18.12
GoodStar Sports Henry II Stakes (Group 3)
- Prize money: £53874.5
- 2m 0f 50y
- Class 1
- 7 runners
Runners: 7 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly sunny
20/1 (Won)
- Win: £32.20
- Place: £6.50
Form: 366-84 D
Last run: 27 days
W: 9st 4lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 109
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 3 (7) |
28th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 50y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
Won Group 3 (1m6f, good) and Group 2 (2m, good) races at Meydan early last year and he's very much of interest on that form; however, not at the same level subsequently and he was a soundly beaten fourth behind Sweet William in the Group 3 Sagaro at Ascot (2m, good to firm) recently. |
20/1 |
|
4th 6 (5) |
1st May 2026 Good To Firm 1m 7f 209y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
Has delivered smart efforts almost every season since 2020 (missed 2024) and last year's win in the 2m Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan was one of his best; that campaign went the wrong way and he did not perk up when returning for Dubai Gold Cup (20-1) five weeks ago, but holds a cracking chance if returning to his best. |
16/1 |
|
6th 4 (3) |
22nd Aug 2025 Good To Firm 2m 0f 56y Class 1 |
9st 5lb |
Given his first crack at 2m in the Dubai Gold Cup this April when he showed far too much toe for his rivals in a steadily run race; held up in rear with a hood added when he emerged in a well-beaten third to Trawlerman in the 2m4f Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, which was well short of his best form, as was his his sixth of eight in the 2m Goodwood Cup; today's stamina test is also likely to ask him too big a question. |
25/1 |
Evs
- Place: £1.20
Form: 3212-1 CD
Last run: 27 days
W: 9st 9lb
7 yo Colt
OR: 117
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 1 (4) |
28th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 50y Class 1 |
9st 9lb |
Won this in 2024 and has added three more Group-race wins, the latest on reappearance in this month's Sagaro Stakes at Ascot (2m, good to firm) where he was clear with subsequent Group 1 winner Caballo De Mar; leading claims despite 5lb penalty. |
Evs |
|
1st 2 (9) |
1st May 2026 Good To Firm 1m 7f 209y Class 1 |
9st 9lb |
Headgear and Rab Havlin all starts; not straightforward but he nearly always gives his running, including at this track; he did not have the top stayers to worry about last September when winning his second Doncaster Cup and the same seems to apply today, so he's a leading player. |
2/1 |
|
2 (4) |
18th Oct 2025 Good 1m 7f 209y Class 1 |
9st 9lb |
Headgear and Rab Havlin all starts; not straightforward but he nearly always gives his running and was third and second in the last two runnings of this race; he did not have the top stayers to worry about last month when winning his second Doncaster Cup and while he had the edge over third-placed Trawlerman in this 12 months ago, he's found that rival too tough to crack in their two clashes this season. |
5/1 |
7/2
Form: 1/223-
Last run: 333 days
W: 9st 3lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 114
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 8 (2) |
28th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 50y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
Runner-up in the Derby at Epsom (1m4f, good) last June and kept on well for third in the Irish Derby at the Curragh (1m4f, good) later that month; absent since but this lightly raced 4yo could be suited by the step up in trip and he's a major player if ready to rumble after his absence. |
7/2 |
|
3 (4) |
29th Jun 2025 Good 1m 4f 0y |
9st 2lb |
Made all in a Group 3 at Chantilly (1m1f, good) on final 2yo start; has matured into a high-class performer, outrunning his odds on two occasions, 25-1 when making Lambourn work for victory in the Chester Vase and 50-1 when chasing home the same opponent in the Derby; stays well and would benefit from further easing in the ground. |
10/1 |
|
6 (3) |
7th Jun 2025 Good 1m 4f 6y Class 1 |
9st 2lb |
Sizeable advance in form when making all in a Group 3 at Chantilly (1m1f, good) on final 2yo start and he looked to have gone the right way over the winter on reappearance in Group 3 Chester Vase (about 1m4f, good) when it wasn't a breeze for Lambourn to get past him; aims much higher now, though. |
50/1 |
7/1
Form: 2-2553
Last run: 13 days
W: 9st 4lb
7 yo Colt
OR: 111
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 5 (3) |
28th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 50y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
Beaten in Group races on his last ten starts but went close in the Yorkshire Cup at York (1m6f, good to firm) last May and he was a good third in that same Group 2 a fortnight ago (good); he should be fine back up in trip and might not be far away. |
7/1 |
|
3rd 4 (5) |
