Francophone is set to take on the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Chalice Stakes at Newmarket on Friday, moving up in distance while stepping down in class. Trained by Charlie Johnston, the daughter of Study Of Man has previously demonstrated her ability at this level, capturing the Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood in May 2024 and following up with a victory in the Listed Rosemary Stakes at Newmarket in September, where she narrowly defeated Hey Boo by three-quarters of a length.

Although Francophone has fallen short in each of her four Group-level starts this season, her most recent performance at the Curragh suggests she remains competitive. Racing over 10 furlongs in the Group 3 Meadow Court Stakes, she finished a promising fourth behind Moody despite long odds of 14-1. This will mark her first attempt at the mile-and-a-half distance, a step up that her pedigree indicates could be advantageous.

Later in the day at Thirsk, the William Hill Summer Cup features an 11-runner field contesting a handicap over a mile. Among them, Mr Swivell appears a leading candidate. The five-year-old son of City Light recorded three wins in handicap races during 2025 for trainer Kevin Philippart de Foy. While he has yet to score this year in four starts, his recent second-place finish to The Lost King at York is encouraging.

In that York race, Mr Swivell, ridden by Cam Hardie for the first time, finished a length and a quarter behind the progressive The Lost King. Despite a 3-pound weight penalty for this outing, connections remain optimistic about his chances to improve and potentially secure a first victory of the season. The overall form of the race remains largely unproven, but Mr Swivell’s recent effort suggests he is capable of making a significant impact in the competitive William Hill Summer Cup.