Setting the Scene at Fontwell Park

Now, I'll be the first to admit that when the lads in the office see me hunched over a flat racing card, they do a double-take. "Tom, have you lost the plot entirely?" they say. But listen — a £30,000 Class 2 mile handicap on a Thursday afternoon in July is the kind of race that rewards a sharp eye, and the Wellman Cars Private Hire Almada Mile Handicap Stakes at Fontwell Park is no exception. Six runners, a decent prize, and a fascinating mix of seasoned campaigners and lively three-year-olds. Pull up a stool and let's get into it.

The Fontwell Park racecard on 16 July 2026 has this as the feature contest, and rightly so. The 1m 68y trip on good to firm ground — good in places — is the kind of surface that separates the proper flat horses from those who've been flattered by easier conditions. We've got a rating band of 81-100, but with English Oak running off a mark of 102, the handicapper has clearly decided to make life interesting for connections. Grand stuff.

Contender-by-Contender Breakdown

1. English Oak (10-4) — The Favourite Under Pressure

Here's the one everyone will be looking at first, and fair enough — English Oak is a six-year-old gelding trained by Hamad Al Jehani, running off a top mark of 102 and carrying a chunky 10st 4lb. He's a proven distance winner, which counts for plenty, and Jack Nicholls takes the ride from stall two, which is a perfectly decent draw on this track. But here's my concern — that weight. Ten stone four in a competitive Class 2 on fast ground is no Sunday stroll. Al Jehani's horses tend to run their race, but English Oak will need to be at his very best to overcome that burden. Respect, but not blind faith.

2. Rhoscolyn (9-8) — The Wily Veteran

Eight years old and still lining up in Class 2 company — you have to admire the old boy. Rhoscolyn is trained by the ever-reliable David O'Meara and ridden by the excellent Daniel Tudhope, who knows a thing or two about getting a tune out of a horse on quick ground. He's a proven distance winner, he's drawn on the rail in stall one, and he's wearing a tongue tie — suggesting connections are trying to sharpen him up. O'Meara doesn't run horses for the craic; if Rhoscolyn is here, there's a reason. At 9st 8lb, the weight is manageable. Don't dismiss this old warrior lightly.

3. Salam Dubawi (9-3) — The Course Specialist

Now here's an interesting one. Salam Dubawi is a four-year-old gelding trained by Jim Goldie and ridden by the always-dangerous Paul Mulrennan. The key flag here is course winner — this horse has already won at Fontwell Park, and that matters more than people give it credit for. Goldie sends horses a long way when he fancies them, and the fact he's made the trip south with this one tells you something. At 9st 3lb off a mark of 87, he's got weight on his side relative to the top weights. Mulrennan is a man who can produce a horse at exactly the right moment. Keep him very much onside.

4. I'll Be Back (9-0) — The K.R. Burke Wildcard

A three-year-old colt from the yard of Karl Burke, ridden by Sam James — now there's a combination that has landed some nice touches over the years. I'll Be Back carries 9st 0lb off a mark of 92, which is a solid rating for a three-year-old stepping into Class 2 company. Burke is a trainer who operates with purpose; he doesn't throw his juveniles and three-year-olds into the deep end without good reason. No form flags to shout about here, but the age allowance and the stable's record with this type of horse makes him a genuine contender. The unknown quantity in the race.

5. Monarch's Gold (9-0) — The Philippart de Foy Danger

Kevin Philippart de Foy has been making serious waves in recent seasons, and Monarch's Gold represents his hand here. Another three-year-old gelding off 92, carrying 9st 0lb with David Egan in the saddle — and Egan is as good as they come when it comes to riding a race with his head. Drawn in stall three, right in the middle of the track, which suits a horse who may want to travel through the race rather than lead. No specific form flags, but Philippart de Foy's horses consistently run to their marks and beyond. This could be the one the market underestimates.

