REIGN AND SHINE

Bright set to light up Newbury’s Hackwood Stakes over ideal trip

SHINE SO BRIGHT is expected to rediscover his lustre back at six furlongs in the Group 3 bet365 Hackwood Stakes (4.00) at Newbury today.

Andrew Balding, who runs the fancied Pivoine in York’s John Smith’s Cup this afternoon, saddled Shine So Bright to beat Laurens in the Group 2 City Of York Stakes over seven furlongs on the final day of the Ebor Festival last August.

Shine So Bright hasn’t matched that form in four starts since, including when third in the Listed Surrey Stakes, in which he tore off in the lead before fading close home, at Epsom two weeks ago. Silvestre De Sousa will surely adopt similar tactics, and Shine So Bright could prove hard to peg back. VIRGIN SNOW

was beaten at short odds at Newcastle three weeks ago but gets the vote to return to winning ways back on turf in the Listed bet365 Aphrodite Stakes (3.25).

After a taking debut at Doncaster at the end of June, Oisin Murphy’s METHOD mount deserves a crack at Listed company for the bet365 Rose Bowl Stakes (2.15). TONYX

Murphy (below) partners in the following British EBF/bet365 Premier Fillies’ Handicap (2.50), and Ed Walker’s unbeaten filly features on an attractive mark. UNIVERSAL ORDER

At York, is fancied to give Jamie Spencer, who is back in the saddle after breaking his hip in April, a winning comeback in the Group 3 John Smith’s Silver Cup (1.55). David Simcock’s fouryear-old won his sixth race from 10 starts when capturing the Listed Fred Archer Stakes at Newmarket last time out – and still has more to offer.

A drop in class and trip will help last Saturday’s July Cup sixth EQUILATERAL

in the Listed John Smith’s City Walls Stakes (3.05), ARCTIC FOX while has plenty going for her in the William Hill Extra Places Every Day Handicap (3.40).