June 27 / 14.58 York

14.58

Good To Firm

Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Criterion Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £56710
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
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Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Criterion Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly sunny

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £9.00
  • Place: £2.90

Form: 570-47 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Not totally solid on his form since 150-1 success when pacemaker in last year's Sussex Stakes (1m, good); however, looks interesting back down in trip, with his 7f record reading 1211225 (ran creditably behind Never So Brave in C&D Group 1 the final time); fitting of tongue-tie may also contribute to a resurgence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

(1)

12th Sep 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 6y

Class 1

14:55 Doncaster

Qirat

9st 6lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Ralph Beckett

Acts on soft and good to firm; fluky winner of the 2025 Sussex Stakes but he's smart in his own right and won from Never So Brave at York (7f Group 3) in June; best of the rest behind a good 3yo in Goodwood Group 2 over 1m last time; likely to go well.

6/1

2nd

5

(8)

29th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:10 Goodwood

Qirat

9st 7lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Ralph Beckett

Unbeaten at this course until two defeats at the 2026 Glorious Goodwood, albeit faced a difficult task on ratings and raced too close to strong pace in the Sussex Stakes latest (fluky winner of that race 12 months earlier); has a better chance in this field.

5/1

9th

5

(8)

29th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

16:10 Goodwood

Qirat

9st 10lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Ralph Beckett

Prevailed in York Group 3 when dropped back to 7f last month, benefiting from the first application of a tongue-tie, and rallied for fourth behind Lake Forest in 7f Group 2 Lennox here yesterday; well suited by Goodwood but he was a fluky 150-1 winner of this race last year, having been allowed too much rope in a pacemaking duty, and seems unlikely to repeat the feat.

50/1

OUR TIP

4/5

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 117-55 CD BF

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Smart performer; completed a notable hat-trick (on good to firm ground) last summer, culminating in Group 1 honours over C&D; avoids a penalty for that success and holds a leading chance assuming he's back in similar form; best to forgive Epsom Group 3 effort last time (unsuited by the way the race unfolded).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

(8)

12th Sep 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 6y

Class 1

14:55 Doncaster

Never So Brave

9st 6lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: Andrew Balding

Inconsistent and broadly not at his best this season, only fifth in Newbury Group 2 most recently; outgunned by Qirat at York in June; however, he's one of the strongest contenders on peak form, namely 2025 hat-trick that culminated in Group 1 win at York (7f, good to firm).

11/2

5th

2

(4)

15th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:10 Newbury

Never So Brave

9st 8lb

J: David Probert

T: Andrew Balding

7f wins include the Group 1 City Of York Stakes last summer; not quite at his best this year, although a sixth in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood last month (80-1) was no disgrace; back down in grade and returns to his optimum distance so should be thereabouts.

3/1

6th

3

(2)

29th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

16:10 Goodwood

Never So Brave

9st 10lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Proved somewhat resurgent with second-place finish behind Qirat over 7f at York last time, the C&D of his Group 1 success last August; however, faces a stiffer assignment back up in trip/class and possibly isn't crying out for this return to 1m, despite being a distance winner.

50/1

Form: 1-16 D BF

Last run: 7 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Ran below expectations when a warm order for the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last Saturday but was drawn a bit higher than ideal, the way the race panned out, and finishing sixth of 16 wasn't a total disaster; 2-2 previously, including 7f Listed win at Newmarket, and can be treated as retaining potential; respected in receipt of 9lb from his elders.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

13

(12)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 177y

Class 1

13:50 York

Saber Strike

9st 0lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

All five starts on good/good to firm; made it 2-2 with 7f Listed win at Newmarket in May and has shaped in 7f/1m Group 3 races on his last two starts (including here) as though this new trip could be a good fit; not discounted in first-time tongue-tie; the blinkers adopted last time are left off.

10/1

4th

4

(3)

31st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:25 Goodwood

Saber Strike

9st 3lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Ran below expectations when a warm order for the Jersey at Royal Ascot (2-2 previously) but bounced back with a creditable effort against his elders in 7f Group 3 at York a week later, while leaving the impression he'll be suited by this step up to 1m combined with first-time headgear; remains of interest, with further progress still plausible.

