The Notebook - 27th June 2026

Not every big performance results in a headline victory. Sometimes it is the subtle runs, the late headway, the eye-catching move through the field, or the effort despite unfavourable conditions, that signal a horse ready to strike next time. Here are four runners who caught the eye this week and may be worth adding to your tracker for future races...

SPICY MARG

Having tipped, backed, doubled, and trebled Venetian Sun in the Commonwealth Cup on Friday, I would have been devastated if he got beat, let alone by Spicy Marg. No disrespect to Michael Bell’s filly, but Spicy Marg has been a cliff horse for me, so you can imagine my reaction when I saw her loom alongside the eventual winner. Thankfully, Venetian Sun stuck her neck out, but I was impressed with the runner up, who produced a clear career best and outperformed her massive odds of 50/1. She was seen to best effect on her final start last season, winning a listed race at Newmarket. She began this season over a mile, but sprinting trips are where she is most comfortable. She has speed, and that extra notch of stamina ensures she comes home well, and if she is on the premises in the final furlong, not many will come home better than her. A big prize could be lurking.

REGAL DESIRE

With a likely steep handicap mark incoming, connections of Regal Desire will probably be keen to win next time out after a brace of strong runner-up efforts. She produced a racing Post Rating of 76 on debut and in my opinion ran to a low 70s mark this latest time at Beverley. If on her final qualifying start, she ran to that level again, the handicapper would probably give her an opening mark of 75-78 which would be difficult to immediately win with. She was sent off 150/1 on debut, so little was expected but with the damage to the ratings already done, I’d imagine they would be especially keen to win next time. This latest occasion saw her badly hampered at a key stage before she ran on again to the line. She is a horse I’d keep on side for next time, then probably cut ties in handicap company.

BRUCE BANNER

Another eyecatcher from that Beverley card is Bruce Banner, who was caught in a world of trouble before running on to finish a never nearer second. There was significant market support behind this horse, and you can see why as he was almost certainly the best horse in the race but had traffic issues that cost him dearly. He hasn’t won on turf, which would put some people off, but there should be no issues with the surface after three placed efforts. It will be interesting to see if the market support remains next time out. He will no doubt be a short price wherever he lines up.

NIKOVO

After finishing a close fourth at Redcar last week, Nikovo has been very generously dropped a pound by the handicapper, taking his mark to 85. He is a hold-up horse, who must be played late and thus requires more luck in running than a prominent racer for example. This isn’t everyone’s favourite type of horse to back. This was evident last time out, as he was pulled out early to challenge, but didn’t really do much when he hit the final wave of runners. He is versatile trip wise, regularly switching between seven furlongs and a mile, but the latter is where he does most of his racing. He appears to be suited more to the all-weather, so a return to Newcastle could be fruitful, a venue in which he has won four times.