The Tracker

1:42 Windsor · Windsor, Thirsk and Sedgefield review

4th at 21.00 off 71 on her first run for 208 days, only her 6th career start. She was right there a furlong and a half out and was only run down by fitter horses. A dual Tapeta winner at Newcastle who has now shown she handles turf.

Watch for Her next handicap around a mile off a similar mark. She should step forward massively for the run.

2:30 Sedgefield · Windsor, Thirsk and Sedgefield review

2nd at 4.50 on her hurdles debut behind Tralee Girl, rated 115. Given a learning ride, she came under pressure turning in, then came through a gap at the last and was closing at the line. A dual bumper winner.

Watch for Her handicap mark, and her next hurdle. We expect her to win a race very soon.

4:21 Thirsk · Windsor, Thirsk and Sedgefield review

2nd at 23.00 on his first run at 7f, having looked outpaced early and needing further. Back on turf after disappointing at Newcastle, with connections switching between cheekpieces and blinkers. His best run for a while.

Watch for 7f to a mile next time. Down from a first mark of 73 to 62, so he could go in.

5:21 Thirsk · Windsor, Thirsk and Sedgefield review

3rd at 4.50 as our Top Rated after being sat on the inside while the winners came down the middle. He was stuck in a pocket behind the long-time leader at the 2-furlong pole, got out too late, and in our view his jockey gave up very quickly once the race had gone.

Watch for His next 7f handicap. With a clear run and a positive ride we think he goes very close. Rated 70, down from 75 in June, and 2nd at Lingfield on 20 August.

6:30 Kempton

Beaten by our NAP Sierra Belle, who got the perfect run through and won nicely, but the horse to take out of the race finished only 4th. Farasan wanted to follow the winner through the cutaway down the inside; Oisin Murphy instead elected to wait behind a backpedalling rival, chasing a horse going backwards rather than one going forward, and ran into all sorts of trouble. He was not given a strong ride once his chance had gone, either. With the winner's passage he goes very close, and he may well have won.

Watch for His next start, where a form line reading 6 and 4 undersells him and he could be a price. And watch for the clever route: three quiet runs, a handicap mark, and a nursery at the end of the season. He will be winning soon either way.

3:00 Goodwood · Goodwood Day Five review

Third defending her Lillie Langtry crown, and beaten by the ride rather than by the horses. She was held up far too far back and given the front pair a huge amount of rope, on an afternoon when nothing was coming from behind. She then had to spend her entire finishing effort between about the three furlong pole and the one and a half, so there was nothing left for the last bit. Run at a normal tempo from a sensible position we think she wins it.

Watch for Her next start over a mile and six, ideally ridden closer to the pace. The bare third is not the measure of her.

Won next time out, at Doncaster on 10 September at 5/2, rated 108. She is 112 now. The Goodwood run where we flagged her was the third of 6 beforehand.

5:00 Goodwood · Goodwood Day Two review

Seventh at 11/2 in the Charlton Handicap, and a far better run than that reads. He was left completely isolated over on the far side with only one rival for company, with nothing to run at and nowhere near enough time to do anything about it. Oisin Murphy made a smart move trying to use Sir Garfield to tow him into the race, but that one was never close enough. He was on the wrong side and still ran a really good race.

Watch for It will not be long before he is back on a mark he can win off. Keep him in.

Won on his very next run after we flagged him and went up for it. Six runs since in all, and the mark has started to come back: 81, 81 and 80 in his last three, with a flat mark of 79 now against the 78 he was flagged off.

1:10 Ascot · King George Day review

A huge run in second on her racecourse debut, and desperately unlucky with it. Just as the winner was asked to go and win, Izuba was hampered behind a weakening rival at the crucial moment, losing momentum and position. Given a lovely hands-and-heels ride from there, she flew home and was closing all the way to the line. If they raced again next week we would be on her.

Watch for Her next start, with a cleaner passage and the experience of a first run behind her. She looks well ahead of the bare form of this.

6:01 Southwell

Second again, a second runner-up finish in two starts since being gelded, and every run has pointed the same way. Weak in the market on his Chelmsford debut over seven furlongs last November and given a ride that told you nothing, woefully tailed off; better in both runs since without ever being asked a truly serious question. We have thought since that first night that handicaps were the plan all along.

Watch for A handicap, which is where this note has always been pointed.

Three runs since including a second at Chester, and he now has a mark of 75 on both surfaces.

