Midsummer Meeting in Partnership with John Smith’s 2025

1:30 pm

THE PURE HOMES HANDICAP STAKES

Marking a real turnaround in form, Team Player (13/2) made his first start for Gemma Tutty a winning one when successful in the first race, sneaking home by a short head under Finley Marsh. Rousted along out of the gates, Team Player settled in midfield through the opening mile of the contest, racing along the inside rail as Animato (16/1) and Karthon (15/8F) led the field through the final four furlongs. Switched off the rail as the leaders swung into the home straight, Team Player made good use of the gaps that unfolded around the home turn, and despite taking the length of the straight to finally hit the front, he just about did enough to steal the race from Kokinelli (15/2) at the line. A good year for the young rider, Marsh also took Listed glory aboard Fair Angellica in May!

Results

Winner
Name: Team Player (8)
Owner: Mostly Cloudy Syndicate
Prize: £15,000
Trainer: Gemma Tutty, Northallerton
Jockey: Finley Marsh

The Race
Distance: 1m 4f 63y
Prize: £15,000
Class: 5

Runners
Runners: 10
Non-Runners: 2

2:10 pm

THE JOHN SMITH'S MAIDEN STAKES

Continuing the good form of the Andrew Balding yard, Berkshire Boom (100/30) came home a determined winner of the second race, keeping on well under Jason Watson to score by half a length. Always up there, Berkshire Boom moved with great gusto at the half-mile marker, swinging away in the slipstream of Port Darwin (12/1) with market leader Suspended Sentence (2/1F) in behind. Travelling strongly around the home turn, Berkshire Boom was made to wait for the gaps to appear with a couple of furlongs to go. However, switched wide Jason Watson, Berkshire Boom soon found top gear in the closing stages, staying on stoutly down the centre of the track to wear down The Resdev Scholar (17/2) towards the finish. Another course victory for Berkshire Parts & Panels, connections also won here in 2019 with Berkshire Rocco, a subsequent Listed winner!

Results

Winner
Name: Berkshire Boom (1)
Owner: Berkshire Parts & Panels Ltd No1 Fanclub
Prize: £18,000
Trainer: Andrew Balding, Kingsclere
Jockey: Jason Watson

The Race
Distance: 7f 1y
Prize: £18,000
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 8

2:45 pm

THE DENISE McCALLUM BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION HANDICAP STAKES

Benefitting from the reapplication of blinkers, Lunario (8/1) led from pillar to post to take Race 3 for trainer Luke Dace, gamely seeing off his rivals by 1 ½ lengths under a cracking ride from young Jack Dace. Forcing his way to the front, Lunario set a strong pace from the outset under his confident rider, racing around a length clear of Follow Your Heart (22/1) as recent course winner Vixey (9/2) settled in mid-division. Upping the ante with just a few to furlongs to go, Lunario extended his lead impressively around the home turn, and although a late flourish from Vixey reduced the deficit in the final 50 yards, the leader was already away and gone, coming home a very comfortable winner. A jockey with a bright future, Jack Dace now has fifteen winners for the 2025 season!

Results

Winner
Name: Lunario (7)
Owner: Michael Watt, Roy David, Christmas Party
Prize: £18,000
Trainer: Luke Dace, Billingshurst
Jockey: Jack Dace

The Race
Distance: 7f 127y
Prize: £18,000
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 14

3:15 pm

THE BIRRA MORETTI HANDICAP STAKES

Digging deep to grind out the victory, Showering (5/1) pulled out all the stops to fend off the challengers in the feature, holding on by a neck to score for Adam Farragher and William Haggas. Forcing a strong gallop, Showering raced up with the pace from the get-go under Farragher, keeping company with recent course winner Arabian Cobra (4/1 JF) for the most part as Andesite (9/2) brought up the rear. Moving with zest passing the two-furlong pole, the eye was immediately drawn to Showering as the field were sent for home, and although facing a strong late run from Milford (12/1) in the final furlong, the leader had just too much in the tank. Another winner for Lael Stables and William Haggas, owner and trainer also won a Listed race here in 2013 with Sun Central!

