Hopeful Stakes (Sponsored By Blackwell Earthmoving) (Listed Race)

15:19 Newmarket (July) Sat 22 Aug 2026 6f Class 1 Good to Firm 8 runners

Mr Fox’s call

Prince Of India

SPECULATIVE Advised 5/4 SP 6/4F Est. 38%

🏆 WON

Mr Fox says

Prince Of India (SR:118, 5/4) is the highest-rated horse in this seven-runner Listed field by a clear margin and arrives having run just 7 days ago — suggesting peak fitness — while the market has continued to back him in a further 24% from opening price, signalling strong professional confidence. His Course:W1P1 record at Newmarket July confirms he handles this track, GoingFit:+ confirms comfort on good to firm, and a top-class jockey booking in Pat Dobbs (16% career strike rate) adds further confidence. The main concern is MarkMv:+13 — he's running off a mark 13lb higher than his last win — and DistFit:~ indicates only a moderate record at 6f, but at this level the SR advantage of 7 points over the next-best (Elarak) and strong money support make him the clear pick. Each-way alternative: Elarak. Main danger: Elarak — Elarak (SR:111, 9/2) has steamed in 26% in the market, holds Course:W1P1 form at Newmarket July, and confirmed DistFit:+ and GoingFit:+ at 6f on good to firm — the combination of course-specific evidence and strong late money makes him the most credible threat to Prince Of India.

Verify· #13730

Full result

Winner: Prince Of India (IRE) at SP 6/4F. Mr Fox’s picks highlighted in gold.

1 Prince Of India Fox #1 Marco Botti · Pat Dobbs 13/8
2 Elarak Fox #2 Charles Hills · David Probert 7/2
3 Dubai Bling Hugo Palmer · Joe Leavy 16/1
4 Caburn James Tate · Dylan Hogan 50/1
5 Words Of Truth Fox #3 Charlie Appleby · Connor Planas 3/1
6 Midnight Tango Ed Walker · Ashley Lewis 25/1
7 Quinault Fox #4 Stuart Williams · Silvestre De Sousa 6/1
— Royal Zabeel Michael Appleby · Alistair Rawlinson -

Top 4 — how each finished

1 Prince Of India 5/4 SP 6/4F 🏆 WON
2 Elarak 9/2 🥈 2ND
3 Words Of Truth 7/2 5TH
4 Quinault 11/2 7TH