100 Flat horses nominated by trainers, jockeys and owners
100 Flat horses nominated by trainers, jockeys and owners

Horse to follow 2020 Flat season: 100 horses you need in your My Stable trackers for the new season


We've spoken to over 50 top trainers, jockeys and owners and here's the Sporting Life 100 - horses you need in your My Stable tracker this season.

  • Click on the horse name to see full profile, free video form and add to My Stable

Alix James - Iain Jardine

He had a very consistent first season and deserved to break his maiden tag on his final start at Musselburgh. I think he’ll be a nice fun horse for the season who doesn’t mind a bit of juice in the ground. He’s quite a handy horse, so tracks like Musselburgh and Catterick suit him really well.

Alternative Fact - Ed Dunlop

This Listed placed son of Dalakhani has always been a horse close to my heart and after going off the boil slightly was very impressive last time out when winning at Newmarket in a competitive handicap. He has wintered well and should be ready to go once racing resumes.

Arthurian Fable - Martin Dwyer

He's a really nice three-year-old colt by Sea The Stars. He ran three times last year, was second at Newmarket and then finished third to a really nice one of Richard Hughes' called Brentford Hope who looked like a Group One horse the way he came past us. He has improved and looks quite lowly handicapped off a mark of 81 so hopefully there are plenty of races in him.

Bookmark our Stable Tours index ahead of resumption
Bookmark our Stable Tours index ahead of resumption

Astro Jakk - John Dance

He came to prominence over the winter. We’d always had quite a high opinion of him once he got running and maybe it took us a few goes to get to the bottom of him and work out his right trip and what we needed to get the best out of him. He won a handicap last time out quite comfortably by about four lengths off a mark of 85 and he’d be one for five and six furlong sprint handicaps. He has the potential to see his rating rise quite a bit yet.

Barbill - Mick Channon

He was a typical very good two-year-old who just missed his three-year-old career. They say good two-year-olds make very good four-year-olds and he’s in good form. He’s off 92 and I think that’s a winning mark. He won a Group Three as a juvenile, he’s been gelded and is a different horse now. I think he could make up into a really nice sprinter.

Bielsa - Kevin Ryan

He improved from a mark in the 80s to 101. He’s the type of horse we’d look to aim at races like the Wokingham or Stewards' Cup.

Blonde Warrior - David O'Meara

He’s come to the yard having previously been with Hugo Palmer. I think he’s quite classy and could be well enough handicapped.

Blow Your Horn - Charlie Fellowes

He ran a lovely debut at Newcastle and then fluffed his lines on his second start when getting no cover against a big strong headwind. He was just too keen and the race just didn’t go right over a mile. He’s a lot better than that, hopefully he can get back on track. Trip-wise he might get a mile and a quarter, he’s probably a nice handicapper and is one to follow.

Boccaccio - James Doyle

He's by Dubawi out of J Wonder and is two from two. He won nicely at Yarmouth in May then had a minor setback before reappearing at Kempton in November. He won very nicely that day. He's a very good looking colt, is rated 95 and it will be interesting to see what route Charlie takes him down. I sat on him the other morning - just a canter - and it feels like he's done very well over the winter.

Bollin Joan - Tim Easterby

She had a great time of it last season, winning twice at Doncaster and then at Catterick on her final start. We’ll try to win a big fillies’ handicap with her this time around.

Boosala - James Doyle

He's a three-year-old colt by Dawn Approach and is two from two. I rode him first time out at Windsor when he did really well to win from a bad draw. Second time he went to York and won very impressively. From what I hear he's training really well and he could be a really nice one to look forward to.

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Brian Epstein - Richard Morecambe

He is working extremely well this spring. His trainer thinks he could develop into a Group class horse but is currently rated 93 so will start off in handicaps and we’re really excited about him.

