August 16 / 13.50 Newbury

13.50

Good To Firm

Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £51039
  • 1m 5f 61y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
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Highclere Thoroughbred Racing Geoffrey Freer Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.50
  • Place: £3.10

Form: 2-1525 C

Last run: 37 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
3yo who won his maiden here in April and showed easily his best form when second in the Group 2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot (1m6f, good to firm) in June; has a chance on that but he needs to bounce back from a flop in 1m5f Newmarket Group 3 (made most) five weeks ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18th

4

(16)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Soft

1m 5f 188y

Class 2

15:35 York

Furthur

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Seemed to be going places when he won a Group 3 at Newbury (1m5f, good to firm) last August, followed by a respectable sixth on soft ground in the St Leger, but he's been disappointing this term; headgear goes on.

25/1

4th

2

(3)

3rd Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Furthur

9st 2lb

J: James Doyle

T: Andrew Balding

Both wins have been at Newbury, in a maiden over 1m3f last April and a Group 3 over 1m5f (good to firm) last August; respectable sixth in the St Leger in September but he's been below that level in all four starts since, including when beating only Duke Of Oxford home over this C&D in May; drops back to 2m having contested the Gold Cup two weeks ago.

5/1

10th

8

(6)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 1

16:15 Ascot

Furthur

9st 3lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Andrew Balding

Second to Carmers in bunched finish to 1m6f Queen's Vase here last year and impressive in Group 3 at Newbury (1m5f, again good to firm) last August; he's been put firmly in his place on all four outings since, however, beaten just over 4l behind Scandinavia and Rahiebb in the St Leger at Doncaster on first occasion, which was creditable, but singularly underwhelming this season in Yorkshire Cup and 2m Sandown Group 3; needs a huge turnaround.

66/1

3/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 132320

Last run: 56 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
In fine form this year over 1m6f-2m at Meydan and in Saudi Arabia and continued the good work when staying on for a close second in a slowly run Group 2 Yorkshire Cup (1m6f, good to firm) in May; no show when 25-1 at Royal Ascot (1m4f) on latest outing but shouldn't be far away in this lesser race if there's a decent pace to aim at.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

2

(7)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Soft

1m 5f 188y

Class 2

15:35 York

Epic Poet

9st 11lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Not proven on worse than good to soft; fourth in this race in 2024; 7yo who is 0-13 since winning at Meydan in January 2025; has run really well in plenty of Group races in the interim, including the last two runnings of the Yorkshire Cup over C&D, but he ran a stinker in C&D Listed event in June and also disappointed here on latest start; big questions to answer after that.

50/1

5th

3

(5)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

16:55 York

Epic Poet

9st 0lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

7yo who is 0-12 since winning at Meydan in January 2025; has run really well in plenty of Group races in the interim, including the last two runnings of the Yorkshire Cup over C&D, but he ran a stinker in C&D Listed event four weeks ago; bang there if he bounces straight back.

6/1

6th

2

(1)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:00 York

Epic Poet

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: David O’Meara

0-11 since winning at Meydan last January but he has run really well in Group races in the interim, including the last two runnings of the Yorkshire Cup over C&D; drops into a Listed race today and could be bang there.

7/2

Form: 14-013

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
7yo who's been lightly raced in recent years; won one Listed race last May (made all) and another at Beverley (1m4f, good to firm) this July before his respectable, front-running third of five in Group 3 at Goodwood two weeks ago; there's a stamina query (after two attempts at 1m6f in 2022) and he may well need to show his best form for nearly two years.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(5)

6th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 1

13:35 Kempton (AW)

Candleford

9st 7lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: William Haggas

Ran respectably in Group 3 events the last twice; creditable second in this race two years ago but faces a difficult task on ratings today and has never won above Listed level.

25/1

3rd

2

(1)

16th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 5f 61y

Class 1

13:50 Newbury

Candleford

9st 7lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

7yo who's been lightly raced in recent years; won one Listed race last May (made all) and another at Beverley (1m4f, good to firm) this July before his respectable, front-running third of five in Group 3 at Goodwood two weeks ago; there's a stamina query (after two attempts at 1m6f in 2022) and he may well need to show his best form for nearly two years.

7/2

3rd

4

(1)

2nd Aug 2025

Soft

1m 3f 218y

Class 1

13:20 Goodwood

Candleford

9st 3lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

7yo who's been lightly raced in recent years; has never raced on soft and not seen on good to soft since he was a bit below his best in this race in 2023; won one Listed race last May (made all) and another four weeks ago but he probably needs to return to 2023 form if he's to be competitive today.

