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
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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

4th

1

(5)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

Al Qareem

9st 7lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Uncharacteristically below par when well beaten at Chester last month and the track wasn't an excuse; four Group 3/Listed wins last year, including when making all in this under a 5lb penalty (same today), and he reappeared with a Listed win at Musselburgh in April; leading claims if back on song.

2/1

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

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

7

28th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

3m 0f 0y

18:47 Down Royal

Samui

11st 0lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Smart stayer on the Flat and nice Flat return at Killarney after 13 months off; pick of hurdles form would give him a chance, but hasn't run in this code since being beaten 8l off mark of 131 at last year's Punchestown festival; stays well on the level and might yet improve for going 3m (second try at it).

11/2

4th

3

(7)

21st Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 180y

20:20 Killarney

Samui

11st 7lb

J: Ms Hannah Smullen

T: Gordon Elliott

Smart dual-purpose sort; well suited by the race conditions; twice ran well in defeat at Royal Ascot last summer, third in the Copper Horse Handicap (1m6f, good to firm) and second in the Queen Alexandra (2m5f, good to firm); not seen since a fine second in a 1m6f Group 3 at York 13 months ago; good opportunity for Hannah Smullen if he returns in prime shape.

4/5

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

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

2nd

4

(4)

15th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 61y

Class 1

13:25 Newbury

Tabletalk

9st 8lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Tom Clover

Won the Melrose Handicap at York in August 2024; 0-10 since but runner-up in six of those races, including at York (1m6f) on last two starts in close finishes also involving Mount Atlas (who now carries a 3lb penalty); the lack of a recent win has become frustrating, particularly as he had the initiative for most of the closing stages last time, losing it in the last three strides; cheekpieces (tried once last term, runner-up) return; second to Dubai Honour in terms of form.

3/1

2nd

5

(2)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

16:55 York

Tabletalk

9st 0lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Tom Clover

Won the Melrose Handicap over C&D in August 2024; 0-9 since but he was runner-up in five of those races, including when beaten a neck in C&D Listed event four weeks ago, narrowly in front of Mount Atlas; the lack of a recent win is a touch frustrating but he's clearly a leading contender.

15/8

2nd

6

(3)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

Tabletalk

9st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Tom Clover

Won the Melrose Handicap here in 2024 (good to firm; for 3yos) and another good run over C&D (good to firm) when third in this last year, 4l behind Al Qareem; not at his best at Ascot last month following a break, and there's a suspicion he may find one or two too good even if back to his peak, but he might not be far away.

7/1

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

5th

4

24th Jul 2026

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

16:25 Uttoxeter

Maghlaak

11st 11lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Made a winning start for current yard over fences at Southwell (2m4f) in November but only eighth back hurdling in 2m7f handicap here 17 days ago; visor and tongue-tie are retried now.

50/1

8th

8

7th Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 3

15:00 Uttoxeter

Maghlaak

11st 2lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Made a winning start for this yard in a novice handicap chase last November but pulled up in his final chase and has finished last in two subsequent Flat starts; capable hurdler but hardly returns to this discipline at the top of his game.

25/1

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

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