Bungledupinblue - George Scott

She would be my star pick of the whole string of juveniles at the moment I think. She's got loads of speed from what we're seeing at home and she'll be ready to run as soon as the five furlong novices start. I'd be hopeful she can be competitive first time out.

Carlos Felix - David Simcock

He was an expensive purchase and is a Lope De Vega half-brother to Here Comes When. He’s had a good winter and has a mark of 78 which should be very workable. Hopefully we’ll go through the ranks with him, he’ll find his feet and there are races to be won. He’ll end up being a nice horse one day.

Collide - Hugo Palmer

He could make up into an Ebor horse, he's rated 101 and may need to win again to get into that race. He had a breathing operation last year but it was great to get him back to win in the south of France and we always thought a mile and six might be in his compass. We know the full brother (Logician) stays a mile and six and providing we have the wind blowing in our favour I don't see any reason why he won't either.

Continental - Jedd O'Keeffe and John Dance

JOK: She’s a filly John Dance bought as a yearling and paid a few quid for. She just had a number of niggly little problems last year that stopped her getting to the track but we nearly had her ready. This year she’s grown, strengthened and is a very powerful filly. We haven’t done much fast work with her yet, she started later on, but what we saw last year means she’s one we’re excited about.

JD: I’d love to have a great horse with Jedd, he and his family and the whole yard there are a joy to work with and deserve a good horse. This is an exciting filly and probably the horse Jess and I are most excited about for 2020.

Kameko features among the 30 youngsters to follow
Kameko features among the 30 youngsters to follow

Conversant - Denis Hogan

He loves an ease in the ground. He won well at The Curragh in October, and he ran well again six days later at Galway. He might not get his ground again now until the autumn, but he could still be relatively well handicapped, and Joey Sheridan gets a good tune out of him. He could be one for Listowel.

Current Option - Ado McGuinness

He has really come on, he has developed over the winter. I think that he could be a Royal Hunt Cup type of horse. He as obviously well handicapped going into the Leopardstown race on Irish Champions Weekend, and he got 5lb for that, but I still think that he can go higher again. He could step up in class too. He is one of the most exciting horses we’ve had.

Custodian - Richard Fahey

He won his maiden at Pontefract last season. He was backward and we minded him last year and we were delighted to see him win. He’s strengthened up and matured over the winter and is a very nice colt.

Dance Fever - Sam Hoskins

Unbeaten in three and rated 91. He’s working well with some good horses this spring and we hope he could be a Britannia horse but will start off on the all-weather as a prep for something. Hopefully he can scale through the three-year-old handicaps and turn into a Listed or Group horse in due course.

Dancing Harry - Roger Charlton

He’s a good looking, strong colt by Camelot. He hadn’t shown us much prior to his debut at Newbury in October. The ground was very testing and at halfway he looked to be going nowhere. However, as the race progressed he started getting there, picking off his rivals and in the end he won well. I think stamina is his strong suit and he handled the ground better than some of his rivals who may have still been a bit weak, particularly on that surface. The form is difficult to assess but I think he will improve with age and will get a trip.

Dancinginthewoods - Dean Ivory

Is a horse that I’m looking forward to seeing this season. He’s an honest, gutsy horse and I think that he’s a horse for the future. I think he’ll appreciate a bit of cut in the ground and although he was a little disappointing in his final run of last season, he’s come back looking great.

Dawaam - Owen Burrows

He’s lightly-raced for a four-year-old but he’s won his two starts and is exciting. He was impressive at Wolverhampton and depending on how things go I’d like to think he’ll be a stakes horse. He’s rated 96 so we have an option of starting in a handicap if we wanted to but I’d like to think he’s better than that and he could be anything. We’ll probably start over a mile but I’m sure he’ll get ten furlongs. He has a good mind on him and is an exciting one to have around.

Dick Datchery - David O'Meara

I think he’ll come on plenty from his two-year-old campaign. He looks really well at the moment and I’m looking forward to getting started with him.

