Today / 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

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

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

1

(8)

3rd Oct 2025

Good

1m 6f 34y

Class 1

16:05 Ascot

Arabian Force

9st 3lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Won two novice events in the spring and a late surge took him to within a nose of victory in Listed race at Hamilton (1m3f, good; unraced on softer) in July; close third of seven in Group 2 Great Voltigeur at York (1m4f, good to firm) in August, coming from the back in something of a tactical race; 1m6f looks within reach and this highly progressive colt is top on form.

11/8

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

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

7th

4

(8)

28th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

18:12 Sandown

Duke Of Oxford

9st 4lb

J: David Egan

T: Michael Bell

Progressive on AW in the winter with 2m handicap wins at Kempton and Newcastle; however, only fifth of 12 at Newcastle (2m) last month and the suitability of turf is questionable.

40/1

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

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

6th

2

(1)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

Epic Poet

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: David O’Meara

0-11 since winning at Meydan last January but he has run really well in Group races in the interim, including the last two runnings of the Yorkshire Cup over C&D; drops into a Listed race today and could be bang there.

7/2

4th

5

(3)

28th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

18:12 Sandown

Epic Poet

9st 4lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Beaten in Group races on his last ten starts but went close in the Yorkshire Cup at York (1m6f, good to firm) last May and he was a good third in that same Group 2 a fortnight ago (good); he should be fine back up in trip and might not be far away.

7/1

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

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

3rd

4

(6)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

Mount Atlas

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Andrew Balding

5yo who has been an improved performer on his two starts this season, going close behind Al Qareem at Musselburgh (1m6f, soft; Listed, same terms today) then runner-up in the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes at Chester (13.3f, good) in which Al Qareem flopped; he's firmly in calculations.

3/1

2nd

6

(7)

7th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:05 Chester

Mount Atlas

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Close second in Listed events at Chester (12.5f) last September and Musselburgh (1m6f) on reappearance, latter behind Al Qareem who gave 5lb and is now better off; further behind that opponent when fifth of six in this race last year; needs a personal best.

25/1

15/8

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

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

5th

7

(1)

1st May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 7f 209y

Class 1

14:35 Ascot

Tabletalk

9st 4lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Tom Clover

No win since Melrose Handicap at York (1m6f, good to firm) in 2024 but he ran very well in 1m4f Group races on first three starts last season and returned to that form when a close second in Saudi Arabia (1m7f) 11 weeks ago; that puts him back in the picture even though he's unraced over this far.

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

6

(4)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

16:55 York

Peace Belle

8st 11lb

J: William Pyle

T: Jennie Candlish

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.

100/1

4th

2

(3)

28th Jun 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 4

14:05 Wolverhampton (AW)

Peace Belle

9st 11lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Jennie Candlish

Won at Hexham last August in the first of her three bumpers but a Grade 2 at Aintree (125-1; always behind) proved far too tough in April on final outing; a 9.4f maiden may not look the most promising fit at first glance for her first venture under Flat rules but this looks a weak race.

7/1

15th

12

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 209y

Class 1

17:15 Aintree

Peace Belle

11st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Far from disgraced at Newcastle when carrying a penalty for her Hexham success; however, looks well short of Graded standard; yard also runs It Would Be You.

40/1

+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