July 15 / 15.25 Newmarket (July)

15.25

Good To Firm

bet365 Superlative Stakes (Group 2)

  • Prize money: £56710
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 10 runners
ITV
View Course
bet365 Superlative Stakes (Group 2)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

11/8 (Won)

  • Win: £1.67
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Looked a smart prospect when making a striking winning debut at the Curragh (7f, good) a fortnight ago, drawing nicely clear in the closing stages; has the potential for lots of improvement and can take the step up to Group level in his stride.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

12

(5)

21st Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 2f 56y

Class 1

15:35 York

City Of Troy

9st 1lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Champion 2yo last term and has bounced back from his Guineas flop to complete the Derby-Eclipse double this summer, comfortably beating Ambiente Friendly at Epsom (good to soft) then less impressive at Sandown where the deeper ground likely wasn't ideal; still managed to beat subsequent Group 1 scorer Al Riffa last time and comes to this assignment with glowing claims, especially as the long York straight should suit his relentless galloping style; highly talented and top rated.

11/8

1st

4

(8)

6th Jul 2024

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

15:35 Sandown

City Of Troy

8st 13lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Champion 2yo last term; comfortably justified favouritism in the Derby (1m4f, good to soft) most recently, bouncing back from the 2,000 Guineas flop that remains his only defeat; tactically versatile and has a powerful engine that, reappearance aside, keeps him galloping relentlessly in the latter stages; trainer has won the Eclipse seven times; brilliant colt who is clear top rated.

1/3

1st

4

(1)

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

16:30 Epsom

City Of Troy

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Out of a Group 1 winner whose sister won the Oaks; Europe's champion 2yo, having swanned away in a Group 2 at Newmarket (7f, good to soft) on second start and it wasn't any harder work in the Group 1 Dewhurst on the Rowley Mile (soft) next time; therefore it was desperately disappointing to see such a tame reappearance in the 2,000 Guineas (1m, good) when a remote ninth of 11, and while his trainer has been philosophical since, the average punter may feel safer on the fence for now.

3/1

2nd
4 (10)
Haatem

9/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 3135

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Bath maiden winner who stepped up on his previous efforts when fifth of 20 in the Coventry at Royal Ascot (6f, good; reopposing Spanish Phoenix and Cuban Thunder behind) last month; the way he came back for more on that occasion suggests the extra 1f this afternoon should suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

(8)

31st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 11y

Class 2

16:10 Goodwood

Haatem

9st 7lb

J: James Doyle

T: Richard Hannon

Below-par results this season but he may have needed his reappearance run here and got no run in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot (eased), having won that same Listed contest last year (good to firm); won the Group 2 Vintage Stakes here in his 2yo campaign in 2023; major player if at his best.

5/2

16th

9

(2)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Haatem

9st 5lb

J: James Doyle

T: Richard Hannon

Landed a second win at this meeting when seeing off Galen, King's Gambit and Enfjaar in this race on good to firm 12 months ago; below-par seventh on 1m2f Goodwood reappearance 25 days ago but this has presumably been the target again; the mount of James Doyle from the three Wathnan runners.

11/2

7th

6

(3)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

Haatem

9st 3lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Has form on all types of ground; smart performer whose strong CV includes wins in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood as a 2yo and two Royal Ascot contests, more recently last year's Wolferton (1m2f Listed); best figures give him a major chance at the weights.

7/2

16/1

  • Place: £4.10

Form: 73

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Left his Yarmouth debut seventh (Quatre Bras third) well behind when dead-heating for third in the Chesham at Royal Ascot (7f, good to firm) three weeks ago; place claims again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

(3)

18th Aug 2023

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:20 Newmarket (July)

Oddyssey

9st 7lb

J: Neil Callan

T: Patrick Owens

prominent

11/10

3rd

7

(3)

15th Jul 2023

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:25 Newmarket (July)

Oddyssey

9st 3lb

J: Neil Callan

T: Patrick Owens

took keen hold, in touch with leaders towards near side

16/1

3rd

7

(5)

24th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Ascot

Oddyssey

9st 5lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Patrick Owens

Held by a few of these opponents on Yarmouth 7f form, having finished only seventh in that race, and he gave the impression he's already crying out for further; well down the pecking order in this field.