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Divina Gloria - Kevin Ryan

She is a filly I really like. She only ran once last season, winning at Thirsk in August. She was a big tall two-year-old and I was slightly surprised she could win on debut despite us always holding her in high regard. She could be very exciting this season.

Domino Darling - Tom Marquand

She's a Golden Horn filly who won first time out at Doncaster in October. She won extremely nicely and comfortably in the end. It looked a strong race seeing them all in the paddock and down at the start. She didn't have a smack at all, in typical William Haggas style, and had a really nice way about her.

Dream Game - Ben Haslam

I think back against her own sex, she could prove very dangerous. She's a robust, stocky filly with a good turn of foot and if we can put her to sleep early in her races, she should be seen good effect at places like Redcar and York.

Dreamweaver - Ed Walker

He'd be a lesser light but a progressive four-year-old handicapper for this year. I trained the dam (Livia's Dream) and she just got better and better with age. I think he'll stay well this year, he's been lightly raced and we've looked after him. Aside from not liking the ground at Newmarket he had quite a successful campaign last year. He's rated 80 but I wouldn't be surprised if he could continue to climb the ladder this year.

Edmond Dantes - David Menusier

He's by Alhebayeb and in my experience they seem to need a bit of time to come to themselves. He's a half-brother to History Writer so I think he's needed time to come to himself too. I'd be hopeful he can win a race or two this year, he won over a mile and two but I might try him up over a mile and a half. He goes on any ground and could be a nice handicapper to follow.

Enemy - David Redvers

A very well bred Muhaarar colt who bolted up in his maiden at Ascot. That was his only run and he’s held in high regard by John Gosden.

English King - Tom Marquand

I was very fortunate to sit on him when winning second time out up at Newcastle. He was an extremely impressive winner of a maiden and I barely had to take him off the bridle. He looks like he's going to be a really nice horse - possibly a Derby horse - he's by Camelot, has a really nice way about him and also showed plenty of class when winning.

Fair Star - Brian Ellison

He was a good fifth at Cheltenham in a good bumper and then won his next two at Wolverhampton. I think he’s got loads of potential.

Buckhurst features among Fran's horses to follow
Buckhurst features among Fran's horses to follow

Faylaq - Jim Crowley

He's got a fabulous pedigree being by Dubawi out of an Arc winner in Danedream. It's a pedigree that gets better with age and while he hasn't set the world alight so far I've still got very high hopes for him. I'm sure William Haggas has got plans for him and I expect him to be a much better horse this season.

Fennaan - Philip Makin

He is a nice horse who we learnt a lot about throughout the year. I’ll campaign him differently this time. He needs dropping in and taking your time with him. These tactics can be hard to execute, but if they do work in a race he has plenty of ability as he showed when he won well at Newcastle at the backend of the year. We slightly tinkered with his wind and i’m sure he can win a race or two for us this year.

Final Option - Martin Dwyer

She's a nice filly by Lethal Force. She won impressively on debut at Ripon last year and then ran fourth in the Dick Poole at Salisbury. She went very weak and only ran a further twice but has improved and looks a lot stronger as a three-year-old. She could be a horse to follow once racing gets going again.

Frankenstella - John Quinn

She’s a grand filly. She had one run at Nottingham and she showed plenty of ability in the maiden won by Moonlight In Paris. Over middle distances she should improve plenty.

Garsman - Martin Dixon

He's quite an exciting young sprinter. We picked him up for 15,000 guineas at the autumn sales last year and he's already won both of his starts for us. We expect him to be fine on the grass and fine on soft ground too as there's a lot of soft turf performers in his family - that could trigger further improvement. We potentially anticipate quite a bit of further improvement as he's from a family of good sprint handicappers on the turf.

Galeola - Sheila Lavery

She was always a big backward filly here, she was so big, she wouldn’t have done a huge amount of work early on. She didn’t make her racecourse debut until the November of her three-year-old year. The ground was fast in Leopardstown in August, and she won on yielding ground at Tipperary, so I don’t think that she is ground dependent. She should be ready to go in July, and we’ll take it from there.

