Antepost Racing Tips: Great St Wilfrid selection has major chance back in trip at 10/1

Saturday, Ripon, 15:25, Great St Wilfrid Handicap Tip: Back Khafiz @ 10/111.00

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Khafiz (Ire)

• J: Oisin James Orr
• T: Roger Fell
• F: 793-50044

The month of wonderful summer afternoons continues in the build-up to Ripon's big day with another hot week as soft ground performers continue to hibernate.

The Great St Wilfrid is the headline act in Yorkshire, always a tremendous handicap, and we lead with Exhibit A - Khafiz. He's priced at 10/111.00 and, in five runs this term, has raced four times over 7f and once at 1m.

I backed him earlier in the season at Haydock in a good quality handicap when two lengths down to Cosi Belo and he had a chance until fading late on. Khafiz travelled into the race well and with a couple of furlongs to go looked the danger.

From then on, he looked a non-stayer to me. The clock backed it up with 12.74 at the final furlong (on a speed track no less) - which was the slowest out of the first six home.

A couple of fourths recently have been slightly better, although more positive tactics were employed at York over 1m by making the running, but once again like a metronome over further, his final furlong was one of the slowest out of the top finishers and second slowest out of the first seven.

He's had a few trainers in a short time and didn't last long with Ed Bethell, but in the two starts for Roger Fell, they seem to have got his trip with this race pencilled in. Fell, for once, has proved himself more tactically lynx-eyed than his younger rival Bethell.

We'll leave the draw until later this week but he looks well treated having started the campaign off 97.

Saturday, Newbury, 13:55, D&H, Excellence In Nutrition Handicap Tip: Back Glamorous Breeze @ 7/18.00

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Glamorous Breeze

• J: Gina Mangan
• T: Christopher Mason
• F: 5913-3253

All Ways Glamorous was one of my fancies last week in the Shergar Cup and the effort highlighted the need for rider Gina Mangan.

Mangan and trainer Chris Mason have been a lethal partnership this season. Mangan alone in 5f races has 70 placed from 187 career rides over the minimum at a rate of nearly 38%.

Marie Velon rode All Ways Glamorous at Ascot and missed the break - and that's not how Mason and his sprinters roll.

Glamorous Breeze is at the top of the weights for Saturday off 90 and she's been consistent without winning thus far this term.

Two runs at Goodwood in 2026 saw her travel like a dream from midfield (not making the running) on her first start of the season. That race she broke the magical 10 seconds at the second furlong running 9.96 seconds.

She was second at Windsor, again from midfield travelling ever so smoothly, but was trapped wide from a poor draw and was involved in a bunch finish. In fact, in most of her races she's not had much luck. Even her latest effort at Goodwood saw her third, again in a line of horses at the end, and was done by a closer off a strong pace.

Quick ground suits her, and hopefully she will have more luck at a fair track like Newbury.

Saturday, Newbury, 15:10, Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes Tip: Back Prince Of India @ 11/26.50

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Prince Of India (Ire)

• J: Pat Dobbs
• T: Marco Botti
• F: 138-50246

This doesn't look the strongest Group 2 and is lacking in some class. Prince Of India holds a profile like quite a few in here and six of the 11 entries haven't won a race this term. The old maxim applies: you cannot win a war with pineapples.

At least Marco Botti's four-year-old Prince Of India is unexposed and the move to try 7f looks the stepping stone to a better run.

Last time in the Group 1 July Cup over 6f he was held up and outpaced at 2f was the sign to try 7f.

It was a real messy affair at HQ with two groups and, for good measure, Prince Of India didn't have a totally clear shot in terms of the gaps opening. He was also a massive price that day.

His best run was at Leicester, in the only good race they ever stage - the King Richard III Cup. And once again over 6f, Prince Of India was outpaced late on and finished well with the fastest closing sectional.

Whether he is up to Group 2 level remains to be seen, but this looks winnable and he is crying out for a move up to the trip. Botti has struck some form too with 3-16 at 19% in the last two weeks.

Alan Dudman's notable antepost winners in 2026

January: The Doyen Chief Kempton WON 7/2
Vincenzo, Ascot, WON 3/1
Scorsese, Cheltenham PLACED 12/1

February: Kalium, Ascot, PLACED 12/1
Montregard, Ascot, WON [6/]
Grand Geste, Haydock, EW WON 12/1
Lookaway, Kempton, EW WON 16/1

March: Pina Sonata, Kempton, WON 8/1

April: Favour And Fortune, Aintree, PLACED 14/1
Konfusion, Aintree, PLACED 12/1
Whip Cracker, Newbury, PLACED 10/1
Sarab Star, Haydock, PLACED 10/1
President Scottie, Perth, PLACED 12/1

May/June: Washington Heights, WON 5/1
Thundering On, Epsom, WON 11/2

July: Team Player PLACED 16/1

August: Calendar Girl EW WON 14/1

Now read daily racing tips and previews from Mark Milligan