50/1

OUR TIP

11/4

Form: 1 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo

OR:

Form & Verdict
Out of a 2yo Group 2 winner and made a very promising winning start to his career at Leicester (7f, good) 16 days ago, pulling just over 5l clear; definitely more to come and major player for a top stable seeking to win this for the fifth time since 2016.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found
5th
9 (6)
Son

16/1

Form: 31

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Built on the strong-finishing third of his 5f Ascot debut in May when comfortably winning a 6.5f Newbury maiden (good to firm) the following month; the second won next time and the fourth wasn't beaten far in the Chesham, so the form has some substance; more to come for a stable that is no stranger to success in this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

(6)

29th Aug 2026

Good

0m 7f 75y

Class 4

16:10 Beverley

Son

9st 13lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Beaten 23 times since winning a maiden at Newbury (6.5f, good to firm) in June 2023; several good runs in defeat for Tim Easterby this year, including a short-head second at Carlisle (7f, good to soft) ten days ago; up 2lb but still feasibly weighted.

7/2

2nd

7

(4)

19th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 195y

Class 4

16:20 Carlisle

Son

9st 6lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

0-22 since his Newbury maiden win in 2023 but he's on a reduced mark and ran well when sixth of 15 at York (1m, good to firm) last time; should get a good pace back in trip and has each-way claims if he gets the breaks.

9/1

6th

2

(6)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 192y

Class 4

15:05 York

Son

9st 9lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Campaigned solely at 7f this term but shapes as if he'll be well suited by this return to 1m; has met trouble in running on his last two starts; thrown in on the pick of his form for Richard Hannon and could be ready to strike.

15/2

Form: 418

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Easy Leicester win in the spring came in a three-runner race and he achieved more when just over 5l eighth of 20 in the Coventry at Royal Ascot; Haatem holds him on that form but there could be more to come after only three starts and he shapes as if 7f will suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

(5)

23rd Sep 2023

Heavy

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:15 Newbury

Spanish Phoenix

9st 3lb

J: James Doyle

T: Andrew Balding

Stablemate of Array; recorded a soft-ground win (5f) in the spring; behind Haatem in major 2yo races since but wasn't disgraced in the Coventry (6f) and the 7f trip may partly excuse his Superlative and Vintage efforts; not fully exposed at sprint distances.

25/1

9th

7

(6)

1st Aug 2023

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:25 Goodwood

Spanish Phoenix

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Beat just two rivals at Leicester in April (5f, soft); ran quite well in the Coventry but has more than 2l to find with Haatem on that form and he was beaten appreciably further by that rival when not getting home over 7f in the Group 2 Superlative; clearly up against it unless he can find a surge of improvement from somewhere.

14/1

6th

10

(8)

15th Jul 2023

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:25 Newmarket (July)

Spanish Phoenix

9st 3lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Andrew Balding

took keen hold, led up the centre

12/1

33/1

Form: 01 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
14l behind Iberian on his Newbury debut but totally different proposition when winning 7f Salisbury maiden (good to firm) 13 days later, making virtually all; another big chunk of improvement will be needed to follow up here, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(4)

12th Aug 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Metallo

9st 11lb

J: David Egan

T: John Butler

Sole win from 19 starts came in a Salisbury maiden on his second start in 2023; has posted a couple of good efforts for this stable, including when beaten a neck at Lingfield (1m2f, AW; first-time hood) in February; cheekpieces are quickly discarded after a poor run here over 1m3f latest.

9/1

10th

9

(9)

29th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 4

20:15 Kempton (AW)

Metallo

9st 2lb

J: Jack Callan

T: John Butler

0-11 on the AW and 1-18 overall; down another 2lb and cheekpieces are given a go this time, but he still has stamina to prove over this far.

12/1

4th

1

(2)

12th May 2026

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 4

19:20 Lingfield (AW)

Metallo

9st 9lb

J: Luke Morris

T: John Butler

0-13 in handicaps and usually seen over further than this, but he did run well when fourth of nine over 7f here in March; with a couple in here that like to go forward, he may have the race run to suit and drops into a 0-80 for the first time; hood removed; interesting.