Gallaside - Hollie Doyle

He's one for Apple Tree Stud and Archie Watson trains him. He won three on the bounce at two and was physically a bit of a monster. He's been very pleasing in his work at home and has retained a lot of his speed which we were surprised about. We've always thought he'd do well as a three-year-old so I'm looking forward to seeing him back out.

George Cornelius - Karl Burke

He’s an interesting one, he only ran twice in Ireland and was sent to us during the winter. He had quite a big reputation after bolting up first time out at Dundalk but he had injuries and things after that and things seemed to go wrong for him. He’s a little bit of a hard horse to train as he’s edgy still, but he’s got ability alright.

Glorious Caesar - Ed Walker

All his form's on the all-weather from the winter but I think he'll be much better on grass and he'll stay well stepped up in trip. I think he's a well handicapped horse on his revised mark of 78.

Grandads Best Girl - Linda Perratt

She only had three runs last year and encouragingly her last run was the best. After two runs at Musselburgh, she obviously learnt a lot, as we took her to Newcastle where she ran a really good race, finishing third beaten just over two lengths. She’s had a nice break and we’ll look at some handicaps against her own age at places like Hamilton.

Hats Off To Larry - Mick Channon

We think there’s a good race in him. He’ll get anything from a mile-and-a-quarter to a mile-and-a-half and maybe a bit further. We think he’s a very good horse who could win a big handicap if things go right.

Heliac - Ger Lyons

She’s a lovely filly. She’s been slow to come to hand but she is that type and we’ve trained her from day one with a four-year-old career in mind. It's all about stakes races with her now and she’ll love the 12 furlongs this year. She was a rake of a filly but she’s done well, looks great and I think she’ll come into her own now. I hope we can at least get her stakes placed.

Highland Dress - Hollie Doyle

He's a horse on the up. Archie dropped him down to six furlongs from a mile which he had been running over in Ireland and that seems to be have been the key to him. We really like him and he has the potential to be one for races such as the Stewards' Cup or the Ayr Gold Cup all being well. His work has been excellent.

HMS President - Eve Johnson-Houghton

Won well at the backend at Newcastle and is another who has grown and done well over the winter. I’m hoping for a nice campaign with him. We’re not sure how far he can go – hopefully it might be quite a long way.

Hukum - Jim Crowley

He's a three-year-old by Sea The Stars and a gorgeous-looking horse. He came from a long way back to win his maiden at Kempton last year. I'm hoping he's going to turn out to be a decent middle-distance horse.

He's got the pedigree and he's certainly got the looks so he's one I'm really looking forward to.

Imperium - Roger Charlton

He’s a very big horse who was quite immature as a two and three year old. He’s got a nice pedigree and he surprised us a little last year. When he won at Kempton if you looked where he was three furlongs out he wasn’t winning anything but he stayed on and his best furlong was his last furlong. He was a touch unlucky at Lingfield over two miles when he was drawn wide in a slowly run race. He’s at the right end of the handicap with a mark of 77 and races between a mile-and-a-half and two miles should really suit him.

Involved - George Boughey

He was bought by Sam Haggas at the October Horses in Training Sale. He was trained by Dan Kubler before and was a two-time winner. He’s currently rated 77 and his work suggests he might be a little bit better than that. He looks a fun sort of horse who hopefully might be able to run in some nicer races as the year goes on.

Ironclad - Hugo Palmer

He's beautifully bred being by Dubawi out of Heat Haze and he's another who has been gelded which could be the making of him. We couldn't work out why he didn't win his last start and it turned out he picked up a small fracture which has healed well. His work as been as good as ever. He's another who wouldn't want to hear his hooves rattle in terms of underfoot conditions but I think he's well handicapped from a mark of 86. He indicates in his homework that he should rate a good deal higher in time.

