Hollie Doyle blog: More Thunder can strike in Summer Mile at Ascot with Newmarket and York also staging big Saturday races | Racing News

Our ambassador Hollie Doyle spotlights the big races across four fixtures on Saturday, including a stellar renewal of the Group Two Summer Mile at Ascot, live on Sky Sports Racing.

Thunder looks strong in stellar Summer Mile

It really is a Super Saturday across the country with the Group One July Cup at Newmarket and the John Smith’s Cup at York taking centre stage, but a mouthwatering renewal of the Group Two Juddmonte Summer Mile Stakes (2.27) at Ascot is definitely among the highlights.

This looks a great opportunity for More Thunder to gain his breakthrough success over this distance after finishing second at the top level in the Lockinge at Newbury and the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot this season.

With my husband Tom (Marquand) heading to Newmarket, Cieren Fallon steps in for a plum ride on an improving five-year-old whose run style should be well suited to this round track. He’s well drawn in stall one and can confirm Queen Anne form with Zeus Olympios.

Karl Burke’s colt is a rock-solid opponent who should make a race of it again, but I’m fascinated to see what French raider No Lunch can produce after taking his winning streak to six with victory in a Group Two at Saint-Cloud.

That form has been franked by the re-opposing runner-up Seagulls Eleven who has won both starts since, including a Group Three at Epsom. Hugo Palmer’s horse deserves to take his chance, but No Lunch could be anything.

Almeraq thriving ahead of July Cup

I really do feel that Almeraq has what it takes to complete a stunning Group One double for William Haggas and Shadwell in the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup (4.35) at Newmarket.

Tom heads to the July Course to partner the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes hero who has done nothing but please the team at Somerville Lodge since his Royal Ascot heroics three weeks ago. He has a few more questions to answer on a more undulating track and on ground that may be slightly quicker but there is huge confidence behind this colt.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see William’s other horse Division run a big race for Wathnan Racing and James Doyle. He has a habit of missing the break then making up a lot of ground quickly so, if he gets it right, he could just surprise a few.

Likely favourite Venetian Sun brings an amazing CV to the party after making it look so easy in the Group One Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot but this is a bigger challenge that asks much more of Karl Burke’s lovely filly.

Abraham to emulate City Of Troy

Abraham Lincoln will appreciate the extra furlong in the Group Two Boodles Superlative Stakes (4.00) at Newmarket following an eye-catching debut over six furlongs at the Curragh.

Aidan O’Brien, who won this a few years ago with City Of Troy, looks to have another potential star on his hands in this son of Wootton Bassett – my preference over Godolphin’s market rival Al Hudaiba.

Charlie Appleby’s colt has his quirks – he jinked and unseated Tom at Yarmouth before winning a novice over this course and distance. Charlie has won the last two runnings of this race, which bodes well for his chances.

Bunbury contender Acclaim deserves a big one

I’d love to see Great Acclaim win the Betway Bunbury Cup (3.25) at Newmarket following a string of top performances in big handicaps.

Placed in the Victoria Cup and the Buckingham Palace Stakes this season, Eve Johnson Houghton’s five-year-old retains the visor he’s been responding well to and remains fairly treated off a mark of 100.

Aalto loves this race, having won it in 2024 before finishing a close second (to More Thunder) last year, so William Buick looks set for a big performance on Ian Williams’ likely favourite, while Micky Fenton’s Physique – a horse I’ve ridden twice – brings winning course form to the table at big odds.

Royal runner looks strong in York feature

Royal runner Warrant Holder brings an irresistible profile to the valuable John Smith’s Cup (3.45) at York following his gallant second in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot.

A winner on the Knavesmire at the Dante Festival in May, John and Thady Gosden’s four-year-old should be able to relax better over this shorter trip and looks the one they all have to beat despite his big weight.

Yabher, another big contender this weekend for the Haggas stable, impressed me with a decisive win at Goodwood on his only start of the year so far and is clearly open to more progress, even though he’s been hiked up 12 pounds.

Draw key to Witness in Chester feature

Witness Stand, the horse I won last season’s Lennox Stakes on, has a plum draw in the feature race of the day at Chester on Sky Sports Racing – the Raymond And Kathleen Corbett Memorial City Plate Stakes (3.52).

Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole would have been thrilled with his second at Epsom to Ten Bob Tony, who went on to win the Group One Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, of course.

That was his first run following a wind operation and I expect him to go one better from a plum draw in stall six. He’s a sharp horse with course and distance form and can use his fitness edge to full advantage over Tiber Flow – another key Haggas runner who must overcome a lengthy lay-off.