13/2

Form: 210

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Built on a promising debut to win York maiden (6f, good to firm) in May but never involved when midfield in the Coventry at Royal Ascot (6f, good) since; early days but the step up to 7f needs to bring about improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(9)

6th Oct 2023

Standard

0m 7f 0y

19:00 Dundalk (AW)

Cuban Thunder

9st 5lb

J: Mikey Sheehy

T: Adrian Murray

Out of his depth in a Group 1 latest; some promising form in Britain earlier in the year but needs to take his form to a new level here.

33/1

4th

3

(4)

10th Sep 2023

Good

0m 7f 0y

16:00 Curragh

Cuban Thunder

9st 5lb

J: Gary Halpin

T: Adrian Murray

led, headed under 2f out, soon weakened

200/1

8th

2

(9)

15th Jul 2023

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

15:25 Newmarket (July)

Cuban Thunder

9st 3lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

in touch with leaders up the centre

50/1

Form: 3

Last run: 44 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
350,000gns yearling; made a promising debut at Yarmouth (7f, good to firm) where he kept on well for close third behind two who went on to finish down the field at Royal Ascot (also, reopposing Oddyssey was seventh at Yarmouth but third at the Royal meeting); can be expected to improve but this is a big jump in class.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

(4)

23rd Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 110y

17:30 Naas

Quatre Bras

8st 9lb

J: Andrew Slattery

T: Richard John O’Brien

Three-time AW winner is 0-22 on turf but has placed on multiple occasions; not beaten far on last turf start at Leopardstown last month (1m, good) and kept on steadily for a 3.5l sixth of 14 over 10.5f at Dundalk latest; eased another 1lb and becoming well handicapped; chance.

12/1

6th

12

(5)

15th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 2f 150y

16:35 Dundalk (AW)

Quatre Bras

8st 11lb

J: Gavin Ryan

T: Richard John O’Brien

Two-time C&D winner, most recently last November off 2lb lower; running okay in defeat on turf in recent starts over inadequate trips and this hold up sort could get a nice pace to aim at on return to the AW; not out of this.

10/1

4th

5

(5)

16th Jul 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

18:35 Leopardstown

Quatre Bras

9st 6lb

J: W J Lee

T: Richard John O’Brien

Three wins on AW, but 0-21 on turf; did well at Dundalk over the winter and carried that form through to soft-ground contests in the spring; second over 7f at Naas and fourth over 1m2f here in April (strong form); not so good since; likes to come from off the pace, and there wasn't enough on when he was fourth (only 7-2) at Killarney on Monday.

13/2

Form: 1

Last run: 30 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
200,000gns yearling who made an encouraging winning start to his career over 6.5f at Newbury (good) a month ago, travelling comfortably and quickening clear when shaken up; the second and third haven't done much for the form since but it was a stylish success.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(11)

18th Oct 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Iberian

9st 4lb

J: David Egan

T: Charles Hills

Group 2 winner as 2yo; threw away a golden opportunity in 6f Listed race at Doncaster in March when diving to his left inside the final furlong; well below par in the same grade last time and would be a surprise winner here, even if first-time blinkers give him a boost.

50/1

6th

5

(6)

22nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

13:20 Newmarket (July)

Iberian

9st 3lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Charles Hills

Group 2 winner as a 2yo; threw away a winning opportunity in a Listed race at Doncaster in March (6f, good to soft) when diving to his left inside the final furlong; this is easier than this summer's earlier turf assignments but he's often slowly away and he isn't one for the faint of heart.

9/2

7th

3

(2)

29th Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Goodwood

Iberian

9st 6lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Charles Hills

Lightly raced since winning 2yo Group 2 in September 2023 (7f, soft); went close in Listed race on 2025 reappearance (6f, good to soft) and respectable fifth in the Group 1 Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot (6f, good to firm) last time; however, he again looks vulnerable this afternoon.

25/1

Non-runners

Iberian

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.90
Straight Forecast £6.27
Tricast £98.31
Trifecta £59.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

City Of Troy

TOPSPEED:

Great Truth

LAMBOURN:

Iberian

POSTDATA:

Haatem

NEWMARKET:

Great Truth

The Guardian:

Great Truth

Daily Mail:

Great Truth

Daily Record:

Great Truth

The Star:

Iberian

RP RATINGS:

City Of Troy

The Times:

City Of Troy

Telegraph:

City Of Troy

Daily Mirror:

City Of Troy

The Sun:

City Of Troy

D Express:

Haatem