6. Noelan Star (8-12) — The Outsider With Claims

Edward Bethell sends out Noelan Star, a three-year-old gelding off a mark of 90, carrying the lightest weight in the field at 8st 12lb. Connor Beasley rides, and crucially — Noelan Star is a proven distance winner. That's not nothing. Bethell is a trainer on the up, and the light weight combined with distance form means this horse cannot simply be dismissed. Drawn widest of all in stall six on a tight track could be a minor inconvenience, but in a six-runner field, it's not a dealbreaker.

Going and Draw — What Does It All Mean?

Good to firm, good in places — this is proper summer ground, and it will find out any horse that wants give underfoot. Stamina and a clean action are at a premium here. The distance of 1m 68y at Fontwell is no straightforward gallop either; it's a track that rewards horses who settle and travel, rather than those who bash their way to the front and tie up late.

The draw in a six-runner field is relatively neutral, but stall one for Rhoscolyn on the rail is a mild positive, and stall six for Noelan Star is the only draw I'd flag as a minor negative. English Oak in two and Monarch's Gold in three are both well positioned. On fast ground, you want to be racing efficiently — wasted energy early on will cost you late.

Value Picks and My Selection

Right, here's where I put my neck on the line. English Oak is the class act in the race, but that 10st 4lb is a serious ask on quick ground, and I'm not convinced the market will offer enough value to compensate for the risk. I'll Be Back and Monarch's Gold are intriguing three-year-olds, but they're unproven at this level.

My selection is Salam Dubawi each-way. A course winner at Fontwell Park, travelling down from Jim Goldie's yard with Paul Mulrennan booked — that's a combination that screams intent. He's lightly weighted relative to the top of the handicap, he knows the track, and Mulrennan has the nous to produce him at exactly the right moment on ground that should suit his profile. At a mark of 87 in a field where the top weight is 102, he's getting weight from the big guns and he's proven here. That's the each-way angle I'm taking to the window.

For those who want a saver, keep an eye on Rhoscolyn in the market. O'Meara and Tudhope don't travel for fun, and the tongue tie addition suggests there's a fresh spark being sought in an eight-year-old who clearly retains ability. If the price is right, he's well worth a small each-way interest too.

Conclusion: A Race Worth Watching

The Wellman Cars Almada Mile Handicap might not be Ascot Gold Cup day, but it's a cracking little puzzle of a race — six runners, contrasting profiles, and a track that will expose any weakness in a horse's armoury. English Oak is the one to beat on ratings, but weight and fast ground make him beatable. Salam Dubawi is the value play, Rhoscolyn the sentimental each-way saver, and Monarch's Gold the one I'd watch in the market for any unexpected support.

Check the full Fontwell Park racecard for the latest non-runners and market moves before you commit. Good luck, and may the best horse win — preferably the one we've backed.

Who is the Favourite for the Wellman Cars Almada Mile Handicap Stakes?

English Oak is expected to head the market as the top-rated runner in the field, carrying 10st 4lb off a mark of 102. Trained by Hamad Al Jehani and ridden by Jack Nicholls, he's a proven distance winner with strong credentials — though his weight burden on fast ground makes him vulnerable to lighter-weighted rivals.

Does the Draw Matter at Fontwell Park for the Almada Mile?

In a small six-runner field over 1m 68y at Fontwell Park, the draw is a minor rather than decisive factor. Stall one for Rhoscolyn on the rail carries a slight advantage in terms of saving ground, while stall six for Noelan Star is the only position that could be considered marginally unfavourable. Broadly speaking, racing style and fitness will matter far more than the draw here.

Can a Three-Year-Old Win the Almada Mile Handicap at Fontwell?

Absolutely — and it wouldn't be a surprise. Three-year-olds I'll Be Back, Monarch's Gold, and Noelan Star all carry the age allowance and race off competitive marks. Trainers like K.R. Burke and Kevin Philippart de Foy are well-versed in placing their three-year-olds to maximum effect in Class 2 handicaps during the summer months, and the weight-for-age concessions they receive make them genuine threats to the older horses in this field.