Sky Sports Racing brings a competitive card from Newbury on Friday, featuring several intriguing contests and a number of progressive youngsters.
2.40 Newbury — Titan Wealth Handicap
The feature race looks competitive with 12 declared, headed by 2023 winner Mustazeed, along with Oursin, Hand Of God and others. Charlie Hills runs the lightly raced Oursin, who makes his handicap debut for Rob Hornby. Second on his only start at two, he won at Kempton and then impressed in a novice at Newcastle last October, so he arrives as an exciting handicap newcomer.
Mustazeed, successful in this race last year, has four wins from nine starts at Newbury and will be aimed at this prize despite a disappointing seasonal return. Other notables include recent winner Celeborn, Parole d’Oro who remains on the same mark as when runner-up at York, and Hand Of God, who drops in class for Harry Charlton after winning at Golden Gates earlier in 2024.
3.53 Newbury — Trade Nation Novice Stakes
A lively novice where debut scorer Extremely Zain faces a tougher assignment stepping up to seven furlongs. Trained by William Haggas, the Hello Youmzain colt showed a bright performance at Newcastle in December and looks to confirm that promise.
George Boughey’s Erudition, third on a pleasing Leicester debut, is a likely contender for the William Haggas runner-up spot, ridden by Billy Loughanne. Andrew Balding’s Petworth is eye-catching on breeding — a Frankel colt out of a German Oaks winner — and Wintercast should be capable of improvement after an eighth-placed effort when favourite on debut at Doncaster.
4.25 Newbury — Coolmore City Of Troy EBF Maiden Stakes
A high-quality 11-runner maiden featuring Glory Road and Point Of Law. John and Thady Gosden’s Point Of Law impressed on debut when second to Del Maro at Yarmouth and, ridden by Benoit De La Sayette, should be competitive if repeating that form.
Glory Road was runner-up to Wise Prince at Nottingham last autumn and looks well placed on reappearance. The experienced 82-rated Hatteen could use his experience to advantage, while expensive purchase Phantom Recon is one to monitor in the market.
Best of the rest
5.00 Newbury — another strong maiden: Shadwell’s Dubawi colt Heyzoom catches the eye. Besieged is the first foal of Snow Lantern by Dubawi, and Tropbien is the first foal of Tropbeau. Past winners of similar divisions include Logician and Ulysses.
3.18 Newbury — a competitive two-year-old heat with runners from Clive Cox, Richard Hannon and Andrew Balding; last year Humidity took this race on the way to the Chesham.
Over at Saint-Cloud
1.53 Saint-Cloud — Ebiyar looks set to bounce back.
1.18 Saint-Cloud — Juddmonte’s Contador is a Kingman colt out of a Galileo mare and is one to watch.
Also of note from recent pattern races: Elmonjed produced a taking performance to land the Minster Stakes, and Diamond Necklace impressed in the French 1000 Guineas.
Overall, Newbury’s card blends proven performers with well-bred newcomers and informative novices — plenty to watch live on Sky Sports Racing.