July 12 / 15.45 York

15.45

Good

John Smith’s Silver Cup Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £48203.5
  • 1m 5f 188y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
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John Smith’s Silver Cup Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sunny

OUR TIP

6/4 (Won)

  • Win: £1.58
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 4-3121 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Hugely admirable 6yo who was second in this last year and has won two Listed races this year, most recently making all in fine style over C&D (good to firm) four weeks ago; has won three Group races in his career; should take plenty of beating.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(8)

7th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:05 Chester

Al Qareem

9st 5lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Justified favouritism in Listed grade at Musselburgh (1m6f, soft) on seasonal debut, making it five wins from his last nine starts and taking overall record to 13-36; Chester record reads 112, most recently running creditably in this race 12 months ago; again likely to give his running.

9/1

1st

1

(5)

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 1

14:30 Musselburgh

Al Qareem

9st 7lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Front-runner who keeps pulling out more, with 12 wins; the four last season (April-October) included career-best form; unraced here; has never won first time out but he has run creditably and is the clear form pick.

4/5

1

(5)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 209y

Class 1

12:55 Ascot

Al Qareem

9st 9lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Front-running 6yo who keeps pulling out more, with 12 wins now to his credit, including three of his four starts at Ascot; latest was over 1m4f two weeks ago, with three 1m6f wins earlier this season; he's never been at his best over this far, admittedly with stiff tasks but it's hard to ignore that Trawlerman gave him 3lb and a comprehensive beating at York in August.

12/1

6/1

  • Place: £3.80

Form: 20-532

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Twice ran well in defeat at Royal Ascot last month, finishing third in the Copper Horse Handicap (1m6f, good to firm) and second in the Queen Alexandra (2m5f, good to firm; albeit no match for the winner); could give a good account but needs others to underperform if he's to come out on top.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(6)

12th Jul 2025

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:45 York

Samui

9st 0lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Gordon Elliott

Twice ran well in defeat at Royal Ascot last month, finishing third in the Copper Horse Handicap (1m6f, good to firm) and second in the Queen Alexandra (2m5f, good to firm; albeit no match for the winner); could give a good account but needs others to underperform if he's to come out on top.

6/1

3

(7)

21st Jun 2025

Good To Firm

2m 5f 143y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Samui

9st 4lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Gordon Elliott

Proven in this headgear; pays his way under both codes and, if able to reproduce his effort here on Tuesday when hitting the line well for third in the 1m6f Copper Horse Stakes (good to firm), then he won't be far away on these favourable terms; the grey areas are inconsistency and the extra 7f (he did run over 3m over jumps) but he's one of only a few with realistic ambitions of winning.

11/2

3

(5)

17th Jun 2025

Good

1m 6f 34y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Samui

9st 9lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Gordon Elliott

In rude health last summer, including when second off this mark in competitive handicap at York (2m, good to firm); won over hurdles in January but his form has been mixed since across both codes; below best back on Flat last time.

20/1

9/4

Form: 15-226 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Won the Melrose 3yo Handicap over C&D (good to firm) last August and kicked off this campaign with two very creditable second placings in Group 3 races at Newbury (1m4f, good/good to firm); respectable sixth in Group 2 Hardwicke at Royal Ascot (1m4f, good to firm) last time and the drop back in grade and step back up in trip could both be positive moves; strong contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

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

4

(7)

30th Aug 2025

Good

1m 6f 87y

Class 1

14:40 Chester

Tabletalk

9st 8lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Tom Clover

First run here; 1m6f Melrose Handicap winner at York last August who's raised his game again in defeat in Group races this year; leading player provided the first-time headgear does not have an adverse effect; below form both starts when the ground was softer than good.

7/4

3rd

6

(3)

12th Jul 2025

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:45 York

Tabletalk

9st 0lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Tom Clover

Won the Melrose 3yo Handicap over C&D (good to firm) last August and kicked off this campaign with two very creditable second placings in Group 3 races at Newbury (1m4f, good/good to firm); respectable sixth in Group 2 Hardwicke at Royal Ascot (1m4f, good to firm) last time and the drop back in grade and step back up in trip could both be positive moves; strong contender.