Oisin's comments on Military March's midweek work
Oisin's comments on Military March's midweek work

It Had To Be You - Jedd O'Keeffe

He was formerly with William Haggas and was placed in his first two races. He’s been gelded and sent north to us by Normandie Stud Limited. He has a beautiful page. He’s by Frankel out of Fallen For You, who won the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. He’s a half-brother to Glorious Journey who was very useful for Godolphin. He’s a lovely looking horse and I’m excited to have our first Frankel.

Jamais Assez - Karl Burke

He’s by Invincible Spirit and certainly hasn’t shown what he’s capable of doing yet. He’s wintered really well and starts the year off a mark of 78 and I’d say he’ll be very capable from that mark. He’s been gelded since he raced last in October.

King Ottokar - Charlie Fellowes

He looked very impressive on his first start last year when beating a very good field. Then a couple of things went against him, we wanted to try and run him in the Derby and he didn’t stay 1m4f in the Chester Vase, then he ran a blinder at Royal Ascot when having a horrible trip wide and out the back. I made a mistake by dropping him back to a mile after that, I think he would’ve won with a clear run but he was just always using a gear too much. I think 10 furlongs is his bag. He’s great, working well and I still think he’s a proper horse. He loves soft ground and we could look at races around Europe.

Lampang - Tim Easterby

Like Art Power, he’s a very exciting horse and one we’re looking forward to. He won his first two starts as a two-year-old and has wintered well. He’s a cracking horse and was entered in the Guineas but I don’t think he’d have run there.

Lil Grey - Sheila Lavery

She’s really good. I probably over-raced her a bit last year, but she still ran some really good races. She’s not overly big, and she hasn’t grown much during the winter, but she has a massive stride. She doesn’t have the stride of a small horse. I think she’ll stay seven furlongs all right. She was only just beaten in the Anglesey Stakes over six and a half. Whether or not she’ll stay a mile, we don’t know for sure yet. She’s entered in the 1000 Guineas and, of course it depends how things pan out, but we’ll let her take her chance there if we can.

Lord Halifax - Charlie Fellowes

He bolted up at Kempton in December and I ran him under a penalty after that, he just didn’t get a good trip around Lingfield. He’s better than he was at Chelmsford last time out where he was too lit up. I think he’s going to be a nice stayer, we’ve really been patient with him and I think he’ll be good for handicaps this season – perhaps a similar type to Carnwennan last year. I think he’ll stay two miles in time.

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Download Sporting Life's new App for both Apple and Android devices

Lovers Cry - John Dance

Very green on debut, we stepped her up in trip for her second start and she finished a very promising second. She’s a filly when we step up in trip and the penny drops a little more she could be decent. She’s a big, scopey, beautiful daughter of Cityscape. I have a soft spot for her.

Luigi Vampa - David Menusier

He's a lovely horse, he's closely related to Danceteria and has the same sort of profile but is a much better horse than Danceteria was at the same age. Hopefully he will prove me right as I have a lot of time for him.

Mackem Missile - Brian Ellison

Has run twice at Newcastle, both in February, and really came on from her first run to finish a good second last time out. I think she’s useful and can do well this season.

Maori Knight - Richard Hughes

Ran well enough on his first two starts but was then really impressive winning at Chelmsford in February. I’ll be looking to step him up in trip as I think he’ll get a mile-and-a-half in time.

Magical Memory - Sam Hoskins

Back after two years off and showing all the spark of old. The idea would be to run in something like the Wokingham or Stewards’ Cup with a run at one of the new all-weather meetings beforehand, maybe a conditions race. He could be interesting this season.

Malika I Jahan - Martin Dixon

She's very lightly raced and, like I say, she's well bred and we think she's just the type of filly Mick will get the most out of it. So we're very hopeful there could be some mileage in her rating of 72. Ultimately our aim would be to try and get her up towards some black type races, it's a long way off but if we can do with her what we've done with some of the geldings we've bought previously and improve her 20lb or so then she will be getting towards that kind of race potentially.