15th May 2026 Good 1m 5f 188y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
Beaten a head in this last year, despite a highly tactical race; has held his form well (back in Dubai and Saudi Arabia this January-March) and should again be seriously involved, but to win this may require a career best. |
5/1 |
|
2nd 3 (6) |
16th Aug 2025 Good To Firm 1m 5f 61y Class 1 |
9st 7lb |
In fine form this year over 1m6f-2m at Meydan and in Saudi Arabia and continued the good work when staying on for a close second in a slowly run Group 2 Yorkshire Cup (1m6f, good to firm) in May; no show when 25-1 at Royal Ascot (1m4f) on latest outing but shouldn't be far away in this lesser race if there's a decent pace to aim at. |
3/1 |
33/1
Form: 2-3135 C
Last run: 27 days
W: 9st 4lb
7 yo Colt
OR: 105
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 6 (1) |
28th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 50y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
7yo who has a good record here and has been better than ever in AW handicaps this year, and he wasn't beaten far when fifth of six in Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm) four weeks ago; however, his form needs to go to a new level and he's unraced beyond 1m4f on the Flat. |
33/1 |
|
5th 5 (6) |
1st May 2026 Good 1m 4f 0y Class 1 |
9st 5lb |
In the form of his life this winter with a win at Lingfield (1m4f) in February and close calls in his other three outings; those were on AW, which does seem to suit him particularly well, and also in handicaps, which leaves him with something to find in his first Group venture. |
40/1 |
|
3rd 2 (4) |
3rd Apr 2026 Standard 1m 2f 42y Class 2 |
9st 9lb |
Fourth in this last year on sole previous visit to Newcastle and he's now 3lb higher; went close on first two starts this winter before winning at Lingfield (1m4f) in February; could run well but may prefer a longer trip. |
14/1 |
4/1
Form: 5160-4
Last run: 13 days
W: 9st 3lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 111
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 7 (6) |
28th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 50y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
He hasn't kicked on since beating Epic Poet to win the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer at Newbury (1m5f, good to firm) last August and failed to threaten when fourth in the Yorkshire Cup at York three weeks ago; however, he could improve for that first outing since finishing mid-division in the Melbourne Cup (gelded between those starts); this 4yo remains one to be interested in. |
4/1 |
|
4th 5 (4) |
15th May 2026 Good 1m 5f 188y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
Best form winning the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer at Newbury (1m5f, good to firm) last August in good style from Epic Poet; creditable sixth in the St Leger at Doncaster (14.5f) and not disgraced when mid-division for the 2m Melbourne Cup in November when last seen; gelded since; could resume his progress and that would bring him back into serious contention. |
11/2 |
|
6th 2 (6) |
13th Sep 2025 Good To Soft 1m 6f 115y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
All this season's races have been on good or firmer; second in the 1m6f Group 2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, on the heels of Carmers; flopped behind Scandinavia at Newmarket three weeks later but resumed his improvement to win the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer at Newbury (13.2f) four weeks ago, coming from almost last to first in a steadily run, six-runner race to score by 3l; better still is required but that win was delivered in good style. |
11/1 |
40/1
Form: 051-15 D
Last run: 55 days
W: 9st 4lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 102
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 4 (8) |
28th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 50y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
Progressive on AW in the winter with 2m handicap wins at Kempton and Newcastle; however, only fifth of 12 at Newcastle (2m) last month and the suitability of turf is questionable. |
40/1 |
|
5th 1 (8) |
3rd Apr 2026 Standard 2m 0f 56y Class 2 |
9st 12lb |
Second in this in 2024 and fourth last year; won at Kempton (2m) in December and followed up by 3l over this C&D in January; this 6yo is on a career-high mark but is clearly thriving and has to be respected. |
11/2 |
|
1st 2 (4) |
16th Jan 2026 Standard 2m 0f 56y Class 2 |
9st 9lb |
Ran on well to seal the deal over 2m at Kempton last month, taking his record there to 5-7; only 3lb higher and has plenty of form here, including a placing in the Northumberland Plate; player. |
7/2 |
Non-runners
Beylerbeyi
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £93.00 |
| Straight Forecast | £46.60 |
| Tricast | £116.78 |
| Trifecta | £353.10 |
Selections
NEWMARKET:
Sweet WilliamTelegraph:
Sweet WilliamThe Guardian:
Sweet WilliamDaily Mail:
Sweet William