f at Meydan (Listed) most recently, taking her form figures over this trip to 7111; she's 1-1 over C&D and warrants respect.

Evs

Form: 21-121 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Has form figures of 21121, all over 7f on AW, since joining shrewd new connections; bagged Listed honours last time; possibilities, provided that progress is transferred back to turf and back to 6f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(10)

9th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:20 Ascot

Royal Zabeel

9st 11lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Michael Appleby

Ties in with Golden Mind on Musselburgh running but the pair of them are facing a stiffer assignment in this major prize; remains useful on turf but a lower mark in this sphere reflects that his peak form, namely dual Listed honours, has been shown on AW.

33/1

4th

1

(6)

4th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 2

13:55 Musselburgh

Royal Zabeel

9st 9lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Michael Appleby

Made his name on AW but he can do it on turf when the ground is quick, as when a cosy winner at Newmarket (7f, good to firm) in August; has since added a second Listed AW event, at Southwell in November, but the Saudi Arabia venture came to nothing in February and he has ground worries today.

12/1

Form: 62821- D

Last run: 193 days

W: 9st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Successful in similar event at Ascot (6f) on last appearance, looking better than ever; other form features good efforts in several major handicaps; incurs 3lb penalty but is likely to run well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

(9)

2nd May 2026

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

13:45 Newmarket

Apollo One

9st 9lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: P Charalambous & J Clutterbuck

Stable star who runs in this race for the fourth time, recording best results when second in 2024 and third in 2023; went without a win in 2025 but the ability was still intact, second in the Portland (5.6f, good) and an Ascot Group 3 (6f, soft); faced some stiff tasks in the Middle East this year but his second in a Listed race at Jebel Ali (5f, dirt) was promising, finishing with a flourish for second; fair mark back on grass; should run well.

16/1

2nd

3

(5)

4th Oct 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Ascot

Apollo One

9st 4lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: P Charalambous & J Clutterbuck

A very popular winner of this race (soft) last year, following some staunch efforts in top 6f handicaps; was back in familiar territory when a close second of 21 in the Portland at Doncaster (about 5f, good) in September, as he had been 12 months ago, and a bold bid is very much on the cards.

11/2

1

(10)

13th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 143y

Class 2

14:25 Doncaster

Apollo One

9st 10lb

J: Colin Keane

T: P Charalambous & J Clutterbuck

Has gone close in a host of top sprint handicaps, including when beaten a nose in a strong running of this race 12 months ago; he'd be a leading contender in that sort of form but this season has been underwhelming and he faded into last of nine in a Listed race three weeks ago; needs a revival.

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £25.00
Straight Forecast £24.93
Trifecta £165.40

Selections

The Times:

Romantic Style

SPOTLIGHT:

Sajir

TOPSPEED:

Apollo One

Telegraph:

Lethal Levi

Daily Mail:

Run To Freedom

D Express:

Romantic Style

Daily Mirror:

Romantic Style

The Star:

Romantic Style

RP RATINGS:

Sajir

POSTDATA:

Sajir

Daily Record:

Sajir

The Guardian:

Apollo One

The Sun:

Apollo One