Newbury, Saturday 18 July 2026 — Good To Firm

Newbury, Saturday 18 July 2026 — Good To Firm

A quality Saturday card at Newbury with the Hackwood Stakes and the Weatherbys Super Sprint the two headline acts. Good to firm ground throughout suits horses with pace and a clean action, and with Glorious Goodwood just ten days away, trainers will have their ammunition loaded. Charlie Appleby fires at 25% here and his runners always warrant respect on this track.

1:55 — Betvictor Steventon Stakes (Listed, 1m2f)

Selection: Al Zanati (9/4, Boyle Sports)

Al Zanati is the one to side with here. The Charlie Appleby yard is clocking in at 6 wins from 23 runners over the past 14 days and William Buick knows Newbury well, posting a 16% strike rate on course. More importantly, Al Zanati’s form profile stands up strongly: wins three and five starts back with two runner-up efforts sandwiched between them makes him a consistent performer at this level. The last-time-out sixth is the obvious blot, but horses out of Appleby’s yard regularly bounce back from the odd below-par effort, and this trip and going are well within his comfort zone.

Persica heads the market on the back of two recent seconds and will give this favourite’s backers a run for their money, but at 5/4 there is no value. Al Zanati at 9/4 with a top trainer, top jockey, and a winning profile makes far more appeal. Arabian Light is interesting at 8/1 given Appleby’s form, but the unplaced run off a 32-day break counts against him on the day.

3:02 — Hallgarten And Novum Wines Hackwood Stakes (Group 3, 6f)

Selection: Soldier’s Tree (9/4, Boyle Sports)

Soldier’s Tree is the standout in this Group 3 and there is no real reason to argue with the figures. He carries the highest rating in the field, has been remarkably consistent with three thirds and a second from his last four starts, and that win four starts back confirms he belongs at this level. Good to firm at six furlongs suits him perfectly and the only question mark is whether he can convert that consistency into another win. Most horses this consistent eventually do.

Symbol Of Honour is interesting at 10/3 after finishing third last time out, suggesting William Buick and Appleby could be about to get the best from him. But three eighths in his four starts before that is hard to overlook. Binhareer and Song Of The Clyde both have questions to answer based on their latest outings. Soldier’s Tree is the class horse in the race at a fair price.

3:37 — Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes (5f, 26 runners)

Selection: Bint Archange (7/2, Boyle Sports) Each-Way

Twenty-six runners over five furlongs on good to firm ground at Newbury is one of the most chaotic and exciting juvenile races of the summer, and Bint Archange stands out as the horse with genuine form credentials. She is the top-rated in the field on the figures provided, backs that up with a leading speed figure of 92, and arrives having won last time out. Two wins from four starts as a juvenile, with only one unplaced effort on the board, marks her out as a serious contender.

Richard Hughes has been in solid form recently and William Buick’s course record here makes the combination a compelling one. With 26 runners and each-way terms of four places at 1/5, backing her each-way at 7/2 is sensible. She needs a clean run from the gates, but on form she is the one they all have to beat.

Bill The Bull Each-Way at 28/1 is worth a small each-way interest. His figure of 87 puts him third in the ratings despite the big price, he won two starts back, and the tongue-tie suggests connections are trying to find a gear. The below-par eighth last time is a concern, but at 28/1 in a 26-runner heat, he represents speculative each-way value.

Today’s NAP

Al Zanati — Betvictor Steventon Stakes (1:55, Newbury)
Odds: 9/4 — Boyle Sports (others: 9/4 Betfred, 3/1 LiveScore Bet)

Al Zanati sits at the centre of the most compelling angle on the card: a yard running at hot form, William Buick booting home winners at Newbury at a 16% clip, and a horse whose form profile shows multiple wins and placed efforts at this level. Persica is reliable but short enough to make the market argument weak. At 9/4, Al Zanati is the value call in a six-runner Listed contest where his class and connections put him firmly on top.