Sean Levey Saturday rides blog: 'He deserves to be the favourite, which he is'

Sean Levey has six rides at Newbury on Saturday, July 18. The leading jockey previews them all in his latest blog.

Sean Levey Saturday rides blog - July 18, 2026

Sean Levey Saturday rides schedule - Newbury

• Persica - Newbury - 1.55 race odds

• Almuhit - Newbury - 2.25 race odds

• Soldier's Tree - Newbury - 3.02 race odds

• Rollthedicebaby - Newbury - 3.37 race odds

• Aura Champagne - Newbury - 4.12 race odds

• Tavana - Newbury - 5.20 race odds

1.55 - Persica

We kick things off on Saturday with Persica at Newbury, and he's been running great this year, he's just been unlucky on a couple of occasions. He deserves to be favourite, as he is. The only thing I would worry about is firm ground on that track. I can remember him running in the Lockinge and he didn't do what we wanted him to on that ground. But he's an older horse now, and so maybe that's not anything we need to worry about anymore.

2.25 - Almuhit

Almuhit is next in the Summer Plate for Faye Bramley. He struggled up north a couple of months ago, as it didn't work out for us. He's a frontrunner that likes to dictate, and he likes to do it in a small field. Up north, he was running in a big handicap with plenty of pace on, and he just did not like it. You can see he was second at Newbury last time out though, back under the kind of conditions he likes. He ran a huge race on that day, so if he does the same thing this weekend, I'd like to think he'd have a real good chance. 

3.02 - Soldier's Tree

I've got Soldier's Tree in the Hackwood Stakes for James Owen. He's not one I know a whole lot about up to now, but he comes here in great form and is rightfully favourite based on what I've seen. Everything points to him having a very good chance here.