18+ | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
Header
Text here
Header
Text here

Formscan  - NEVER SO BRAVE has yet to show his best form this year but there have been excuses for his two defeats. The five-year-old won the City Of York over C&D in August and it would be no surprise to see him bounce back to form at this venue. Saber Strike was well backed when sixth in the Jersey a week ago and it is far too soon to be writing off the unexposed colt. Cases can be made for all of the remainder, but Chicago Critic is arguably the pick of them.

14
0-37
Balmacara (GB) 5,b g 9-8

New Bay (GB)-Utopian Dream(High Chaparral)

(21) d2 (Mick and Janice Mariscotti)
Rated 105

Head to Head

In the last 3 years Balmacara (GB) has met

HorseNo. Of times
Never So Brave (IRE)1
6th Jun 2026 Epsom(7f 3yds, Flat, Soft) Never So Brave (IRE) 5th (15/8Fav 9-2 Rated 116) Oisin Murphy 3.00L in front of Balmacara (GB) 7th (25/1 9-2 Rated 105) Charles Bishop (8 ran)
sp
Chicago Critic (GB)1
6th Jun 2026 Epsom(7f 3yds, Flat, Soft) Chicago Critic (GB) 4th (25/1 9-2 Rated 106) Ben Martin Coen 5.50L in front of Balmacara (GB) 7th (25/1 9-2 Rated 105) Charles Bishop (8 ran)
sp
26
6484
Chicago Critic (GB) 5,ch g 9-8

Night Of Thunder (IRE)-Criticism(Machiavellian)

cp5(21) (Sam Mencoff & Tony Smurfit)
Rated 106

Head to Head

In the last 3 years Chicago Critic (GB) has met

HorseNo. Of times
Never So Brave (IRE)2
6th Jun 2026 Epsom(7f 3yds, Flat, Soft) Chicago Critic (GB) 4th (25/1 9-2 Rated 106) Ben Martin Coen 2.50L in front of Never So Brave (IRE) 5th (15/8Fav 9-2 Rated 116) Oisin Murphy (8 ran)
sp
22nd Jun 2024 Ascot(7f , Flat, Good to Firm) Chicago Critic (GB) 3rd (80/1 9-3 Rated 97) Ben Martin Coen 3.25L in front of Never So Brave (IRE) 6th (8/1 9-3 Rated 101) Saffie Osborne (19 ran)
sp
Balmacara (GB)1
6th Jun 2026 Epsom(7f 3yds, Flat, Soft) Chicago Critic (GB) 4th (25/1 9-2 Rated 106) Ben Martin Coen 5.50L in front of Balmacara (GB) 7th (25/1 9-2 Rated 105) Charles Bishop (8 ran)
sp
35
7-55
Never So Brave (IRE) 5,b g 9-8

No Nay Never (USA)-Chica Whopa(Oasis Dream)

(21) cd1 (Mr Saeed Suhail)
Rated 115

Head to Head

In the last 3 years Never So Brave (IRE) has met

HorseNo. Of times
Qirat (GB)1
23rd Aug 2025 York(7f , Flat, Good to Firm-Good in places) Never So Brave (IRE) 1st (7/2 9-8 Rated 115) Oisin Murphy 2.26L in front of Qirat (GB) 5th (20/1 9-8 Rated 115) C T Keane (10 ran)
sp
Chicago Critic (GB)2
6th Jun 2026 Epsom(7f 3yds, Flat, Soft) Chicago Critic (GB) 4th (25/1 9-2 Rated 106) Ben Martin Coen 2.50L in front of Never So Brave (IRE) 5th (15/8Fav 9-2 Rated 116) Oisin Murphy (8 ran)
sp
22nd Jun 2024 Ascot(7f , Flat, Good to Firm) Chicago Critic (GB) 3rd (80/1 9-3 Rated 97) Ben Martin Coen 3.25L in front of Never So Brave (IRE) 6th (8/1 9-3 Rated 101) Saffie Osborne (19 ran)
sp
Balmacara (GB)1
6th Jun 2026 Epsom(7f 3yds, Flat, Soft) Never So Brave (IRE) 5th (15/8Fav 9-2 Rated 116) Oisin Murphy 3.00L in front of Balmacara (GB) 7th (25/1 9-2 Rated 105) Charles Bishop (8 ran)
sp
42
0-47
Qirat (GB) 5,ch g 9-8

Showcasing (GB)-Emulous(Dansili)

ts1(22) d3 (Juddmonte)
Rated 109

Head to Head

In the last 3 years Qirat (GB) has met

HorseNo. Of times
Never So Brave (IRE)1
23rd Aug 2025 York(7f , Flat, Good to Firm-Good in places) Never So Brave (IRE) 1st (7/2 9-8 Rated 115) Oisin Murphy 2.26L in front of Qirat (GB) 5th (20/1 9-8 Rated 115) C T Keane (10 ran)
sp

First Time - Tonguestrap Qirat» Full list of First Time Gear

Probable SP 1/1 Never So Brave, 11/8 Saber Strike, 12/1 Qirat, 14/1 Chicago Critic, 20/1 Royal Velvet, 66/1 Balmacara.

Previous Years

Symbols Explained

WS Wind Surgery ts2 Tongue Strap vs2 Visor hd2 Hood es2 Eye Shield ec2 Eye Cover cp2 Cheekpiece bl2 Blinkers tt2 Tongue Tie bo2 Blinkers one cowl e2 Ear Plugs p2 Pacifier pc2 Pacifier with cowls ps2 Pacifier one cowl sr2 Shadow Roll co2 Cheekpiece one side sb2 Sheepskin Browband cc2 Cornell Collar xb2 Crossed Nose Band cd2 Course and Distance Winner c2 Course Winner d2 Distance Winner bf Beaten Favourite on Last Run

The superscript number on headgear bl2 indicates number of times worn. A plus bl+ indicates more than 10 times where as red background bl1indicates first time.

Trainer/Jockey In Form last 21 days

Trainer/Jockey
Wins
Runs
%
A Balding/Oisin Murphy
7
29
24

William Haggas/Tom Marquand
4
23
17

William Knight/Marco Ghiani
2
7
28

For Trainer/Jockeys in this race

Trainers In Form last 21 days

Trainer
Wins
Runs
%
A Balding
14
82
17

William Haggas
13
72
18

Ralph Beckett
11
65
16

Eve Johnson Houghton
7
59
11

J P Murtagh
3
31
9

William Knight
3
23
13

For Trainers in this race

Jockeys In Form last 21 days

Jockey
Wins
Runs
%
Oisin Murphy
18
108
16

O J Orr
12
43
27

Tom Marquand
9
66
13

C Lee
6
61
9

Marco Ghiani
5
51
9

S De Sousa
5
64
7

For Jockeys in this race

Flat Trainer Stats for York

Trainer
Wins
Runs
%
William Haggas
116
592
20

A Balding
65
449
14

Ralph Beckett
45
312
14

Eve Johnson Houghton
9
71
13

William Knight
7
61
11

J P Murtagh
2
15
13

For Trainers in this race

Flat Trainer Stats for York

Jockey
Wins
Runs
%
S De Sousa
46
477
10

Tom Marquand
46
322
14

Oisin Murphy
30
178
17

O J Orr
13
195
7

Marco Ghiani
4
28
14

C Lee
1
23
4

For Jockeys in this race

Course Form for York

Horse
Wins
Runs
Never So Brave (IRE)
1
1
Qirat (GB)
0
1
Royal Velvet (GB)
1
1