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

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

6th

3

(5)

9th Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 100y

Class 1

15:00 Haydock

Haatem

9st 7lb

J: James Doyle

T: Richard Hannon

Gave a typically tenacious display to win 16-runner Listed race at Royal Ascot in June on his first crack at 1m2f; respectable, running-on third back over 1m for Group 2 there four weeks ago, so it looks as if about 1m2f is indeed his trip these days and he looks set for a bold show.

3/1

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

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

5th

5

(8)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 7f 3y

Class 1

13:30 Epsom

Never So Brave

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Merely mid-division in the Group 1 QEII at Ascot (1m, good) last October and again below his best on reappearance at Sandown (1m, good) in April; however, he pulled hard last time and holds leading claims if rediscovering the form of his Group 1 City Of York win (7f, good to firm) last August; mixed messages in his form regarding the suitability of slow ground.

5/4

5th

6

(4)

24th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Never So Brave

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Did very well (3-5) last season for new stable, completing a notable summer hat-trick (7f/1m, good to firm) that culminated in Group 1 success at York; not disgraced from unfavourable draw in the QEII on final outing; may rate higher still and looks likely to go well.

13/2

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

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

8th

8

(7)

25th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

12:45 Newmarket (July)

Nostrum

9st 3lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

Finished third in the 2022 Dewhurst; getting on for three years since his last win but he ran well for second at Sandown (1m, good) on his penultimate start; front-running fifth of 15 at Newbury two week ago; new cheekpieces need to spark something extra.

12/1

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

4th

1

(1)

14th May 2026

Good

0m 7f 192y

Class 2

14:55 York

Point Lynas

9st 12lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Edward Bethell

Below best on final two starts last season and same story on sole run this term, in Qatar in February; also has a hefty mark to defy but this front-runner was a fine second under an enterprising ride in a Group 2 at Ascot last July and has a strong record here, finishing second in this race in 2023 and winning it in 2024; capable of very bold bid from the inside stall.

14/1

5

(4)

27th Jul 2025

Good

1m 0f 6y

Class 1

14:55 Pontefract

Point Lynas

9st 7lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Edward Bethell

Good second in Ascot Group 2 last time, collared only late having raced in clear lead for long way; made all for emphatic success in this race 12 months ago (good to firm) and commands respect back here.

6/4

6

(1)

12th Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 213y

Class 1

14:22 Ascot

Point Lynas

9st 3lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Edward Bethell

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.

20/1

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