Master The Stars - Ed Dunlop

This son of Sea the Stars ran a promising maiden last year when running fifth in what is looking like a competitive event at Yarmouth. He has done very well over the winter and looks a stronger and more powerful horse. I am hopeful of him progressing into a nice type.

Melody King - John Quinn

He won first time at Thirsk and then ran really well under a penalty next time. He’s a nice horse, I can see him doing well and ending up in decent gigs.

Motion - Mark Johnston

She’s an unraced three-year-old daughter of Attraction – by Invincible Spirit. We had a difficult year with her in 2019 and a few setbacks, something she has in common with her mother in that she hasn’t been the most straightforward to train so far. But hopefully also in common with her mother, she has some ability. We’ve had a clean run with her this spring and she’s working nicely. She’ll be ready to roll as soon as racing comes along and is one we’re hugely looking forward for her owner-breeders.

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Check out Mark Howard's view on the Classic crop

Muhaarar's Nephew - Owen Burrows

We had a decent year with him. He won well at Beverley on ground that Dane O’Neill said he handled but wasn’t in love with, and was second to a horse of John Gosden's called Dubai Warrior who is now rated 114. My horse ended the season by winning a handicap at Chelmsford and will be effective at a mile or a mile-and-a-quarter. He is another one we’ll have some fun with this year.

Narak - George Scott

She won on her last start and I think she'll step up in trip, she's got a pretty impressive pedigree and she's been a very slow-maturing filly. But she's also doing really well this year and looks to have improved.

Nigel Nott - David Simcock

I was disappointed he didn’t win his final start from a mark of 84 but he looks progressive and is another late-developer who we think is at the right end of the handicap. He’s one to follow.

One Step Beyond - Richard Spencer

He's still a maiden and picked up a little injury after his second start at Doncaster where he went off favourite. He's done very well through the winter and I'd like to think he can break his maiden and progress through the ranks. He wouldn't have any issue staying a mile either and he's a nice horse to keep on side.

Overwrite - Mark Johnston

I’m quite looking forward to seeing this horse, who had three runs as a two-year-old last year. He got considerably better with each one of them, he was quite disappointing first time out then finished second at Chester. He then won by six lengths at Brighton towards the back end, and he’s the sort of horse I could see progressing through the ranks.

Pendleton - Michael Dods

He’s a fine big horse and won over five furlongs at Ascot towards the end of last season. He was a good second at Doncaster after that and given the right conditions and the right track then I think he’ll be a sprinter to follow.

Pledge Of Honour - Dean Ivory

He’s a really lovely horse by Shamardal. I’m excited by him but certainly not in any rush, as his pedigree suggests that he will get better with age. He’s a very happy horse who gives you 100%. I think he’ll be out in the second part of the season and the form that he’s shown suggests he’s one to look out for in the future.

Prejudice - David Simcock

Came to me from Luca Cumani at the end of his two-year-old career and is tricky to say the least. He was very coltish and badly behaved in all three of his races, his mind wasn’t on the job. He was gelded in the autumn and the gelding stats for sons of Dubawi look very good. With decent form and a mark of 85, we’d like to think there will be races to be won with him.

Red Bond - Keith Dalgleish

He’s a very good horse, owned by Middleham Park, who won easily at Newcastle off a mark of 79. Unfortunately, that wasn’t missed by the handicapper who put him up 13 pounds. He’s very lightly raced and has only run once on the turf. I see no reason to think he can’t be as good on the grass as he is on the all-weather.

Listen to the latest Sporting Life Racing Podcast
Listen to the latest Sporting Life Racing Podcast

Ridenza - Michael Halford

She’s a lovely filly, a well-bred filly, and we have always thought a lot of her. The plan is to go for the Irish 1000 Guineas. I’d love to be able to get a run into her before the Guineas, just to give her a bit more experience.

