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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 4 (5) |
18th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 2m 3f 210y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
10yo who has generally fared much better in the Middle East than in Britain but showed far too much toe for the others when stealing a march on Sweet William in 2m Group 3 at Sandown on latest start (hung on by a neck); never remotely near the principals when 14l third in this last year and he's probably not the out-and-out stayer that's required to win it. |
50/1 |
|
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 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 5 (9) |
18th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 2m 3f 210y Class 1 |
9st 4lb |
Third and fourth in the last two renewals of this race and his 19l defeat last year was the only time in his career that he's finished out of the top three; being ridden closer to the pace that day seemingly backfired, as he's usually smuggled into each-way contention in the closing stages; beat Caballo De Mar (who gave 2lb) in one tight finish this year and not quite able to reel in Dubai Future in another; probably as good as ever but winning the Gold Cup may again prove a bit beyond him. |
16/1 |
|
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 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 (3) |
22nd Aug 2026 Good To Soft 1m 6f 87y Class 1 |
9st 11lb |
Chased home Lambourn in last year's Chester Vase and Derby (also third to him in the Irish Derby); missed the second half of last season but showed he's still as good as ever when defeating the reopposing Lady Vivian in 2m Sandown Listed race (good) last month; raced freely and weakened quickly in the Goodwood Cup with cheekpieces added (quickly discarded) but he can bounce back with his sights lowered today. |
7/4 |
|
7th 4 (3) |
28th Jul 2026 Good 2m 0f 0y Class 1 |
9st 12lb |
Second last term in the Derby and third in the Irish Derby; not seen afterwards as a 3yo but 2m races at Sandown this season have seen his promise renewed for serious stamina tests; it was just a four-runner Listed race last time when he dominated from the front at 4-7, so he needs much better today, but cheekpieces are enlisted and he's a fascinating newcomer to a top staying race. |
12/1 |
|
1st 3 (1) |
3rd Jul 2026 Good 2m 0f 50y Class 1 |
9st 2lb |
Runner-up in the Derby at Epsom last June and kept on well for third in the Irish Derby at the Curragh (also 1m4f on good) next time; showed he retains plenty of ability when a 2l third in C&D Group 3 in May (ahead of three of today's rivals), leaving the impression a stronger gallop would have suited; should come on for that first start in 11 months and looks the one to beat. |
4/7 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15th 2 (7) |
22nd Aug 2026 Good To Soft 1m 5f 188y Class 2 |
9st 11lb |
Not proven on worse than good to soft; fourth in this race in 2024; 7yo who is 0-13 since winning at Meydan in January 2025; has run really well in plenty of Group races in the interim, including the last two runnings of the Yorkshire Cup over C&D, but he ran a stinker in C&D Listed event in June and also disappointed here on latest start; big questions to answer after that. |
50/1 |
|
5th 3 (5) |
11th Jul 2026 Good To Firm 1m 5f 188y Class 1 |
9st 0lb |
7yo who is 0-12 since winning at Meydan in January 2025; has run really well in plenty of Group races in the interim, including the last two runnings of the Yorkshire Cup over C&D, but he ran a stinker in C&D Listed event four weeks ago; bang there if he bounces straight back. |
6/1 |
|
6th 2 (1) |
13th Jun 2026 Good 1m 5f 188y Class 1 |
9st 2lb |
0-11 since winning at Meydan last January but he has run really well in Group races in the interim, including the last two runnings of the Yorkshire Cup over C&D; drops into a Listed race today and could be bang there. |
7/2 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11th 3 (2) |
22nd Aug 2026 Good To Soft 1m 5f 188y Class 2 |
9st 9lb |
Probably acts on good to soft, much more to prove on soft; reliable 7yo who's never been better than this season (1m2f-2m); also seems to have found his limits but perhaps a handicap such as this will suit him better than the much smaller-field Group/Listed race's he's contested on last three starts. |
40/1 |
|
3rd 4 (4) |
3rd Jul 2026 Good 2m 0f 50y Class 1 |
9st 2lb |
Six-time winner on the Flat over shorter trips than this (1m1f-1m4f), including at this track in 2023; beaten about 5l when fifth of seven in a Group 3 over this C&D in May (behind Lazy Griff and ahead of Furthur and Duke Of Oxford) but that was steadily run and he didn't fully prove his stamina; stable won this with Trueshan in 2024 but this 7yo has a bit to find to reverse placings with Lazy Griff. |
5/1 |
|
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 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
18th 4 (16) |
22nd Aug 2026 Good To Soft 1m 5f 188y Class 2 |
9st 8lb |
Seemed to be going places when he won a Group 3 at Newbury (1m5f, good to firm) last August, followed by a respectable sixth on soft ground in the St Leger, but he's been disappointing this term; headgear goes on. |
25/1 |
|
4th 2 (3) |
3rd Jul 2026 Good 2m 0f 50y Class 1 |
9st 2lb |
Both wins have been at Newbury, in a maiden over 1m3f last April and a Group 3 over 1m5f (good to firm) last August; respectable sixth in the St Leger in September but he's been below that level in all four starts since, including when beating only Duke Of Oxford home over this C&D in May; drops back to 2m having contested the Gold Cup two weeks ago. |
5/1 |
|
10th 8 (6) |
18th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 2m 3f 210y Class 1 |
9st 3lb |
Second to Carmers in bunched finish to 1m6f Queen's Vase here last year and impressive in Group 3 at Newbury (1m5f, again good to firm) last August; he's been put firmly in his place on all four outings since, however, beaten just over 4l behind Scandinavia and Rahiebb in the St Leger at Doncaster on first occasion, which was creditable, but singularly underwhelming this season in Yorkshire Cup and 2m Sandown Group 3; needs a huge turnaround. |
66/1 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15th 1 (16) |
19th Aug 2026 Good 2m 0f 56y Class 2 |
9st 12lb |
Eight AW wins, two last winter in 2m handicaps; however, he has tons to prove on turf record (0-7) and even best AW form does not look good enough; reportedly lame after losing right-hind shoe when tailed off 19 days ago. |
66/1 |
|
15th 2 (7) |
31st Jul 2026 Good To Firm 2m 4f 137y Class 2 |
9st 11lb |
Eight AW wins, two last winter in 2m handicaps; however, he has tons to prove on turf record (0-6) and even best AW form does not look good enough. |
20/1 |
|
6th 2 (1) |
11th Jul 2026 Good To Firm 1m 5f 188y Class 1 |
9st 0lb |
Eight AW wins, two last winter in 2m handicaps; however, he failed to beat a rival in Group 3 at Sandown (2m, good) on turf return, has tons to prove on turf record (0-5) and even best AW form does not look good enough. |
25/1 |
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