9/2

3rd

6

(3)

27th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

14:58 York

Saber Strike

8st 13lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Ran below expectations when a warm order for the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot last Saturday but was drawn a bit higher than ideal, the way the race panned out, and finishing sixth of 16 wasn't a total disaster; 2-2 previously, including 7f Listed win at Newmarket, and can be treated as retaining potential; respected in receipt of 9lb from his elders.

13/8

16/1

Form: 626484

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Comes from off the pace; has made the frame several times at Group level since his Listed win 13 months ago; not disgraced at Epsom most recently, especially considering the race panned out unfavourably; however, chance again partly depends on whether the cards drop right.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(8)

6th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

18:00 Leopardstown

Chicago Critic

9st 9lb

J: Ben Coen

T: J P Murtagh

Has made the frame several times at Group level since a C&D Listed win 15 months ago; not a betting proposition on account of his 1-17 record in stakes races.

12/1

4th

2

(6)

27th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

14:58 York

Chicago Critic

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: J P Murtagh

Comes from off the pace; has made the frame several times at Group level since his Listed win 13 months ago; not disgraced at Epsom most recently, especially considering the race panned out unfavourably; however, chance again partly depends on whether the cards drop right.

16/1

4th

3

(5)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 3y

Class 1

13:30 Epsom

Chicago Critic

9st 2lb

J: Ben Coen

T: J P Murtagh

Short-headed in a Group 2 at Meydan (7f, good) in January but he needs a bigger performance if he's to take this and he hasn't been at the top of his game on his three starts since, most recently at the Curragh.

16/1

Form: 15-110 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Always behind in the boiling cauldron of a Royal Ascot handicap last week; progressive otherwise and still has good stats, being 9-22 overall, 2-3 this term and 6-11 over 7f (1-1 over C&D); however, has to overcome a 3lb penalty for the Group 3 win achieved against her own sex in May.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

19th

1

(17)

13th Sep 2026

Good

0m 7f 6y

Class 1

15:05 Doncaster

Royal Velvet

9st 7lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Knight

Won the Group 3 Chartwell at Lingfield (7f, good to firm) in May; not at the same level since and, while her fifth in the Group 3 Oak Tree at Goodwood (7f, good to firm) in July was a step back in the right direction, she may again be vulnerable under a 3lb penalty; unproven on slow ground.

20/1

5th

2

(5)

29th Jul 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Goodwood

Royal Velvet

9st 9lb

J: William Buick

T: William Knight

5yo who was a big improver at the start of this season, winning a handicap at Newmarket (7f, good) then the Group 3 Chartwell Stakes at Lingfield (7f, good to firm); however, it appears as though she may have gone off the boil on her last two outings; carries a 3lb penalty this afternoon.

14/1

Form: 200-37 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Useful but is 0-12 since completing a Doncaster novice double in spring 2024, essentially proving quite difficult to place; hasn't strictly improved for a switch to hold-up tactics this term (seemingly being taught to settle better); unlikely to regain the winning thread on these terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(1)

16th Sep 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:30 Sandown

Balmacara

9st 6lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Second in this last year (soft) and he reappeared with a 50-1 Listed third at Haydock (7f, good) in May; however, he's finished down the field on his four outings since and needs to turn things around.

40/1

8th

1

(3)

5th Sep 2026

Soft

0m 7f 212y

Class 1

13:25 Haydock

Balmacara

9st 5lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Winning touch has deserted him since taking back-to-back novices in the spring of 2024; has run some good races during the losing sequence and testing ground won't hold him back, but even if right on his game these weights are unfavourable.

25/1

11th

5

(16)

4th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Sandown

Balmacara

9st 5lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Useful but he is 0-12 since a Doncaster novice double in spring 2024 and not particularly solid on 2026 form; on a difficult mark returned to handicap level and isn't sure to uphold a consistent Sandown record.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £23.50
Straight Forecast £19.55
Trifecta £49.60

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Saber Strike

SPOTLIGHT:

Never So Brave

POSTDATA:

Saber Strike

NEWMARKET:

Saber Strike

The Times:

Saber Strike

Telegraph:

Saber Strike

D Express:

Saber Strike

Daily Mirror:

Saber Strike

The Star:

Saber Strike

RP RATINGS:

Never So Brave

LAMBOURN:

Never So Brave

The Guardian:

Never So Brave

Daily Mail:

Never So Brave

The Sun:

Never So Brave

Daily Record:

Never So Brave