Riot - David Redvers

He’s a smart Kingman horse who is going to be dropped back to sprint trips by John Gosden and has also wintered well.

River Icon - Iain Jardine

She ran a cracker at York last season and has built up a good relationship with Paul Mulrennan, who has ridden her the last three times on the Flat. She enjoys soft ground and I think there’s a race in her. We might look at one of the staying races at Pontefract in the series that they run throughout the season. She stays all day and is very gutsy.

Roca Roma - Ger Lyons

She’s a lovely, big filly by Australia who hits the ground hard. I’ve supplemented her for the 1000 Guineas, which isn’t something I’d normally do, but we’re all going to be in the same boat this year and she’s a quality filly. Where she rocks out at, I don’t know, but if we could get her stakes placed, her pedigree would be made for the breeder and we could make a plan from there. 1m2f will be optimum but I see her finishing well over that stiff mile at the Curragh.

Rocket Action - Robert Cowell

Has done nothing wrong this year and has won three from five. If he translate his all-weather form back to the grass he could quite easily move into pattern company which I’m quite excited about. He’s been working well and we’re looking forward to moving him up in grade.

Rumble Inthejungle - David O'Meara

We’re really excited to have him in the yard. He’s rated 102 so we might start him in a handicap. He reminds me a lot of Move In Time and I’d be hoping he can progress back into pattern company this season.

Salsada - Jedd O'Keeffe

She's another we’re quite excited about. She won her novice at Newcastle on her third start and is a big filly who we are bringing along gently. She has a handicap mark of 76 and I’d hope by the end of the year she’ll be higher than that.

Sandret - Ben Haslam

He's a horse who goes well fresh so he should be ready to go once racing does resume and I hope he's improved over the winter. He's moving well and looking well so everything is pointing to him enjoying a good four-year-old campaign.

Savalas - Robert Cowell

Has had a few goes for us and hasn’t hit the ground running but I quite like him. Once he starts making some moves on the grass I think he could be fun and interesting to watch.

Living In The Past was an emotional winner for Clipper Logistics at York
Living In The Past was an emotional winner for Clipper Logistics at York

Sceptical - Denis Hogan

We were looking at Lingfield for All-Weather Championships, and now we’re looking at Royal Ascot. He’ll be entered in the King’s Stand Stakes and the Diamond Jubilee. He could be that good. He has the speed for five furlongs all day, but he’s very versatile, because he switches off so well. He has never raced on turf, his four races have all been at Dundalk, but I believe he could be better on turf.

Sendmylovetoyou - Michael Halford

She did well to win first time out at The Curragh last August. She was quite a slow developer, and it can be difficult when you win your maiden first time out. Her work has been good though, and I was happy with her comeback run at Naas last time. The ground was a bit dead for her, and things got a little tight for her on the inside rail. She has a wonderful attitude though, she has a big heart, and she could improve during the season.

Sky Commander - James Tate

He falls into the category of could be anything. We only got him in May of last year. We did a couple of pieces of work with him, one being with Dream Shot, so we went to Leicester for his debut hopeful of a big run. Unfortunately, he was very green and disappointed us, although we found out afterwards that he was lame. We gave him a good break and took him to Kempton where he was really impressive. He’s still green so we’ll start him off in novices before we step him up in class. He’s an exciting horse to have in the yard.

Summer Heights - Jim Goldie

She's Call Me Ginger's full-sister and looks feasibly handicapped having shown enough last year. Hopefully she's a three-year-old to follow.

The Bell Conductor – Philip Makin

We always thought a fair bit of him and he was probably a bit unlucky not to win before he did. We had to wait until November when he won a race at Southwell over the minimum trip. I think that form is solid, as the second trained by Mark Johnston won a couple after that and is rated in the early 90’s. Our lad is rated in the low 80’s which gives me hope he might be not badly handicapped. Ideally he’d want it good or slightly softer.

