Antepost Racing Tips: Bunbury Cup selection appeals at a massive 20/1

Saturday, Newmarket, 14:52, Newmarket Handicap Tip: Back Nation's Hope EW @ 10/111.00

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Nation's Hope (Ire)

• J:
• T: Charlie Appleby
• F: 11-5

If you are in the business of selling hoses and watering cans then get yourselves to Newmarket as the heat is off the scale this week at headquarters; with temperatures set to exceed 30 degrees on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

I had a bet at Newmarket last weekend with Dashing Dick over the straight track and stall 10 was about as much use as a chocolate teapot with everything coming from low and the stands' side, and when there is a bias, Newmarket, July and Rowley, is merciless and full of spite.

At least we have some Charlie Appleby runners entered, as Godolphin have been unusually quiet all summer, but in the 14:52 Newmarket Handicap over 1m, "The App'" has Nation's Hope (rated 99), Tales Of Wisdom (rated 99), and Look To The Stars (rated 97) all holding entries.

Even his chum Saeed bin Suroor has an entry with Mountain Cat at 8/19.00 on the Sportsbook. Just like the old days.

Nation's Hope looked a serious weapon in December when landing a Novice Stakes races at Kempton by 6L, and achieving some rapid closing sectionals at 11.19 seconds and 11.58 seconds in the final two furlongs without even breaking sweat - admittedly off a steady pace (finish speed 100%) that he set himself.

We've only seen him once this year, in the Heron at Sandown and he flopped in the Talk Of New York win. Was he sacrificed as the pacemaker, though? Not bad to have a 99-rated pacesetter, and he was too keen to boot.

Tales Of Wisdom was thrashed in the Britannia behind Moonfall, who re-engages here, while Look To The Stars, who was a promising juvenile, was virtually lapped on his sole run in 2026.

I actually like Bin Suroor's contender Mountain Cat, but then the idea was promptly stymied as he holds an entry on the Friday over 1m2f.

This is effectively a rematch of the Britannia horses from Royal Ascot, but I am going to revert back to Nation's Hope, who at 10/111.00 comes from the angle away from the Royal Meeting, and when he ran at Sandown in May, Godolphin were still relatively quiet.

He obviously has a bit to prove, and the Kempton victory was an egg and spoon race at odds of 1/161.06, but he looks a fine big horse with a serious kick, as both of his Kempton victories has seen impressive final sectionals.

At 10s he is worth more than a second glance each-way.

Saturday, Newmarket, 15:25, Bunbury Cup Tip: Back Two Tribes EW @ 20/121.00

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Two Tribes

• J: Oisin Murphy
• T: Richard Spencer
• F: 405-12000

Two Tribes is a horse with a little sentiment attached as I tipped him at a big price in this antepost column last August at Ascot, but I watched the race in Romania, and somehow managed a signal high up in the Carpathians to watch the race.

Hoping history will repeat itself is a tough ask but at 20/121.00 with the each-way hat on and granted a good draw from the gods later in the week, that's a big price.

He had a superb 2025 landing two big pots and he is fairly remarkable in the sense he has won over a stiff Ascot 7f and also quick enough for a Goodwood 6f as he landed the Stewards' Cup last summer (and holds an entry again for a repeat bid).

Running from 103 demands plenty, but he travelled so well at Ascot last year to win, and even at Goodwood winning by over 2L from 95, makes that mark of 103 not unattainable.

He spent his winter in Dubai with two good runs and two blowouts, but his return to the UK was as severe an introduction as you could get - running with a rotten draw in the Wokingham. Indeed, he raced in a small group over the far side, and very far side, so he had zero chance against the Stickels bias.

That run and a return to 7f which I suspect could be his best trip puts him well in the frame with proper summer going.

Notable winners in 2026

January: The Doyen Chief Kempton WON 7/24.50
Vincenzo, Ascot, WON 3/14.00
Scorsese, Cheltenham PLACED 12/113.00

February: Kalium, Ascot, PLACED 12/113.00
Montregard, Ascot, WON [6/]
Grand Geste, Haydock, WON 12/113.00
Lookaway, Kempton, WON 16/117.00

March: Pina Sonata, Kempton, WON 8/19.00

April: Favour And Fortune, Aintree, PLACED 14/115.00
Konfusion, Aintree, PLACED 12/113.00
Whip Cracker, Newbury, PLACED 10/111.00
Sarab Star, Haydock, PLACED 10/111.00
President Scottie, Perth, PLACED 12/113.00

May/June: Washington Heights, WON 5/16.00
Thundering On, Epsom, WON 11/26.50

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