February 25 / 14.05 Lingfield (AW)

14.05

Standard

BetUK Winter Derby Stakes (Group 3) (All-Weather Championships Fast-Track Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £56710
  • 1m 2f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 8 runners
ITV4
View Course
BetUK Winter Derby Stakes (Group 3) (All-Weather Championships Fast-Track Qualifier)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Partly cloudy

8/11 (Won)

  • Win: £1.73
  • Place: £1.02

Form: 21454- D

Last run: 238 days

W: 9st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Three-time Group 1 winner on turf, the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2020 and the Dubai Turf at Meydan in 2021 and 2022 (dead-heated); was sent off 6-5 favourite when second of seven behind Alenquer in this race last year (Forest Of Dean and Pistoletto behind), but there isn't anything of that calibre amongst today's opposition; should be hard to beat with his ability to go well fresh not in doubt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

(5)

19th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

16:25 Ascot

Lord North

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

Won this race in 2020 and gained further Group 1 wins in the 2021, 2022 and 2023 Dubai Turf; only midfield in this year's edition of that 1m1f race at Meydan but he was a close third in Group 2 at Sandown (1m) on latest outing; this step back up in trip will surely suit but, as an 8yo, he's probably no longer at the level required to win this.

25/1

3rd

4

(5)

26th Apr 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Lord North

9st 3lb

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

Four-time Group 1 scorer at 1m1f/1m2f; only midfield at Meydan last month when bidding for a fourth success in the Dubai Turf, albeit things didn't pan out perfectly; still needs to show he retains every ounce of ability aged eight but sets a high standard on his best figures.

3/1

6/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 24350-

Last run: 133 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Won his first three starts at Newcastle (1m, Tapeta) last winter, but turned over at odds-on in his next two AW starts including when just beaten in the Easter Classic back at Newcastle (1m2f); not disgraced in four subsequent starts on turf and shaped as though worth another go at this trip when finishing in midfield at Ascot (1m, good to soft) in October; may yet have a bigger effort in him.
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

OUR TIP

16/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form: 24649- D

Last run: 203 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Group 3 winner in 2021, but wasn't at his very best in five starts on turf last year; returns from 203 days off having been gelded in the meantime and can go well fresh, but this looks a stiff task; second of 12 in sole AW start at Kempton (1m, Polytrack) at the end of 2020.
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: 0363-3 D BF

Last run: 44 days

W: 9st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Placed in all four AW starts and had Forest Of Dean behind when third of 11 in a Listed contest over C&D in November, but couldn't confirm the form when third of six behind his stablemate at Newcastle (1m2f, Tapeta) last month; this surface may suit him better but another placing may be his best hope.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(2)

25th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

1m 2f 17y

Class 2

15:00 Epsom

Harrovian

9st 9lb

J: Frankie Dettori

T: John & Thady Gosden

Below-par third in at Newcastle on latest AW start (Good Friday); very useful on his day and returns to handicap level off a workable mark; however, failed to shine in this race two years ago on sole Epsom run.

10/1

3rd

4

(2)

7th Apr 2023

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 2

15:00 Newcastle (AW)

Harrovian

9st 7lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: John & Thady Gosden

dwelt start, soon prominent, ridden and hung left 2f out, weakened inside final furlong

9/4

4th

3

(5)

25th Feb 2023

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

14:05 Lingfield (AW)

Harrovian

9st 2lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: John & Thady Gosden

prominent early, soon ridden to lead

8/1

14/1

Form: 01-541 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Useful handicapper at up to this trip on his day and placed in all three starts over 1m-1m3f on Polytrack; 2-4 on turf in Bahrain during the winter, his latest success coming in a local Group 2 (1m3f, good) eight days ago; likely he will need plenty more if he is to trouble Lord North here, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(8)

22nd Oct 2024

Standard

1m 4f 99y

Class 2

16:15 Newcastle (AW)

Lucander

10st 0lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: George Baker

Last three wins came in Bahrain (December 2022 to December 2023); has been off for four months since a couple of ordinary efforts in good-quality handicaps in the summer and needs a revival on his Tapeta debut.

12/1

Form: 0/45-1 CD

Last run: 44 days

W: 9st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Won this race two years ago and finished around 8l behind stablemate Lord North when fourth last year; was having his second start back from 259 days off when winning a conditions event at Newcastle (1m2f, Tapeta) under Collen Storey last month (Harrovian and King Of The South behind) and should run his race, but still hard to see him reversing 2022 form with Lord North.
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

Form: 512-55 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Seven wins over 1m2f-1m4f on Tapeta but 0-7 on Polytrack; well held behind Forest Of Dean and Harrovian at Newcastle (1m2f, Tapeta) on his penultimate start and this is likely to prove too sharp for him in any case.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(4)

25th Feb 2023

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

14:05 Lingfield (AW)

King Of The South

9st 2lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: William Knight

slowly away, soon towards rear

20/1

5th

1

(8)

28th Jan 2023

Standard

1m 2f 219y

Class 2

19:30 Kempton (AW)

King Of The South

10st 0lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: William Knight

Seven-time Tapeta winner but just under 3l behind Ziggy off levels in a conditions race at Newcastle last time and has to give him weight this time; 0-6 on Polytrack, including below best both visits here.

10/1

5th

3

(2)

12th Jan 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 42y

Class 2

13:50 Newcastle (AW)

King Of The South

9st 6lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: William Knight

Ultra-consistent sort whose seven wins have all come on Tapeta (record here reads 1121311); doesn't have much to find with the Gosden pair on these terms and his record on the surface makes him hard to dismiss, but a suspicion that further suits him better these days.

7/2

100/1

Form: 063-78 C

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Four-time Polytrack winner including twice here (1m/1m4f); not totally disgraced when fifth of seven in this race last year, but his losing run is up to 16 (ran poorly over hurdles last time) and he would be a shock winner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(5)

11th Dec 2023

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

20:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Pistoletto

9st 5lb

J: Jack Gilligan

T: John Ryan

Well below par in two runs since popping up at Kempton in July (1m3f); can start slowly.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.90
Straight Forecast £4.09
Tricast £18.37
Trifecta £24.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Lord North

The Guardian:

Tyrrhenian Sea

TOPSPEED:

Harrovian

The Star:

Tyrrhenian Sea

RP Ratings:

Lord North

POSTDATA:

Lord North

NEWMARKET:

Lord North

The Times:

Lord North

Telegraph:

Lord North

Daily Mail:

Lord North

D Express:

Lord North

Daily Mirror:

Lord North

The Sun:

Lord North

Daily Record:

Lord North