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

16th

13

(6)

20th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:40 Ascot

Sajir

9st 5lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: A Fabre

Won the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville (6.5f, good) last August; kicked off this season with two odds-on Listed defeats but won Group 3 at Chantilly (5f, good) latest; could be in the mix if at the top of his game.

12/1

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

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

10th

1

(4)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

15:25 Newmarket (July)

Royal Zabeel

10st 3lb

J: Conor Whiteley

T: Michael Appleby

Respectable fifth in this year's Victoria Cup; prevailed last Saturday to take C&D record to 2-2 and overall strike-rate to 7-23; incurs 6lb penalty but Conor Whiteley takes off a useful 5lb; major player.

8/1

1st

3

(7)

4th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

16:25 Newmarket (July)

Royal Zabeel

9st 12lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Michael Appleby

Down the field in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot (6f, good to firm) but was on the unfavoured far side and prior to that he ran well when fifth of 21 in the Victoria Cup there (7f, good); won over C&D last August; chance.

6/1

20th

10

(3)

20th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Royal Zabeel

9st 6lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Michael Appleby

A strike-rate of 4-7 on AW includes two Listed wins, at 7f and 6f; not quite so good on grass as yet but he has a 7lb lower turf mark and indicated he could make it pay when an excellent fifth in the big-field Victoria Cup over 7f here (good; has won on good to firm) in May, not ideally positioned there as it turned out; one to consider back at 6f.

18/1

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

14th

23

(31)

20th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Apollo One

9st 1lb

J: Christophe Soumillon

T: P Charalambous & J Clutterbuck

Has contested three of the last four runnings, doing best when runner-up in 2023 (good to firm; also won a Group 3 over C&D on soft); has been a fine stalwart in other top sprint handicaps, including when only just losing out in the 2024 Portland at Doncaster on sole attempt for Christophe Soumillon; it's hard to ignore one with his history at this level.

25/1

9th

5

(13)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 6f 3y

Class 2

17:55 Epsom

Apollo One

9st 6lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: P Charalambous & J Clutterbuck

Acts on any ground; ran okay behind younger rivals at Newmarket last time; losing run is mounting up but he has been placed in this race twice, finishing second in 2023 and third in 2024; again has each-way hopes.

8/1

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

+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