October 12 – Kempton – Organ – 84
Seemingly a competitive handicap on paper was turned into a procession by Owen Burrows’ inmate and the speed figure he posted backed up the visual aspect of his display. Having his first outing since leaving Martyn Meade, his turn of foot to pull clear to the tune of seven lengths was impressive and the only negative is the likely shot across the bows he will face from the assessor.
October 12 – Yarmouth – Calchas – 82
Off the track for a while but was good enough to overcome the absence and clocked a good time in the process. Seemed to score with plenty in hand and has the scope to continue to progress. Bred to stay, has a long stride and low cadence to back up that view and seems miles better than his current rating of 72.
October 14 – Nottingham – Kings Charge – 83
Just touched off by Bourbon Blues on his handicap debut at Doncaster last month, Roger Varian’s inmate overcame a troubled passage and a 2lb rise, taking his form figures for the season to 1121. He did well to pick up the leaders in the time available and did so without Shane Foley getting overly serious, suggesting he’s better than a handicapper.
October 15 – Curragh – Jabreen – 76
Half-brother to four winners, three of them successful as juveniles, made a winning debut, continuing the excellent run of form for his stable. Never far off the lead, he proved professional throughout and was always holding the rallying favourite, despite racing away from the favoured nearside rail. Posting a useful speed figure in the process, the son of Saxon Warrior looks to have a bright future.
October 15 – Curragh – Priorstown – 81
Progressive three-year-old since stepped up in trip, winning twice, most recently in this competitive affair in quite taking fashion. Clocked a good time and seemed to score with plenty in hand, so should still have plenty to play with when reassessed (should get somewhere between 73-75). Seems versatile regards ground, stay well and is a horse who will do better in time, particularly over galloping tracks.
October 15 – Southwell – Jordan – 83
Impressive on his previous all-weather starts, Kevin Ryan’s gelding continued the same theme with a dominant display in this competitive handicap. Build like the proverbial barn door (could have easily used another term!), this improving three-year-old sprinter powered right away from useful opponents without being subjected to a hard ride and there should be even more brighter days ahead for him if kept on this surface.
October 16 – Haydock – Viper – 87
They went a ferocious gallop for the conditions and it produced a very fast speed figure for a race of its kind. A previous winner on heavy ground, Brian Ellison’s gelding confirmed he relishes these sort of conditions and there was plenty to admire about the way he stuck to his task well to gain his first success at a mile. Unraced at two, he’s firmly on the up and will be a 4yo to look forward to when conditions are in his favour next year.
October 16 – Redcar – Unicorn Milkshake – 80
It is always significant when a two-year-old produces the fastest speed figure on the card and this colt stood out in that department, leaving his opponents for dead inside the final two furlongs. Bogged down on heavy ground previously, the way he travelled through this well-run contest before lengthening clear was very impressive and his speed figure spoke volumes. This race was won by the classy Convergent in 2024 and it would come as little surprise if this son of Lope Y Fernandez ended up in a similar league as a three-year-old. Very promising.
October 17 – Ascot – Night In Vegas – 78
Surely one of the bargains of the season added a well-deserved Group race success to his cv and based on his previous numbers, there was no fluke about his performers. Expertly handled and placed by his trainer, who often punches way above her weight, he has a great attitude to match his ability and this win was easily one of the most heart-warming on the card. Eve Johnson Houghton, take a bow.
October 17 – Ascot – Almerak – 86
William Haggas’ inmate produced a powerful sprinting performance on soft ground at Haydock last month and confirmed he’s fine on a sound surface too, doing well to run down one who wasn’t stopping to land his third Group 1 sprint of the term. He’s done exceptionally well to come back from a horrible incident at York last September, and can rightfully lay claim to becoming this year’s Champion Sprinter now, while it remains to be seen whether this brings the curtain down on his racing career. Many observers will be hoping that doesn’t prove to be the case.
October 17 – Ascot – Ombudsman – 88
An eagerly awaited renewal of the Champion Stakes and it was fitting we witnessed a brilliant winner, who might well have crowned his career off in the best possible fashion. Whether he ends up heading out to the Breeders Cup rest largely on the weather over in the states but on genuine fast ground, there is few horse over this trip that can match his turn of foot.