April 18 / 14.35 Newbury

14.35

Good

Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (Registered As The John Porter Stakes) (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £53874.5
  • 1m 4f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
View Course
Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (Registered As The John Porter Stakes) (Group 3)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

7/4 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £2.50

Form: 32117- D BF

Last run: 161 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Pipped in the Deutsches Derby (1m4f) last July before landing a 1m4f Group 3 at Leopardstown and 1m3f Group 2 at Longchamp; flopped on soft ground on final start but he should not face that here and, despite giving weight all round, could be on the premises if resuming on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(4)

9th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket (July)

Convergent

9st 8lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Tailed off in the mud in his Group 1 attempts last November and last month, latterly in the Coronation Cup at Epsom; progressive otherwise, including two Group wins last autumn and another at Newbury (1m4f, good; Tenability a close third) this April; that Newbury performance makes him a serious contender on form but he's not raced on ground firmer than good.

2/1

5th

3

(3)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

14:40 Epsom

Convergent

9st 2lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Scored on soft ground on debut; flopped in the German race won by Bay City Roller but otherwise progressive and overcame trouble to defy a Group 2 penalty in Group 3 contest at Newbury (1m4f, good) on seasonal debut, taking record to 5-8; about 3l behind Lambourn at Chester last term but is now in the same ball park as that opponent on ratings, with a chance of further improvement to boot; adds great interest to this race.

13/2

5/2

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 47159- CD BF

Last run: 175 days

W: 9st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Held up; eight Group 3 wins are already in the bag, including this race in 2021 (his only appearance in it); has a slightly mixed reappearance record but he was almost as good as ever with his two wins last term, including first time out, and a return to that level would make this 9yo the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(6)

4th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 23y

Class 1

16:02 Beverley

Al Aasy

9st 2lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

Dual Group 3 scorer at Sandown (1m2f) and Goodwood (1m4f) in 2025; resumed from six months off with a very good second of six in Newbury's John Porter Stakes in April so this veteran looks the one to beat dropped into Listed company here.

8/13

2nd

3

(5)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:35 Newbury

Al Aasy

9st 2lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Held up; eight Group 3 wins are already in the bag, including this race in 2021 (his only appearance in it); has a slightly mixed reappearance record but he was almost as good as ever with his two wins last term, including first time out, and a return to that level would make this 9yo the one to beat.

5/2

9th

1

(4)

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Al Aasy

9st 9lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: William Haggas

4-8 at Newbury but he was a below-form third in this race last year on heavy going (acts on soft); Sandown in April and Glorious Goodwood in August made it eight Group 3 wins now in total; held up as usual in Ireland last time but he did not get run of the race; the chance of heavy ground is far more of a concern but he has a leading form chance if the ground is okay.

11/2

Form: 11112- D

Last run: 196 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Won a novice and three Ascot 1m4f handicaps on varied ground last June-September; creditable second of five in Ascot Group 3 on final outing; none of that form is near what should be required to win this race but he brings potential starting this second season.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

(1)

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 3f 218y

Class 1

16:45 Goodwood

Tenability

9st 3lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

Won a novice and three Ascot 1m4f handicaps on varied ground last June-September; pipped a below-form Hamish for second in Ascot Group 3 on final outing last year and resumed his progress when he reappeared with a close third in Newbury Group 3 (1m4f, good) in April; that puts him into very serious contention today.

15/8

3rd

7

(3)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:35 Newbury

Tenability

9st 2lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: William Haggas

Won a novice and three Ascot 1m4f handicaps on varied ground last June-September; creditable second of five in Ascot Group 3 on final outing; none of that form is near what should be required to win this race but he brings potential starting this second season.

14/1

Form: /615-6 D

Last run: 63 days

W: 9st 2lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Not discredited in Qatar in February on latest outing and in the mix judged on peak efforts, including a Newmarket Listed win (1m4f) last September; however, there are also plenty of lesser shows to be considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(3)

1st May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:30 Newmarket

Lions Pride

9st 5lb

J: Benoit De La Sayette

T: John & Thady Gosden

7l Listed win over C&D (good to firm) last September; there are also plenty of lesser shows to be considered and, after he was not discredited in Qatar in February, he managed only fourth of six when favourite for Group 3 at Newbury 13 days ago; in the mix on peak efforts.

7/2

4th

5

(2)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:35 Newbury

Lions Pride

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: John & Thady Gosden

Not discredited in Qatar in February on latest outing and in the mix judged on peak efforts, including a Newmarket Listed win (1m4f) last September; however, there are also plenty of lesser shows to be considered.

3/1

1st

6

(3)

26th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Lions Pride

9st 7lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Listed winner at Kempton (1m4f, AW) in November 2023 but didn't kick on from that in light campaign last year and soundly beaten at Kempton (1m4f, AW) in April on his sole run this season; has to get back to his peak.

12/1

Form: /5169- D

Last run: 301 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Won Group 2 at Newmarket (1m4f, good) last May in first-time cheekpieces, which were kept for two modest efforts in June but not today; first run since a gelding operation in September; ring-rusty on his 2025 reappearance in this race and the market may reveal whether the same is expected this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(5)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:45 Newmarket

Bellum Justum

10st 0lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Seemingly ring-rusty on Group 3 return at Newbury two weeks ago, the same story as in 2025 when he followed that race with a win at this meeting in a four-runner 1m4f Group 2 with first-time cheekpieces; they were kept for two modest efforts last June but have not been called on this season; this is his first handicap and he has a big chance if springing back to his best.

7/1

5th

4

(7)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:35 Newbury

Bellum Justum

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Won Group 2 at Newmarket (1m4f, good) last May in first-time cheekpieces, which were kept for two modest efforts in June but not today; first run since a gelding operation in September; ring-rusty on his 2025 reappearance in this race and the market may reveal whether the same is expected this time.

12/1

9th

3

(9)

21st Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Bellum Justum

9st 3lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Displayed improved form in first-time cheekpieces (retained since) when winning the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket (1m4f, good) last month; flopped in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom subsequently but was reportedly unsuited by the good to soft ground; he could be just the type of older horse his trainer excels with and he's not ruled out.

25/1

Form: 71-191 C

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 5lb

7 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Four Listed wins before he added a 1m4f Group 3 success in Bahrain 15 days ago; stacks of smart form in his lengthy career and none of it better than that latest start, but a bit extra will be needed to win this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

8

(5)

20th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Phantom Flight

9st 3lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: George Scott

Enhanced his good strike-rate in Bahrain with Group 3 success in April; weakened into last of six (well below par) at Newbury since and it's nearly two years since he last prevailed on home soil; doubts are cemented by this difficult assignment back up in grade.

66/1

6th

2

(6)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:35 Newbury

Phantom Flight

9st 5lb

J: William Buick

T: George Scott

Four Listed wins before he added a 1m4f Group 3 success in Bahrain 15 days ago; stacks of smart form in his lengthy career and none of it better than that latest start, but a bit extra will be needed to win this.

9/1

Non-runners

Pride Of Arras

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.90
Straight Forecast £17.40
Trifecta £96.00

Selections

The Times:

Pride Of Arras

SPOTLIGHT:

Al Aasy

POSTDATA:

Lion's Pride

NEWMARKET:

Tenability

Daily Mail:

Convergent

Telegraph:

Pride Of Arras

The Guardian:

Pride Of Arras

D Express:

Pride Of Arras

The Star:

Pride Of Arras

Daily Record:

Pride Of Arras

The Sun:

Lion's Pride

RP RATINGS:

Al Aasy

TOPSPEED:

Al Aasy

Daily Mirror:

Al Aasy