Sheldrake Training Limited 'train An Apprentice' Handicap Stakes (gbbplus Race)

19:30 Newbury Wed 26 Aug 2026 1m2f Class 4 Good to Firm 9 runners

Mr Fox’s call

Edwin Hubble

SPECULATIVE Advised 7/2 Est. 30%

🥉 3RD

Mr Fox says

Edwin Hubble (SR:89, 7/2) combines the second-highest SR in the field with the most compelling market signal — a 22% inward move from the opening price, suggesting informed support. Oisin Murphy (21% career strike rate, 1354 runners) is the standout jockey booking in this apprentice-format handicap. DistFit:+ confirms he handles 1m2f and GoingFit:~ indicates moderate but workable form on good-to-firm ground. His form line 2-7251 shows a last-time-out win, and while his mark is up 3lb, his SR of 89 matches Empirical at identical weight, and the market is moving decisively his way rather than toward the 7/4 favourite. Each-way alternative: Fans Favourite. Main danger: Empirical — Empirical (SR:90, 7/4) is the joint SR-leader, has steamed 12% in the market, carries blinkers, and his form figures 3-8311 show a last-time-out win — if the blinkers sharpen him further at this trip, he's the most likely winner.

Verify· #14364

Full result

Winner: Magical Merlot (GB) at SP 4/1. Mr Fox’s picks highlighted in gold.

1 Magical Merlot Ed Dunlop · David Egan 13/2
2 Empirical Fox #2 Ed Walker · Kieran Shoemark 2/1
3 Edwin Hubble Fox #1 Brian Meehan · Oisin Murphy 11/4
4 Island Bear Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole · Billy Loughnane 14/1
5 Eagles Attire Oliver Cole · Hector Crouch 15/2
6 Livemore T J Kent · Callum Rodriguez 17/2
7 Guesstimate Fox #4 William Haggas · Tom Marquand 7/1
— Magnatura Tom Ward · Sean Levey 28/1
— Fans Favourite Fox #3 Hugo Palmer · Marco Ghiani 13/2

Top 4 — how each finished

1 Edwin Hubble 7/2 🥉 3RD
2 Empirical 7/4 🥈 2ND
3 Fans Favourite 13/2
4 Guesstimate 7/1 7TH