Today / 14.25 Newbury

14.25

Good To Firm

Pertemps Network Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

  • Prize money: £30924
  • 2m 0f 110y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
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Pertemps Network Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sunny

Form: 40-630

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 12lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Only 1-10 for Dermot Weld but was highly tried on occasions; made most from wide draw in major handicaps on both starts for Richard Hughes, reeled in late on when third in the Chester Cup (2m2f, good) but backpedalling before the home straight at Royal Ascot (1m6f, good to firm); big shout if he reverts to the Chester performance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(7)

18th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 110y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Duraji

9st 12lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Richard Hughes

Only 1-10 for Dermot Weld but was highly tried on occasions; made most from wide draw in major handicaps on both starts for Richard Hughes, reeled in late on when third in the Chester Cup (2m2f, good) but backpedalling before the home straight at Royal Ascot (1m6f, good to firm); big shout if he reverts to the Chester performance.

16/1

15th

13

(17)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 34y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Duraji

9st 9lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Richard Hughes

Only 1-10 for Dermot Weld but was highly tried on occasions; made his debut for Richard Hughes in the Chester Cup (2m2f, good) and, having broken well from his wide draw, he put up a bold show from the front only to be reeled in late in the day; a 2lb nudge is easy to stomach and dropping back to 1m6f could work given the cruising speed he showed at Chester.

14/1

3rd

7

(16)

8th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

15:05 Chester

Duraji

9st 0lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Richard Hughes

Sole win (ten starts) for Dermot Weld was a maiden in 2024; has tried Group/Listed races but his most competitive show last year came when fourth of 14 in 1m6f handicap at Glorious Goodwood, off 3lb higher than today; tried a hood on AW debut at Lingfield in February and has since changed stables (same owners); has a bit to prove and such a wide draw is unlikely to help.

33/1

11/2

Form: -65105 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Progressive on AW last autumn and he's been a bit better this season too; won five-runner race at Goodwood (upped to 2m, good) in May and, having been mid-division at Royal Ascot (2m4f), made most when fifth of 20 in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle (2m, AW); in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(1)

18th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 110y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Bahadur

9st 10lb

J: William Buick

T: S Woods

Progressive on AW last autumn and he's been a bit better this season too; won five-runner race at Goodwood (upped to 2m, good) in May and, having been mid-division at Royal Ascot (2m4f), made most when fifth of 20 in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle (2m, AW); in the mix.

11/2

5th

6

(17)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

15:15 Newcastle (AW)

Bahadur

9st 3lb

J: William Buick

T: S Woods

Progressive on AW last autumn, including here, and another improved effort when he won a five-runner race at Goodwood (upped to 2m, good) this May; mid-division at 14-1 in the 2m4f Ascot Stakes 11 days ago, not discredited but he probably needs to resume improvement in another major handicap today.

16/1

10th

11

(13)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Bahadur

9st 5lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: S Woods

Progressive on AW last autumn and another improved effort when he went on over 3f out to win a five-runner race at Goodwood (upped to 2m, good) on latest outing; up 4lb but could have more to give as a stayer.

22/1

OUR TIP

Form: 3-1159 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
With tongue-tie enlisted he's hit major new heights for new yard this year, with two wins preceding his excellent fifth of 15 in the 2m2f Chester Cup; comes from off the pace but never got seriously involved wearing first-time cheekpieces when ninth of 20 as second favourite in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle (2m); needs to bounce back from that pretty disappointing show.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(6)

18th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 110y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Team Player

9st 8lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Ewan Whillans

With tongue-tie enlisted he's hit major new heights for new yard this year, with two wins preceding his excellent fifth of 15 in the 2m2f Chester Cup; comes from off the pace but never got seriously involved wearing first-time cheekpieces when ninth of 20 as second favourite in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle (2m); needs to bounce back from that pretty disappointing show.

11/2

9th

8

(6)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

15:15 Newcastle (AW)

Team Player

9st 1lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Ewan Whillans

With tongue-tie enlisted he's hit major new heights for new yard this year; started it with wins from off the pace at Newcastle (2m, AW) and Musselburgh (1m6f, soft), both in some style, before his excellent fifth of 15 from out the back in the 2m2f Chester Cup; a bit slow to find his stride that day and cheekpieces now go on; more to give if he takes to them, so a major player.

8/1

5th

12

(12)

8th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

15:05 Chester

Team Player

8st 10lb

J: Greg Fairley

T: Ewan Whillans

Led on the post here for the first of two 1m4f wins last summer for Gemma Tutty and, with tongue-tie enlisted, hit major new heights for new yard this year with his wins from off the pace at Newcastle (2m, AW) and Musselburgh (1m6f, soft); raised another 9lb, which demands more, but those last two wins were delivered in some style and he has to be considered seriously.

12/1

Form: 442-36 BF

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Maiden winner who's been on the premises in all his five handicaps, albeit managing only sixth of 20 from midfield when clear favourite for the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle (upped to 2m) last time on AW debut; no handicap win but he's been pretty reliable and this race is a lot less competitive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(3)

18th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 110y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Ride The Thunder

9st 5lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Roger Varian

Maiden winner who's been on the premises in all his five handicaps, albeit managing only sixth of 20 from midfield when clear favourite for the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle (upped to 2m) last time on AW debut; no handicap win but he's been pretty reliable and this race is a lot less competitive.