5/1

Form: 3-1382

Last run: 37 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
100-1 for the Derby at Epsom (1m4f, good) but showed improvement in making late headway from the back to finish eighth of 18 runners; again stuck to his task well when creditable second of five to a very classy winner in Group 3 at Newmarket (1m5f, good to firm) and this lightly raced 3yo could still prove capable of better; considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

8

(14)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

13:50 Goodwood

Nightime Dancer

9st 4lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Contested three Group races last summer; it's been 1m4f handicaps (good to firm) this season, registering his highest rating when fourth of eight at Newmarket in May but two disappointing shows at Ascot have followed; blinkered latest; stays at least 1m5f (unraced over this far) and he's 6lb lower than at Newmarket, but some caution is advised at present.

20/1

7th

1

(1)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

16:12 Ascot

Nightime Dancer

10st 2lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Contested three Group races last summer; 1m4f handicaps (good to firm) this season, registering his highest rating when fourth of eight at Newmarket in May but backpedalling from over 3f out when just 9-1 at Royal Ascot; needs to bounce back in first-time headgear but his sights are lowered.

9/2

14th

7

(18)

19th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:40 Ascot

Nightime Dancer

9st 9lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Richard Hannon

Ran creditably last summer in the Derby and two 1m5f Group 3s, while coming up well short; absent 259 days before his fourth of eight on handicap debut at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm; Hopewell Rock third) seven weeks ago, which was actually his best form and the first two also dominated a 1m6f handicap here on Tuesday, but he needs to build on that.

14/1

2/1

Form: 51-481

Last run: 22 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Co-favourite for the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot (1m6f, good to firm) but came eighth, with Furthur 4l ahead in second; evens with these cheekpieces enlisted for a five-runner handicap back at Ascot (1m4f, good) three weeks ago and this time he lived up to market expectations, leading over 1f out to win by just over 5l despite racing a bit freely early on; that much improved form makes him look a strong contender for this 1m5f Group 3.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(5)

26th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Pinhole

9st 0lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Ralph Beckett

Impressive in small-field handicap at Ascot (1m4f, good) in July; soundly beaten when fifth of six in Group 3 at Newbury (13.2f, good to firm) since but this lightly raced 3yo is not written off in view of the Ascot promise.

7/1

5th

6

(5)

16th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 5f 61y

Class 1

13:50 Newbury

Pinhole

8st 12lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Ralph Beckett

Co-favourite for the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot (1m6f, good to firm) but came eighth, with Furthur 4l ahead in second; evens with these cheekpieces enlisted for a five-runner handicap back at Ascot (1m4f, good) three weeks ago and this time he lived up to market expectations, leading over 1f out to win by just over 5l despite racing a bit freely early on; that much improved form makes him look a strong contender for this 1m5f Group 3.

2/1

1st

4

(3)

25th Jul 2025

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:35 Ascot

Pinhole

9st 9lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Fourth in a strong Chester Vase (1m4f) on reappearance; performed below market expectations in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot (1m6f) since but again ran well on bare figures and although raised 5lb he dips into calmer waters in this handicap; raced only four times and still has potential; respected, assuming he takes well to first-time headgear.

10/11

OUR TIP

Form: 5-4484

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Free-going sort; placed in 2024 Derby and Irish Derby for James Fanshawe; ended that campaign out of form, however, and it's been the same for new yard this season; gelded before latest start, in which he finished nearly 2l behind Candleford at Goodwood off level weights; needs a revival.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

(8)

29th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 99y

Class 1

18:30 Windsor

Ambiente Friendly

9st 7lb

J: George Wood

T: James Owen

It's been some fall from grace since he finished placed in two Derbys as a 3yo, with his only subsequent win coming over hurdles; very opposable.

33/1

6th

7

(2)

31st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 11y

Class 2

16:10 Goodwood

Ambiente Friendly

9st 7lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: James Owen

Runner-up in the Derby in 2024 but nothing like the same force now; after a stint over hurdles he was comfortably beaten in a handicap at Royal Ascot last month; hard to fancy.

66/1

8th

2

(12)

19th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:40 Ascot

Ambiente Friendly

9st 12lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: James Owen

His second in the 2024 Derby is feeling pretty distant now and on latest outing he was second of four in a handicap hurdle at Fakenham; hooded throughout that hurdles campaign and sometimes on Flat, but that is now replaced by cheekpieces; this is also his first ever Flat handicap.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £29.00
Straight Forecast £25.44
Trifecta £126.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Pinhole

TOPSPEED:

Furthur

D Express:

Nightime Dancer

NEWMARKET:

Ambiente Friendly

The Times:

Epic Poet

Telegraph:

Candleford

RP RATINGS:

Pinhole

The Guardian:

Pinhole

Daily Mail:

Pinhole

Daily Mirror:

Pinhole

The Sun:

Pinhole

POSTDATA:

Furthur

Daily Record:

Nightime Dancer

The Star:

Ambiente Friendly