Newbury and Wolverhampton are the venues for Friday’s live action on Sky Sports Racing.
4.10 Newbury – Arapaho Gold, Nabati and Social Symbol clash
The Listed Apple Print & Creative Rose Bowl Stakes is a belter with unbeaten pair Nabati and Arapaho Gold headlining 12 runners.
Charlie Appleby took this prize last season with subsequent Middle Park winner Wise Approach and Nabati has strong claims under William Buick. He oozed class when justifying skinny odds to make an impressive debut at Yarmouth and it will be fascinating to see if he can build on that in the Godolphin blue.
Arapaho Gold is the principal danger for Michael Dods and Connor Beasley. He has two victories from as many starts to his name after a pair of easy Thirsk outings and deserves a crack at this higher grade.
Social Symbol stepped up on his debut to claim fourth in the Norfolk Stakes and a repeat of that form would see him hit the frame with Ryan Moore a notable booking. This lad is a full-brother to Royal Spa, who was only a few lengths behind the great Thorpedo Anna at her peak.
Another to note is Windsor Castle fifth Sale Shark, while God Given Talent may bounce back after his Ascot disappointment in the Michael Buckley colours. This will be trainer James Ferguson’s final runner before he pursues pastures new.
3.00 Newbury – Well-bred Force Of Light among 15 runners
A plethora of well-bred two-year-olds head to post for the Ire-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish EBF Novice Stakes, where Force Of Light makes most appeal.
Appleby’s son of Lope De Vega is a brother to dual Group One scorer Shadow Of Light and has Earthlight among other top-class relatives in his pedigree. He is drawn in stall 11 and all eyes will be on this Godolphin newcomer.
Cilician represents Brian Meehan and brings in the most experience having had three starts to date. Second on his debut, he finished down the field at the Royal meeting but another runner-up effort at Sandown has seen him given a rating of 90 – that might see him in the mix.
Plenty can be monitored in the market, with Shoot You Down and Arthurian a couple for the shortlist.
4.28 Wolverhampton – Go Rimbaud and Chapter lock horns
A small but select field has assembled for the Free Race Replays On attheraces.com Handicap at Dunstall Park.
Go Rimbaud landed his first success on his fourth outing at Kempton back in April (form franked) before disappointing when favourite for a handicap at Haydock later that month. He returns from a break having undergone a gelding operation and remains capable of better.
Chapter recovered from a lesser effort to score at Sandown last month and can go well if the blinkers continue to work.
Brocklesby Bill – named in honour of the late Bill Turner – and On The Inlet complete the field.
Best of the rest
Newbury’s BetVictor EBF Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (3.35pm) sees plenty of powerful ownership groups represented. Cheveley Park’s Lady Of Hay is of interest, being a son of St Mark’s Basilica out of a Group Two-placed dam. Faith In Florence ran a respectable fourth on debut at Yarmouth and could put that experience to good use here.
Later on the card (5.20pm), Green Sky bids for a hat-trick in the Uhy Ross Brooke Fillies’ Handicap but last-time-out winner Kelly Burn is a danger.
