July 12 / 14.22 Ascot

14.22

Good

Cornish Orchards Summer Mile Stakes (Group 2)

  • Prize money: £79394
  • 0m 7f 213y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
View Course
Cornish Orchards Summer Mile Stakes (Group 2)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 30-211

Last run: 56 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced and all good since joining Denis Quinn, following up his maiden win in a Class 3 handicap at Newmarket (7f, good to firm); stepping up to 1m isn't overly discouraging but this huge rise in class most definitely is; wears a tongue-strap for the first time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(9)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

15:25 Newmarket (July)

Dark Tornado

9st 5lb

J: J F Egan

T: Michael Wigham

Has gained both handicap wins off a mark of 90, including when beating Aalto over C&D (good to firm) latest start; could go well but needs a career-best performance to defy a penalty; 1lb badly in.

16/1

1st

6

(9)

25th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

12:45 Newmarket (July)

Dark Tornado

9st 4lb

J: J F Egan

T: Michael Wigham

Promising stable debut in the race won by Superposition last month but he hasn't built on it in either start since; due to be 2lb lower from the weekend; others look stronger.

33/1

8th

5

(1)

19th Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

19:45 Newmarket (July)

Dark Tornado

10st 2lb

J: J F Egan

T: Michael Wigham

Made it two wins in a row when scoring off this mark on handicap debut on the other Newmarket course (7f, good to firm) last May; however, has to produce more than he's managed on his two runs this term; visor goes on.

20/1

Form: 21-541 C

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Quality 3yo who was placed in two Guineas before winning the Group 3 Jersey at Royal Ascot that ended up his last run of the season; below par in his first two runs of this campaign (behind Quddwah in France) but got himself back in the good books with a typically tenacious display in winning the 1m2f Listed Wolferton back here; dropping back to 1m is of no concern; strong claims.
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

Form: 720-21 C

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Only sixth behind Haatem in last year's Jersey at Royal Ascot but looks closer to the finished article now (gelded in November) as it was a career best by some margin when an emphatic winner of a 7f handicap back at this year's Royal meeting; it could be onward and upwards and it's hard to believe that he won't stay a mile.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

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

2nd

3

(5)

27th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 1

14:58 York

Never So Brave

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

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).

4/5

Form: /628-8 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Had some flashes of smart form for Sir Michael Stoute whom he left for 120,000gns; made a disappointing start for this yard in a Group 3 at York and this is a tough race in which to bounce back; the hood is new.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

2

(6)

30th Aug 2026

Soft

1m 0f 100y

Class 4

15:20 Beverley

Nostrum

9st 9lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Michael Appleby

Has been a smart performer on his day and his second of seven at Sandown (1m, good) in May was encouraging, but he has gone backwards from that; has run with credit on soft ground, but losing run now up to 17 and best watched for now.

8/1

13th

8

(7)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 11y

Class 3

17:20 Goodwood

Nostrum

9st 8lb

J: Jason Hart

T: Michael Appleby

Extremely well handicapped on his old form; it appeared to bode very well for this campaign when he was runner-up at Sandown in May on his second stable start, but he's failed to kick on and has something to prove.

25/1

11th

12

(3)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

15:25 Newmarket (July)

Nostrum

8st 13lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Michael Appleby

Broadly disappointing since proving smart in his early days; form for new yard includes a couple of encouraging efforts but he dropped away rather tamely over C&D (race won by Dark Tornado) last time.

20/1

Form: 01-284 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Often leads, as was the case when well clear at one stage before finishing close up in a 1m Group 3 at Chantilly a month ago; that was bordering on his best form and he could outrun his odds if getting loose on the lead.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

8

(4)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 177y

Class 1

13:50 York

Point Lynas

9st 7lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Edward Bethell

Slow ground would be a worry (non-runner due to unsuitable good to soft here on Thursday) and he's unraced over this far; however, this front-runner has an extremely solid record in 1m handicaps here and was a Group 2 runner-up at Ascot (1m) last July; capable of bold bid if conditions suit.

16/1

2nd

3

(3)

26th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 6y

Class 1

16:00 Pontefract

Point Lynas

9st 7lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Edward Bethell

Front-runner; successful in this race in 2024 but that wide-margin win represents his last victory; solid fourth in a good York handicap in May; should be in the thick of it.

9/4

Form: 5210-5 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Group 2 winner over 1m on soft ground last autumn when having only his fifth race; perhaps found 7f on the sharp side when well held in a Group 3 at York on his return; joint top-rated of these on BHA figures so shouldn't be underestimated.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(4)

15th Apr 2026

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Newmarket

Prague

9st 2lb

J: Jack Gilligan

T: Dylan Cunha

Announced himself when winning Group 2 here (1m, soft) in September 2024 but 0-8 since and he's become a little tricky to place; had wind surgery in December, which might help, but he's at the bottom of the list on RPRs.

16/1

5th

5

(4)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 75y

Class 1

14:47 Nottingham

Prague

9st 4lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Dylan Cunha

Group 2 winner (1m, soft) last autumn; has failed to repeat that form but none of his 2025 races (80-1 in the Champion Stakes 11 days ago) were on softer than good, so he could be of renewed interest.

5/1

5th

5

(4)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 0f 75y

Class 1

14:47 Nottingham

Prague

9st 4lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: Dylan Cunha

Group 2 winner (1m, soft) last autumn; has failed to repeat that form but none of his 2025 races (80-1 in the Champion Stakes 11 days ago) were on softer than good, so he could be of renewed interest.

5/1

Non-runners

My Cloud, Quddwah

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £22.60
Straight Forecast £26.44
Tricast £38.88
Trifecta £36.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Never So Brave

POSTDATA:

Haatem

NEWMARKET:

Quddwah

The Star:

Prague

RP RATINGS:

Never So Brave

TOPSPEED:

Never So Brave

LAMBOURN:

Never So Brave

The Times:

Never So Brave

The Guardian:

Never So Brave

The Sun:

Never So Brave

Telegraph:

Haatem

Daily Mail:

Haatem

D Express:

Haatem

Daily Mirror:

Haatem

Daily Record:

Haatem