9/4

Form: 5-7358

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Won last season's Northumberland Plate (2m, AW) and also a Group 3 handicap in Australia (1m4f, good) last October; some fair efforts in Meydan earlier this year, and also in the Northumberland Plate a fortnight ago following a break, but he needs to raise his game to take this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

19th

8

(1)

23rd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 2

15:35 York

Onesmoothoperator

9st 8lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

Won the 2024 Northumberland Plate (2m, AW) and also a Group 3 handicap in Australia (1m4f, good) last October; usually held up and he came from the back when seventh of 20 in this race last year; whether he's well enough handicapped to win this time round remains to be seen but he's shown enough in his two British starts this summer to demand each-way respect.

28/1

4th

3

(1)

12th Jul 2025

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:45 York

Onesmoothoperator

9st 0lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

Won last season's Northumberland Plate (2m, AW) and also a Group 3 handicap in Australia (1m4f, good) last October; some fair efforts in Meydan earlier this year, and also in the Northumberland Plate a fortnight ago following a break, but he needs to raise his game to take this.

12/1

8th

1

(7)

28th Jun 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

15:15 Newcastle (AW)

Onesmoothoperator

9st 12lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Brian Ellison

Usually runs well at Newcastle, where he won this race last year in good style; took a big prize in Australia last October and struck up a solid sequence over the winter; absent 119 days and 12lb higher than 12 months ago, which surely demands a career best, but needs respect.

10/1

Form: 99-428 BF

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 0lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Went close in handicap here (1m4f, good to firm) in May; unplaced on the Flat and over hurdles the next twice; even on his best form he has bundles to find in today's company; change of headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(3)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 27y

Class 4

19:52 Pontefract

Maghlaak

9st 8lb

J: Kyle McHugh

T: Mark Walford

Made a winning start for this yard in a novice handicap chase at Southwell (2m4f, soft) last November; finished a long way behind Sea Of Kings at Doncaster on his return to the Flat four weeks ago; others appeal more.

12/1

6th

3

(1)

25th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 197y

Class 4

19:15 Doncaster

Maghlaak

9st 8lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Mark Walford

Ended his time with Adrian Keatley below par last autumn but a winner over fences at Southwell for his new yard before being pulled up at Market Rasen in December; needs to bounce back after a layoff.

16/1

Form: 15121- D

Last run: 281 days

W: 9st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Made it four wins from his eight starts when landing a Listed race at Ascot (1m6f, soft) last October; has also won on fast ground; returns from an absence but he's in good hands to continue to progress and it will be no surprise if this 4yo has a part to play now up in grade on his comeback.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(12)

3rd May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:55 Newmarket

Subsequent

9st 12lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Excellent 3yo season culminated in his Listed win at Ascot (1m6f, soft) and, after a delayed reappearance last year, he found career-best form to win a good handicap at Doncaster (14.5f, good to soft; tongue tied second time) in September on final outing; the Yorkshire Cup and Ascot Gold Cup entries are striking but ideally he would be on ground softer than good.

5/1

1st

1

(11)

12th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 6f 115y

Class 2

13:15 Doncaster

Subsequent

9st 12lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Sometimes slowly away; 4-8 last year, culminating in his Listed win at Ascot (1m6f, soft) in October; not seen this term until July and back to form when a creditable, staying-on ninth of 22 at 40-1 in the Ebor at York (1m6f, good to firm; tongue tied first time) three weeks ago; down 2lb and a return to more testing ground may well suit.

11/2

9th

9

(12)

23rd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 2

15:35 York

Subsequent

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Sometimes slowly away; 4-8 last year, culminating in his Listed win at Ascot (1m6f, soft) in October; he's not shown nearly enough on either start this season (not seen until July) and now has tongue tied first time.

40/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.50
Straight Forecast £12.50
Trifecta £15.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Al Qareem

TOPSPEED:

Tabletalk

LAMBOURN:

Subsequent

POSTDATA:

Tabletalk

NEWMARKET:

Tabletalk

The Times:

Tabletalk

Telegraph:

Tabletalk

The Guardian:

Tabletalk

RP RATINGS:

Al Qareem

Daily Mail:

Al Qareem

D Express:

Al Qareem

Daily Mirror:

Al Qareem

The Sun:

Al Qareem

The Star:

Al Qareem

Daily Record:

Al Qareem