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Anthelia can rule at Newmarket

Written by Press Association | Jun 26, 2025 8:50:44 AM

Anthelia can defy a penalty and remain unbeaten in the Empress Fillies' Stakes on Thursday at Newmarket.

It looks a shrewd bit of placing by Rod Millman and owners Middleham Park Racing, as with the Listed race coming so soon as it does after Royal Ascot many of the smarter juvenile fillies so far this season ran in the Queen Mary and Albany.

Anthelia would not have been out of place among the finery based on her most recent outing, a victory in the National Stakes at Sandown.

It is because of that 25-1 success she must carry 3lb more than the rest, but the bones of the form suggests she might be up to it.

This race was mentioned straight after Sandown and with connections resisting the Ascot temptation it is hoped they are rewarded.

Romeo Montague looks interesting for Richard Spencer in the British EBF "Confined" Novice Stakes.

A race for youngsters who have run no more than once, the selection lined up in a red-hot race at York on his debut won by First Legion, who went on to be second to Anthelia at Sandown.

With any amount of normal improvement he should be hard to beat.

It would be no surprise to see Tribal Chief run a good race in the JenningsBet In Kippax Seaton Delaval Handicap on the first day of Newcastle's Northumberland Plate meeting.

Unraced at two, the four-year-old was ultra-consistent last season after a gelding operation which saw him win four times.

He began this season with a fine second at Newmarket having been very slowly away, which unfortunately is a bit of a habit.

David Menuisier took him to France in search of a bit of softer ground as the heatwave has not been in his favour, but over 2000m he failed to get involved.

Back to 1600m, if he can break on terms he is handicapped to go close having already won on the all-weather before.

It would be no surprise at all to see Itraaq take a big step forward from her debut in the PricedUp Fillies' Novice Stakes at Nottingham.

Bought by Shadwell for 575,000 guineas, she is a daughter of Group Two winner Jazzi Top by the German sire Sea The Moon. She was sixth of 10 on her first outing, but many from the yard of William Haggas take a huge leap forward from the first run to their second.

Brummell was a little disappointing last time out at Carlisle when only fourth but is given one more chance to prove he is up to competing off marks in the 80s in the Patersons Of Greenoakhill Handicap at Hamilton.

To win as he did first time out at Beverley suggested he could be a sprinter to be reckoned with and he still might be having been drawn on the wrong side at Carlisle. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 5 UK meetings on Thursday. Here are the tips.

NEWMARKET: Race 1: 14.50 Romeo Montague, Race 2: 15.25 Heart Of Eternity, Race 3: 16.00 Apache Green, Race 4: 16.35 ANTHELIA (NAP), Race 5: 17.10 Cogitate, Race 6: 17.45 Mandana, Race 7: 18.20 Dereham.

NEWCASTLE: Race 1: 15.00 Epicurian Lad, Race 2: 15.35 Zoiros, Race 3: 16.10 Romieu, Race 4: 16.45 Tribal Chief, Race 5: 17.20 Ibn Altheeb, Race 6: 17.55 Sand Sweeper, Race 7: 18.30 Ziggy's Triton, Race 8: 19.05 Fire Eyes.

NOTTINGHAM: Race 1: 15.12 Rainwater, Race 2: 15.47 Itraaq, Race 3: 16.22 Calafiori, Race 4: 16.57 Snow Berry, Race 5: 17.32 Irish Dancer, Race 6: 18.07 Morandi Second.

HAMILTON: Race 1: 18.45 Billy No Mates, Race 2: 19.15 Goldie Bear, Race 3: 19.45 Kyber Crystal, Race 4: 20.15 Brummell, Race 5: 20.45 Danger Bay, Race 6: 21.15 Pomme Pomme, Race 7: 21.45 Inanna.

LEICESTER: Race 1: 19.00 Kunaa, Race 2: 19.30 Shaws Phoenix, Race 3: 20.00 Emerald Army, Race 4: 20.30 Regally Blonde, Race 5: 21.00 Lipsink, Race 6: 21.30 The Lost Canvas, Race 7: 22.00 Shielas Well.

ALL TO COME: Anthelia (Newmarket, Race 4) and Tribal Chief (Newcastle, Race 4).