November 18 / 14.36 Lingfield (AW)

14.36

Standard

BetUK Churchill Stakes (Listed Race)

  • Prize money: £28355
  • 1m 2f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
ITV
View Course
BetUK Churchill Stakes (Listed Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Showers

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £2.40

Form: 20-515 D

Last run: 214 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Really smart and much-improved performance when striding 11l clear in 1m2f handicap on turf at Meydan in February; not in the same form in 1m1f Newmarket Group 3 two months later and off since; the fact he was 2-4 on AW at the start of his career is a positive but that Meydan effort is a bit of a standout, his British form leaving him something to find.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(1)

18th Nov 2023

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

14:36 Lingfield (AW)

Blue Trail

9st 4lb

J: James Doyle

T: Charlie Appleby

started quickly, led early, headed and prominent soon after start

4/1

5th

1

(3)

18th Apr 2023

Soft

1m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Newmarket

Blue Trail

9st 2lb

J: James Doyle

T: Charlie Appleby

Strode clear for an 11l success in Meydan handicap (1m2f, good) two months ago, recording a smart RPR; however, it remains to be seen whether he can transfer that improved form back to British soil and he's the stable second-string/ with William Buick on board Ottoman Fleet.

10/1

11th

2

(3)

3rd Sep 2022

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:45 Ascot

Blue Trail

9st 8lb

J: Neil Callan

T: Charlie Appleby

took keen hold, led narrowly or disputed lead, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened quickly over 1f out

11/1

11/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form: 50-270

Last run: 49 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Had Foxes Tales behind him in third when chasing home Lord North in the Winter Derby over C&D in February but reported to have bled when tailed off at Kempton in April and not seen again until down the field in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket at the end of September; hard to be confident about at present but won't be far away if recapturing the Winter Derby form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(14)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 2

15:00 Newcastle (AW)

Tyrrhenian Sea

9st 9lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Roger Varian

As reliable as they come on AW, winning five of his 16 starts in this sphere and second or third on a further nine occasions; has a rare handicap run today but he looks held by Chancellor on their Southwell clash in February (3lb better off for a length but the winner had a bit to spare).

7/1

2nd

6

(2)

7th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 1

19:30 Southwell (AW)

Tyrrhenian Sea

9st 2lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Roger Varian

Two Listed wins at Lingfield, including this race 12 months ago; may have needed the run when 3l behind Chancellor at Kempton in December and went desperately close over 1m2f later that month; shouldn't be too far away once more.

5/1

8

(8)

7th Jun 2025

Good

1m 0f 113y

Class 1

13:35 Epsom

Tyrrhenian Sea

9st 8lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Roger Varian

Better than ever in most recent AW attempt, winning 1m Listed event at Lingfield; finished behind two of today's opponents at Ascot since, taking turf record to 0-6; not the percentage call.

20/1

Form: 45-164 CD BF

Last run: 225 days

W: 9st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Fifth in this 12 months ago; won a 1m2f Newcastle conditions race on his next start but behind the reopposing Tyrrhenian Sea and Foxes Tales when sixth in the Winter Derby over C&D in February; off since a below-form fourth at Newcastle on Good Friday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(5)

1st Apr 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 1f 219y

Class 1

14:55 Kempton (AW)

Forest Of Dean

9st 3lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Landed the Winter Derby three years ago but has lacked consistency since and faces a difficult assignment against some unexposed/better types in this field; yard has a much stronger chance with Lion's Pride.

20/1

5th

4

(5)

1st Apr 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 1f 219y

Class 1

14:55 Kempton (AW)

Forest Of Dean

9st 3lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

Landed the Winter Derby three years ago but has lacked consistency since and faces a difficult assignment against some unexposed/better types in this field; yard has a much stronger chance with Lion's Pride.

20/1

5th

3

(3)

24th Feb 2024

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 1

15:20 Southwell (AW)

Forest Of Dean

9st 3lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: John & Thady Gosden

soon led, clear after 1f

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: -41332 D

Last run: 50 days

W: 9st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Won the Group 3 Diomed at Epsom (8.5f) in June and good placed efforts on all three outings since, on the latest going down by only a head to Mutasaabeq in Group 2 Joel at Newmarket (1m) seven weeks ago; just as effective over 1m2f and on Polytrack; has to shoulder a 5lb penalty but another bold show still looks assured.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(1)

7th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 0f 37y

Class 1

13:15 Haydock

Regal Reality

9st 5lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: Sir Michael Stoute

9yo who hasn't been at his very best this year and can be slowly away; however, this five-time Group 3 winner has still shown considerable spark in 2024, including here last time, and he may well be in the mix.