6:30 Naas

Our top-rated in this listed race and a never-nearer second on just her third start. The best horse did not win: Dylan Browne McMonagle took far too long to get her out from behind a wall of three, while the winner made most of the running and got the clear passage she never had. Our ratings made her Royal Ascot seventh over five furlongs a very good effort, and this backs that form right up; she should really be two from three.

Watch for Clearly a very good Listed horse. Stays in.

Second at Kempton on 5 September and then won at Dundalk on 2 October at 3/1, rated 95.

5:30 Killarney

A newcomer by Frankel who finished second in a maiden of the type that generally works out well. Green as grass, barely knew what he was doing, yet still ran on really strongly at the finish.

Watch for Now that he is rated, a handicap. This is the one we have been waiting for.

Two runs since, fourth at Leopardstown at 8/15 and third at Punchestown at 13/8, and he now has a handicap mark of 88.

1:55 Ascot · Day 3 Review

Eighth at 40/1, expected to finish last and did nothing of the sort, there with every chance until the final half furlong. He just wants a much sharper five furlongs than Ascot.

Watch for Back to Lingfield, and back on the all weather. The turf runs can be forgiven.

Four runs since and the pattern is clear: his one good effort was second at Lingfield on 12 September, off 89 at 8/1, and that was on the all weather. On turf since he was 11th of 12 at Ascot. Flagged off 94, now 89.

2:27 Ascot · Day 3 Review

Our top-rated. Dropped out far too far back in a crawl and given too much to do, yet still flew home into fourth. Comfortably the best horse in the race to these eyes.

Watch for Any race run at a sensible gallop, or simply a more positive ride; he wins a race like this well with a pace to aim at.

Won next time out, taking the Park Stakes at Doncaster on 12 September at 4/5, rated 119. He beat Flora Of Bermuda, who was then second in the Challenge Stakes.

3:45 York · Day 3 Review

The clear eyecatcher in the John Smith's Cup. Travelled really well but got no run, shuffled well back after being short of room, and only came home gently in fifth; miles better than the bare form and well ahead of fourth-placed Castle Stuart on merit.

Watch for A similar handicap with a clear passage; he is a good deal better than his finishing position.

4:35 Newmarket · Day 3 Review

Second in the July Cup on ground quicker than ideal; there was even a doubt she would run. A multiple Group 1 filly once the ground comes up good.

Watch for Group 1 sprints on good ground or softer, when she is up to winning at the top level.

1:50 Newmarket · Day 2 Review

Keen third who did not get the smoothest of runs; beaten by the top-rated but firmly one to keep onside.

Watch for A stronger pace to aim at; he should win soon.

Has been to Newmarket since and finished third in a handicap without getting the run of the race. We think that race will work out quite well.

Mile Handicap, York · York & Newcastle Review

Ran on into third from off a steady pace on a front-bias day; the other to take out of the race.

Watch for Next time from off the pace, marked up for the bias.

Still a maiden since we flagged him, but the handicapper has come to him: 83 then, 79 now. Second at Newcastle off 75 on 25 September, then well supported at York on 10 October, backed from 10.0 on the exchange into 6.0 and a 4/1 joint favourite, in a race run nothing like to suit him. He was held up in a race won from the front and finished 12th of 20. You would like to think he is getting close.

Duke of Cambridge Stakes, Royal Ascot · Royal Ascot Eyecatchers

Very unlucky, denied a clear run then flew home, and bounced back from her Haydock stumble.

Watch for Fillies and mares races from a mile to 1m2f.

Stepped up in trip for the Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood and finished second. She probably ended up setting the race up for the winner from the front of the handicap, and she was also beaten by a very smart filly in Diamond Necklace.

Hardwicke Stakes, Royal Ascot · Royal Ascot Eyecatchers

Unlucky third when Soumillon lost his irons inside the final furlong; but for that he may have beaten the front two.

Watch for The King George at Ascot in July, which he won in 2024.

Ran in the King George at Ascot and was very much outclassed in what looked a strong renewal. An easier opportunity will need to be found if he is to get his head back in front.

Queen Anne Stakes, Royal Ascot · Royal Ascot Eyecatchers

Went too hard in front and was collared on the line; losing the lead cost him, and settling is the whole job.

Watch for One-mile Group 1s all season, once he learns to settle.

Went for the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on 29 July and finished third, beaten by two very good animals in Bow Echo and Gstaad. No disgrace whatsoever in that company.