July 11 / 16.55 York

16.55

Good To Firm

John Smith’s Silver Cup Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £56710
  • 1m 5f 188y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
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John Smith’s Silver Cup Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

13/8 (Won)

  • Win: £3.10
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 24-223 BF

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 0lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
5yo who is an improved performer this season and registered career-best form when a close third in C&D Listed race last time, a neck behind Tabletalk; should be bang there once again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

(8)

21st Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

14:25 York

Mount Atlas

9st 5lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Close Listed third here (1m6f, good) on penultimate start and got up close home in a slowly run Group 3 over that same C&D (good to firm) on latest; he's never ventured beyond that and it's questionable whether it will suit; also needs a bit more improvement but he's regularly proved capable of that.

15/2

1st

4

(3)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

16:55 York

Mount Atlas

9st 0lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

5yo who is an improved performer this season and registered career-best form when a close third in C&D Listed race last time, a neck behind Tabletalk; should be bang there once again.

13/8

15/8

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 32-252 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 0lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Won the Melrose Handicap over C&D in August 2024; 0-9 since but he was runner-up in five of those races, including when beaten a neck in C&D Listed event four weeks ago, narrowly in front of Mount Atlas; the lack of a recent win is a touch frustrating but he's clearly a leading contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(4)

15th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 61y

Class 1

13:25 Newbury

Tabletalk

9st 8lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Tom Clover

Won the Melrose Handicap at York in August 2024; 0-10 since but runner-up in six of those races, including at York (1m6f) on last two starts in close finishes also involving Mount Atlas (who now carries a 3lb penalty); the lack of a recent win has become frustrating, particularly as he had the initiative for most of the closing stages last time, losing it in the last three strides; cheekpieces (tried once last term, runner-up) return; second to Dubai Honour in terms of form.

3/1

2nd

5

(2)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

16:55 York

Tabletalk

9st 0lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Tom Clover

Won the Melrose Handicap over C&D in August 2024; 0-9 since but he was runner-up in five of those races, including when beaten a neck in C&D Listed event four weeks ago, narrowly in front of Mount Atlas; the lack of a recent win is a touch frustrating but he's clearly a leading contender.

15/8

2nd

6

(3)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

Tabletalk

9st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Tom Clover

Won the Melrose Handicap here in 2024 (good to firm; for 3yos) and another good run over C&D (good to firm) when third in this last year, 4l behind Al Qareem; not at his best at Ascot last month following a break, and there's a suspicion he may find one or two too good even if back to his peak, but he might not be far away.

7/1

Form: 233-23

Last run: 56 days

W: 9st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Progressed very well last term, culminating in his close third in Group 2 Great Voltigeur here (1m4f, good to firm) in August, until not so good trying 1m6f on final outing; rallied when close second in 1m4f French Listed event on reappearance but needs to bounce back from a tame show in Newbury Group 3; tongue tied first time on this second attempt at 1m6f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(6)

24th Sep 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Arabian Force

9st 5lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Well beaten in the Group 1 Irish St Leger at the Curragh only 11 days ago (1m6f, good; first run since being gelded); needs to quickly leave that run behind but he was a good third in the Group 3 Silver Cup at York (1m6f, good to firm) in July and will be a strong contender if rediscovering that form; the cheekpieces adopted last time are retained; tongue-tie left off.

4/1

3rd

1

(6)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

16:55 York

Arabian Force

9st 0lb

J: Jason Hart

T: William Haggas

Progressed very well last term, culminating in his close third in Group 2 Great Voltigeur here (1m4f, good to firm) in August, until not so good trying 1m6f on final outing; rallied when close second in 1m4f French Listed event on reappearance but needs to bounce back from a tame show in Newbury Group 3; tongue tied first time on this second attempt at 1m6f.

9/2

3rd

2

(1)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:25 Newbury

Arabian Force

9st 2lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Progressed very well as 3yo last term, culminating in his close third in Group 2 Great Voltigeur at York (1m4f, good to firm) in August, until not so good trying 1m6f in Listed race on final outing; always close up and rallied when close second in 1m4f Listed event at Longchamp on reappearance; may well have more to give but it is needed in today's company.