3/1

6th

15

(7)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

15:15 Newcastle (AW)

Ride The Thunder

8st 13lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Won 1m2f maiden last June; on the premises in all his four handicaps, coming from off the pace when second at Haydock (1m6f) on final 3yo start and when third at Hamilton (1m5f; gelded and hooded) on reappearance six weeks ago; relatively lightly raced, so could have further improvement in him and 2m is plausible for this AW debut.

15/2

3rd

5

(10)

17th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

16:45 Hamilton

Ride The Thunder

9st 7lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Roger Varian

Won 1m2f Nottingham maiden last June; on the premises in all his three handicaps, closest last time when he came from the back at Haydock (1m6f, good) but to not quite such good effect in the end as Valiancy who made the same move on the other side of the track; gelded since and hooded first time for this reappearance; up 4lb but looks a serious contender.

4/1

Form: 441216 BF

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Pretty consistent in seven AW runs and well backed when leading final 1f to win the 17-runner Chester Plate (2m2f, good) in May on return to turf; failed to live up to favouritism in another consolation race at Newcastle (2m Vase, AW) three weeks ago but that sixth of 20 off this mark was his best form, so he remains one to be interested in.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(4)

18th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 110y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Shrimp Shady

9st 3lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Andrew Balding

Pretty consistent in seven AW runs and well backed when leading final 1f to win the 17-runner Chester Plate (2m2f, good) in May on return to turf; failed to live up to favouritism in another consolation race at Newcastle (2m Vase, AW) three weeks ago but that sixth of 20 off this mark was his best form, so he remains one to be interested in.

6/1

6th

4

(11)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

14:40 Newcastle (AW)

Shrimp Shady

9st 11lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Andrew Balding

Pretty consistent in seven AW runs and well backed when leading final 1f to win the 17-runner Chester Plate (2m2f) on last month's return to turf; up 5lb but he's a rising force.

4/1

1st

10

(11)

8th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

16:10 Chester

Shrimp Shady

9st 5lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Andrew Balding

Well beaten at Newmarket (good) last September on handicap debut but pretty consistent in his five AW races since, on last two occasions winning over 1m6f and second of 14 over 2m; peak AW form needs to be transferred.

5/1

Form: 242211 CD

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Gained a deserved first success of the season in three-runner handicap over C&D (good to firm; from Almuhit) last month and got up close home in nine-runner race at Kempton (2m, AW) ten days ago; up 3lb to career-high mark but he's on a roll.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(5)

18th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 110y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Baileys Khelstar

9st 0lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Charlie Johnston

Gained a deserved first success of the season in three-runner handicap over C&D (good to firm; from Almuhit) last month and got up close home in nine-runner race at Kempton (2m, AW) ten days ago; up 3lb to career-high mark but he's on a roll.

7/2

1st

2

(2)

8th Jul 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 4

19:13 Kempton (AW)

Baileys Khelstar

9st 10lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Charlie Johnston

Gained a deserved first success of the season in three-runner handicap at Newbury (2m) 15 days ago; up 3lb but he remains quite low mileage so needs considering.

5/2

1st

3

(4)

23rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

20:05 Newbury

Baileys Khelstar

9st 10lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Charlie Johnston

Has been a bit up and down since returning from a mammoth absence in April, but his second of five at Catterick (1m6f, good to soft) 12 days ago was handsomly franked by the winner at Newmarket on Saturday; has won over this far and a major player.

3/1

Form: 39-682 CD

Last run: 25 days

W: 8st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Made most for two game wins in four-runner C&D races (good to firm) last summer, latterly in this race off 2lb higher than today; second to Baileys Khelstar over C&D on latest outing was in just a three-runner race but easily his best Flat effort this year, so he could be on his way back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(2)

18th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 110y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Almuhit

8st 12lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Faye Bramley

Made most for two game wins in four-runner C&D races (good to firm) last summer, latterly in this race off 2lb higher than today; second to Baileys Khelstar over C&D on latest outing was in just a three-runner race but easily his best Flat effort this year, so he could be on his way back.

9/2

2nd

1

(2)

23rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

20:05 Newbury

Almuhit

10st 1lb

J: Harry Vigors

T: Faye Bramley

Comes into this off the back of winning a three-runner race over hurdles at Fontwell, but he is equally adept on the Flat with two wins in four-runner contests over C&D (good to firm) last summer, including this race off 1lb lower; respected.

7/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £38.30
Straight Forecast £39.28
Trifecta £103.80

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Ride The Thunder

SPOTLIGHT:

Baileys Khelstar

POSTDATA:

Almuhit

The Times:

Team Player

TOPSPEED:

Bahadur

LAMBOURN:

Duraji

Daily Mirror:

Team Player

NEWMARKET:

Ride The Thunder

D Express:

Ride The Thunder

The Sun:

Ride The Thunder

Daily Mail:

Baileys Khelstar

The Star:

Baileys Khelstar

Daily Record:

Baileys Khelstar

Telegraph:

Almuhit

The Guardian:

Almuhit