July 11 / 16.55 York

16.55

Good To Firm

John Smith’s Silver Cup Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £56710
  • 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: Light rain

13/8 (Won)

  • Win: £3.10
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 24-223 BF

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 0lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
5yo who is an improved performer this season and registered career-best form when a close third in C&D Listed race last time, a neck behind Tabletalk; should be bang there once again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

(8)

21st Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

14:25 York

Mount Atlas

9st 5lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Close Listed third here (1m6f, good) on penultimate start and got up close home in a slowly run Group 3 over that same C&D (good to firm) on latest; he's never ventured beyond that and it's questionable whether it will suit; also needs a bit more improvement but he's regularly proved capable of that.

15/2

1st

4

(3)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

16:55 York

Mount Atlas

9st 0lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

5yo who is an improved performer this season and registered career-best form when a close third in C&D Listed race last time, a neck behind Tabletalk; should be bang there once again.

13/8

15/8

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 32-252 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 0lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
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.
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: 233-23

Last run: 56 days

W: 9st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Progressed very well last term, culminating in his close third in Group 2 Great Voltigeur here (1m4f, good to firm) in August, until not so good trying 1m6f on final outing; rallied when close second in 1m4f French Listed event on reappearance but needs to bounce back from a tame show in Newbury Group 3; tongue tied first time on this second attempt at 1m6f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(6)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

16:55 York

Arabian Force

9st 0lb

J: Jason Hart

T: William Haggas

Progressed very well last term, culminating in his close third in Group 2 Great Voltigeur here (1m4f, good to firm) in August, until not so good trying 1m6f on final outing; rallied when close second in 1m4f French Listed event on reappearance but needs to bounce back from a tame show in Newbury Group 3; tongue tied first time on this second attempt at 1m6f.

9/2

3rd

2

(1)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:25 Newbury

Arabian Force

9st 2lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Progressed very well as 3yo last term, culminating in his close third in Group 2 Great Voltigeur at York (1m4f, good to firm) in August, until not so good trying 1m6f in Listed race on final outing; always close up and rallied when close second in 1m4f Listed event at Longchamp on reappearance; may well have more to give but it is needed in today's company.

5/1

1

(8)

3rd Oct 2025

Good

1m 6f 34y

Class 1

16:05 Ascot

Arabian Force

9st 3lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Won two novice events in the spring and a late surge took him to within a nose of victory in Listed race at Hamilton (1m3f, good; unraced on softer) in July; close third of seven in Group 2 Great Voltigeur at York (1m4f, good to firm) in August, coming from the back in something of a tactical race; 1m6f looks within reach and this highly progressive colt is top on form.

11/8

Form: 4

Last run: 13 days

W: 8st 11lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won at Hexham last August in the first of her three bumpers but a Grade 2 at Aintree (125-1) proved far too tough in April; will build at some point on the modest form shown in a 9.4f maiden on her recent first venture under Flat rules, but she's impossible to fancy today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(2)

19th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 39y

Class 3

14:38 Carlisle

Peace Belle

9st 10lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Jennie Candlish

Won one of three bumpers; fourth this summer in her two races under Flat rules but there the similarity between them ends, as the first race was a AW maiden (9.4f) and the second a six-runner Group 3 at York (1m6f; 125-1); the latter was a slowly run affair but she came from last and was one of the fastest finishers, so a high rating should not be laughed out of court.

2/5

4th

6

(4)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

16:55 York

Peace Belle

8st 11lb

J: William Pyle

T: Jennie Candlish

Won at Hexham last August in the first of her three bumpers but a Grade 2 at Aintree (125-1) proved far too tough in April; will build at some point on the modest form shown in a 9.4f maiden on her recent first venture under Flat rules, but she's impossible to fancy today.

100/1

4th

2

(3)

28th Jun 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 4

14:05 Wolverhampton (AW)

Peace Belle

9st 11lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Jennie Candlish

Won at Hexham last August in the first of her three bumpers but a Grade 2 at Aintree (125-1; always behind) proved far too tough in April on final outing; a 9.4f maiden may not look the most promising fit at first glance for her first venture under Flat rules but this looks a weak race.

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: 255346 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 0lb

7 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
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.
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

25/1

Form: 51-157

Last run: 44 days

W: 9st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Eight AW wins, two last winter in 2m handicaps; however, he failed to beat a rival in Group 3 at Sandown (2m, good) on turf return, has tons to prove on turf record (0-5) and even best AW form does not look good enough.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

1

(16)

19th Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

16:10 York

Duke Of Oxford

9st 12lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Michael Bell

Eight AW wins, two last winter in 2m handicaps; however, he has tons to prove on turf record (0-7) and even best AW form does not look good enough; reportedly lame after losing right-hind shoe when tailed off 19 days ago.

66/1

15th

2

(7)

31st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 4f 137y

Class 2

13:50 Goodwood

Duke Of Oxford

9st 11lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Michael Bell

Eight AW wins, two last winter in 2m handicaps; however, he has tons to prove on turf record (0-6) and even best AW form does not look good enough.

20/1

6th

2

(1)

11th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

16:55 York

Duke Of Oxford

9st 0lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Michael Bell

Eight AW wins, two last winter in 2m handicaps; however, he failed to beat a rival in Group 3 at Sandown (2m, good) on turf return, has tons to prove on turf record (0-5) and even best AW form does not look good enough.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.30
Straight Forecast £6.10
Trifecta £10.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Tabletalk

NEWMARKET:

Arabian Force

Telegraph:

Epic Poet

RP RATINGS:

Mount Atlas

Daily Mail:

Arabian Force

D Express:

Arabian Force

Daily Mirror:

Arabian Force

TOPSPEED:

Tabletalk

POSTDATA:

Tabletalk

The Times:

Tabletalk

The Guardian:

Tabletalk

The Sun:

Tabletalk

Daily Record:

Tabletalk

The Star:

Epic Poet