9/2

3rd

6

(4)

10th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 2f 100y

Class 1

15:00 Haydock

Regal Reality

9st 7lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Sir Michael Stoute

in touch with leaders early

12/1

14/1

Form: 484433 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 8st 13lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Polytrack winner at two who landed a 1m2f Salisbury Listed event last year; consistent of late without quite recapturing that form, reaching the frame again when third in 1m2f Newmarket Group 3 for fillies and mares five weeks ago; only a return to her very best will do.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(1)

6th Dec 2023

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 2

13:35 Lingfield (AW)

Rousay

9st 12lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Richard Hannon

Polytrack winner at two who landed a 1m2f Salisbury Listed event last year; consistent of late without recapturing her best form and she faded in a Listed race over C&D 18 days ago; overall record now stands at 2-19 and she looks on a tough enough mark back in a handicap.

12/1

5th

7

(6)

18th Nov 2023

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

14:36 Lingfield (AW)

Rousay

8st 13lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Richard Hannon

prominent then led soon after start, headed over 2f out, lost second and weakened from 1f out

14/1

Form: 9-3160 D

Last run: 151 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Third in the Winter Derby over C&D before bouncing back to near his best with a clearcut Listed AW success at Kempton (1m2f) in April; not so good on turf in May/June but better can be expected back on AW after a break (goes well fresh); has a 3lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(4)

18th Nov 2023

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

14:36 Lingfield (AW)

Foxes Tales

9st 7lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

in touch with leaders

3/1

10th

2

(8)

20th Jun 2023

Good

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Foxes Tales

9st 8lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Andrew Balding

Won the Golden Gates at this meeting in 2021 (1m2f, soft) and sixth in this last year; back to near his best with a clearcut Listed AW success at Kempton (1m2f) in April and reported to have been unsuited by the tight turns of Chester when running poorly last time; 3lb penalty.

33/1

6th

1

(1)

12th May 2023

Soft

1m 2f 70y

Class 1

14:40 Chester

Foxes Tales

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Group 3 winner on soft in 2021; touch regressive and failed to score last season but, following a gelding operation, has shown resurgent form in two notable AW races this year (clearcut Listed scorer at Kempton latest); enters calculations now he's moving back in the right direction.

5/1

Form: -29079 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Group 2 winner over this trip on turf in 2022; finished second in a 1m course Listed race on his reappearance in February but didn't have to be at his best to do so and he's continued below par since, markedly so last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

2

(1)

23rd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 2f 56y

Class 2

17:20 York

Sir Busker

9st 12lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: William Knight

Good C&D record includes a win in this last year off 5lb higher; back on form when narrowly denied at Sandown (1m2f, good to firm) and things went wrong from the start (stumbled) when well behind Westridge at Goodwood since; could bounce back.

18/1

6

(16)

29th Jul 2025

Good

1m 1f 197y

Class 2

13:20 Goodwood

Sir Busker

9st 3lb

J: Brandon Wilkie

T: William Knight

Has a mixed 1-6 record at Goodwood, with the win in 2019, but he won a 17-runner race at the York Ebor meeting last August and went down by a neck at Sandown this month, both over 1m2f on good to firm but the ground was not an issue previously; now a 9yo but 4lb lower than for that York win; drawn wide but likely to be delivered late anyway.

20/1

2nd

4

(3)

5th Jul 2025

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 2

17:15 Sandown

Sir Busker

9st 11lb

J: Brandon Wilkie

T: William Knight

Resilient 9yo who can still give it plenty in competitive handicaps, as when beating 16 rivals at York (about 1m2f, good to firm; off 5lb higher) last August; however, he has less obvious claims on subsequent handicap runs, including back at York in June.

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £25.50
Straight Forecast £25.17
Trifecta £141.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Regal Reality

RP RATINGS:

Blue Trail

TOPSPEED:

Foxes Tales

Daily Mirror:

Forest Of Dean

POSTDATA:

Sir Busker

Daily Mail:

Blue Trail

D Express:

Blue Trail

The Times:

Foxes Tales

The Star:

Forest Of Dean

NEWMARKET:

Regal Reality

Telegraph:

Regal Reality

The Guardian:

Regal Reality

The Sun:

Regal Reality

Daily Record:

Regal Reality