Thrilla In Manila - Richard Spencer

He was very disappointing really after winning on debut at Newbury in 2018. He had nearly a year off before being too free on his return. Then he disappointed in a novice under a penalty but his opening mark looks workable. As a four-year-old sprinter we'll be looking to see a bit more than we've seen so far. He's been gelded and I think that's going to help him majorly to just concentrate and keep his mind on the job. I think he could be one that progresses through the ranks this year.

Tombolo - Michael Dods

He’s a nice horse. He ran at Haydock last year and was second, after which we put him away. I’m looking forward to seeing him step up this year.

Tommy De Vito - Richard Morecombe

He's in very good form and is a couple of gallops away from a race when we do resume. We expect him to progress through the handicaps and Charlie Hills has said he might well be capable of running a big race in the Commonwealth Cup. That’s probably optimistic but he is progressive and we think he could run up a sequence.

Trueshan - Hollie Doyle

I won two on him last year before he went into valuable handicaps, including the Old Rowley Cup at Newmarket which he won under William Buick. He stays further than a mile and six I think and it'll be interesting to see what he's capable of this year. He improved a lot in such a short space of time and is definitely one to look out for.

Classic picture: Pinatubo remains a warm order for the 2000 Guineas
Classic picture: Pinatubo remains a warm order for the 2000 Guineas

Turjomaan - Jim Crowley

He's a four-year-old son of War Front and has just had the four runs. His best run is when he finished second in a Group 3 at Glorious Goodwood. He's a big strong horse and a bit of a lad but I'm very much looking forward to riding him.

Ventura Rebel - Richard Fahey

A smart horse who has done extremely well. A couple of days after the Weatherbys Super Sprint he had a little crack in his knee, it didn’t need surgery or anything. He was lame for a couple of days, we X-rayed and found it quickly and pulled up stumps. I’d like to think he could go through the ranks. He’s definitely a Group horse and hopefully a Group One sprinter in the making.

Vintage Rascal - Tom Marquand

He won a Windsor maiden at the back end of the year and was Tom's first winner as a trainer. He was quite impressive as we weren't quite sure what to make of him beforehand - we knew he was nice - but he showed up really well that day and his work has been great. His career wasn't going to be as good as it could be as a two-year-old so I'm really looking forward to seeing what he could be as a three and four-year-old.

Virgin Snow - Ed Dunlop

This daughter of Gleneagles out of six times Group One Winner and classic heroin Snow Fairy like her mother has taken time to furnish. She has put on condition over the winter and looks a stronger three-year-old. I am hopeful she will progress further after her promising runs in novices last year and hopefully pick up some black type.

Vitralite - Karl Burke

He’s a very interesting horse and another with an awful lot of ability. We haven’t heard the last of him yet by any means. Sean Woods owns him and he’s started training again so I’m hoping racing kicks off before he gets going again and takes him off our hands! He’s a lovely horse and whoever ends up training him there will be some big days ahead for him

Volatile Analyst - Keith Dalgleish

I’ve always loved this horse. He won easily on debut at Ayr and then bettered that run with a cracking effort in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood. We had him ready nice and early before lockdown, so we’ll just have to be patient. A kind horse who I can’t wait to get going again.

William Bligh - Richard Morecombe

A colt by Territories who is trained by Ralph Beckett. He’s the only trainer with Chelsea Thoroughbreds to have a winner with every horse he’s bought for us. I’m pretty confident he’ll continue that record with this one who is by an exciting first-season sire. He was bought at Book One for 50,000 guineas. He’s been showing all the right signs at home and will make his debut at six furlongs.

Yoshimi - Richard Fahey

This fellow looks to have done really well over the winter and won at Musselburgh last year before running well in nurseries at York and Ayr. He seems to be getting quicker and was quite immature last year. Hopefully he’ll progress.


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