5/1

Form: 4

Last run: 13 days

W: 8st 11lb

5 yo Filly

OR: —

Form & Verdict
Won at Hexham last August in the first of her three bumpers but a Grade 2 at Aintree (125-1) proved far too tough in April; will build at some point on the modest form shown in a 9.4f maiden on her recent first venture under Flat rules, but she's impossible to fancy today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

(3)

24th Sep 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Peace Belle

9st 0lb

J: George Wood

T: Jennie Candlish

Bumper winner who outran her 125-1 odds when fourth of six in Group 3 at York (1m6f, good to firm) in July on her second Flat start; another very respectable run when fifth of seven at 100-1 in the Group 2 Doncaster Cup (2m2f, good) recently; drops back in grade here and she might not be far away.

40/1

5th

7

(5)

11th Sep 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:00 Doncaster

Peace Belle

9st 4lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Jennie Candlish

Bumper winner who was likely flattered in 1m6f Group 3 at York (staying-on fourth of six) on penultimate start; comprehensively turned over at 4-9 in a three-runner Carlisle novice (1m3f) on latest, failing by a long way to back up the York form; that suggests bleak prospects in this, surely.

66/1

OUR TIP

Form: 255346 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 0lb

7 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
7yo who is 0-12 since winning at Meydan in January 2025; has run really well in plenty of Group races in the interim, including the last two runnings of the Yorkshire Cup over C&D, but he ran a stinker in C&D Listed event four weeks ago; bang there if he bounces straight back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(4)

11th Sep 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:00 Doncaster

Epic Poet

9st 7lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Not proven on worse than good to soft and unraced beyond 2m; 7yo who is 0-14 since winning at Meydan in January 2025; performed really well in plenty of Group races, including the last two runnings of the 1m6f Yorkshire Cup, but he ran a stinker back at York three starts ago and also disappointed there on last two (15th in the Ebor last time); big questions to answer after that.

12/1

15th

2

(7)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Soft

1m 5f 188y

Class 2

15:35 York

Epic Poet

9st 11lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Not proven on worse than good to soft; fourth in this race in 2024; 7yo who is 0-13 since winning at Meydan in January 2025; has run really well in plenty of Group races in the interim, including the last two runnings of the Yorkshire Cup over C&D, but he ran a stinker in C&D Listed event in June and also disappointed here on latest start; big questions to answer after that.

50/1

5th

3

(5)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

16:55 York

Epic Poet

9st 0lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

7yo who is 0-12 since winning at Meydan in January 2025; has run really well in plenty of Group races in the interim, including the last two runnings of the Yorkshire Cup over C&D, but he ran a stinker in C&D Listed event four weeks ago; bang there if he bounces straight back.

6/1

25/1

Form: 51-157

Last run: 44 days

W: 9st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Eight AW wins, two last winter in 2m handicaps; however, he failed to beat a rival in Group 3 at Sandown (2m, good) on turf return, has tons to prove on turf record (0-5) and even best AW form does not look good enough.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

1

(16)

19th Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

16:10 York

Duke Of Oxford

9st 12lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Michael Bell

Eight AW wins, two last winter in 2m handicaps; however, he has tons to prove on turf record (0-7) and even best AW form does not look good enough; reportedly lame after losing right-hind shoe when tailed off 19 days ago.

66/1

15th

2

(7)

31st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 4f 137y

Class 2

13:50 Goodwood

Duke Of Oxford

9st 11lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Michael Bell

Eight AW wins, two last winter in 2m handicaps; however, he has tons to prove on turf record (0-6) and even best AW form does not look good enough.

20/1

6th

2

(1)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

16:55 York

Duke Of Oxford

9st 0lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Michael Bell

Eight AW wins, two last winter in 2m handicaps; however, he failed to beat a rival in Group 3 at Sandown (2m, good) on turf return, has tons to prove on turf record (0-5) and even best AW form does not look good enough.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.30
Straight Forecast £6.10
Trifecta £10.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Tabletalk

NEWMARKET:

Arabian Force

Telegraph:

Epic Poet

RP RATINGS:

Mount Atlas

Daily Mail:

Arabian Force

D Express:

Arabian Force

Daily Mirror:

Arabian Force

TOPSPEED:

Tabletalk

POSTDATA:

Tabletalk

The Times:

Tabletalk

The Guardian:

Tabletalk

The Sun:

Tabletalk

Daily Record:

Tabletalk

The Star:

Epic Poet