Results

Winner
Name: Showering (6)
Owner: Lael Stable
Prize: £40,000
Trainer: William Haggas, Newmarket
Jockey: Adam Farragher

The Race
Distance: 6f 17y
Prize: £40,000
Class: 3

Runners
Runners: 9
Non-Runners: 2

3:45 pm

THE HALLIWELL JONES HANDICAP STAKES DIV I

Another to come out on top in a close finish, Aces Wild (7/2) broke a losing run of twelve to land the spoils for trainer Adrian Wintle in the fifth race, coming home a head in front under Finley Marsh for his second winner of the day. Sitting around four lengths behind through the halfway point, Aces Wild raced in fourth place as the leaders set a frenetic gallop up front, Secret Mistral (2/1F) occupying pole position with Knicks (11/4) to her outer. Nudged along as the leading duo led them into the straight, Aces Wild was ridden more firmly with just under two furlongs to go, and after switching wide of Knicks at the furlong pole, readily picked up the pace to lead in the shadows of the post. Enjoying success of late, trainer Adrian Wintle had a career best year in 2024 with 22 winners!

Results

Winner
Name: Aces Wild (5)
Owner: Martin & Wintle
Prize: £15,000
Trainer: Adrian Wintle, Westbury-On-Severn
Jockey: Finley Marsh

The Race
Distance: 5f 15y
Prize: £15,000
Class: 5

Runners
Runners: 8
Non-Runners: 2

4:20 pm

THE HALLIWELL JONES HANDICAP STAKES DIV II

A close third here two weeks ago, Acrisius (13/2) swapped places with his previous conqueror Maharajas Express (11/4F) when a 2 ¼ length victor of the sixth race, taking victory for Joanna Mason and the Michael & David Easterby team. Taking a keen hold, Acrisius gave his rider plenty to do in the early stages, racing towards the outside of runners in rear division as Over Spiced (7/1) set the pace. Gradually working his way into it around the home turn, Acrisius made rapid headway down the home straight, racing down the middle of the track as the leaders began to bunch up. Taking over at the furlong pole, Acrisius soon hit top gear once let loose on the reins, kicking clear of his rivals in emphatic style to provide Joanna Mason with her 37^th winner of the season!

Results

Winner
Name: Acrisius (5)
Owner: Mr B Padgett
Prize: £15,000
Trainer: Michael & David Easterby, Sheriff Hutton
Jockey: Joanna Mason

The Race
Distance: 5f 15y
Prize: £15,000
Class: 5

Runners
Runners: 9

4:55 pm

THE LAYRD DESIGN HANDICAP STAKES

Rapidly becoming a Roodee specialist, Rosenpur (9/2) recorded his second course victory in as many weeks when taking the seventh race in tidy style, booted home by 1 ¾ lengths to score for George Wood and Jennie Candlish. Smartly away from a handy position in Stall 2, Rosenpur went straight into the lead through the opening couple of furlongs, leading the way from the well-backed Kodiac Thriller (5/2F) and Duran (11/4). Still hard on the bridle rounding the home turn, it looked all too easy for Rosenpur in the final quarter mile, the two-time course winner cornering well before extending away into a clear and unassailable lead in the final furlong to record a cosy victory. A match made in heaven, George Wood and Rosenpur have now won five races together in 2025!

Results

Winner
Name: Rosenpur (7)
Owner: Brian Verinder & Alan Baxter
Prize: £18,000
Trainer: Jennie Candlish, Leek
Jockey: George Wood

The Race
Distance: 5f 15y
Prize: £18,000
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 8
Non-Runners: 2

5:30 pm

THE CRUZCAMPO HANDICAP STAKES

Enterprisingly ridden by young Alec Voikhansky, Meblesh (11/2) barely saw another rival on his way to an easy victory in the finale, leading from flag-fall to score by 4 lengths for trainer Richard Hannon. Keen to take a prominent role, Voikhansky pushed his way into the lead aboard Meblesh before making the first turn, setting a steady gallop ahead of Due To Henry (16/1) and Finn Russell (33/1) as the well-punted Let’s Dream (15/8F) sat towards the back. Travelling best of all with around three furlongs to negotiate, Meblesh looked to have the race sewn up from a very early stage, and after his nearest rivals began to fold under firmer handling, the leader advanced impressively down the straight, galloping on in relentless style to notch his third career victory. A rider going places, Voikhansky now has 21 winners for the season, operating at a 16% strike rate!

Results

Winner
Name: Meblesh (6)
Owner: Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah
Prize: £18,000
Trainer: Richard Hannon, Marlborough
Jockey: Alec Voikhansky

The Race
Distance: 1m 2f 70y
Prize: £18,000
Class: 4

Runners
Runners: 9