May 12 / 14.40 Chester

14.40

Soft

IRE-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Huxley Stakes (Group 2) (IRE Incentive Race)

  • Prize money: £67224
  • 1m 2f 70y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
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IRE-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Huxley Stakes (Group 2) (IRE Incentive Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

6/5 (Won)

  • Win: £1.84
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 12/0-1 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Ballydoyle colt who proved smart over 7f as a 2yo, winning four times (including Group 2); disappointing in the 2,000 Guineas on sole 3yo start but bounced right back with a success in the Alleged Stakes at the Curragh (1m2f, heavy; solid Group 3 form) last month on 4yo reappearance; highly unexposed at this trip and seems set for a fruitful campaign; leading player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

(6)

13th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:35 Doncaster

Point Lonsdale

9st 7lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Ran respectably sole start on good to firm; 0-8 in Group 1 races but has won five lesser Group contests and he's a leading contender on form; impressive over the extended 1m5f at Chester in May, galloping on relentlessly; first venture beyond that when disappointing favourite at York (2m) three weeks ago but he's nevertheless back for more in the Cup races and over an even longer trip this time; interesting to see whether his backers return.

9/2

5th

4

(5)

23rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

14:25 York

Point Lonsdale

9st 5lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

Ran respectably sole start on good to firm; 0-8 in Group 1 races but has won five lesser Group contests and he's a leading contender on form; brother to the very smart Broome, who won at up to 2m, but he's not himself been beyond the extended 1m5f of his impressive Chester win in May; galloped on relentlessly that day, so has to be of major interest.

2/1

1st

6

(4)

9th May 2024

Good

1m 5f 84y

Class 1

15:40 Chester

Point Lonsdale

9st 2lb

J: Ryan Moore

T: A P O’Brien

prominent, went second over 2f out

2/1

OUR TIP

7/2

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 04181- C

Last run: 202 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Disappointing favourite in the Lincoln and the Cambridgeshire in 2022; however, impressively defied top weight in Newbury handicap (1m2f, heavy) on final run, recording a smart RPR and taking record to 5-8; could well improve even further this term and make his mark at Group level; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(7)

10th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 2f 100y

Class 1

15:00 Haydock

Mujtaba

9st 7lb

J: Jason Watson

T: William Haggas

niggled along to lead soon after start

12/1

11th

11

(16)

18th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

18:40 Ascot

Mujtaba

9st 5lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

Went close in Chester Group 2 (about 1m2f, soft) on sole outing in 2023; well beaten on first two runs back but revived with first-time blinkers added to his regular tongue-tie (combination retained) when second in 1m2f Goodwood Listed race (good) 25 days ago; another step forward is needed here and he's drawn widest; Jim Crowley prefers Israr.

16/1

2nd

4

(6)

24th May 2024

Good

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:35 Goodwood

Mujtaba

9st 3lb

J: William Buick

T: William Haggas

dwelt start, midfield, pushed along briefly after 1f, in touch with leaders 7f out, headway from 3f out, briefly led 1f out, kept on

5/1

16/1

Form: 777-32 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Creditable second at the Curragh 11 days ago in a Group 2 contest that he won in 2022; however, looks held by Point Lonsdale on Alleged form the time before and needs a career-best performance to land this prize.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

(1)

29th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

18:50 Down Royal

Layfayette

9st 6lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Noel Meade

Winner of ten races, most recently last month's seasonal return in good-class Curragh conditions event, coming late in testing conditions (first attempt at 1m6f); never able to land a blow later same month on quicker ground in Saval Beg; first attempt at 2m.

13/2

6th

6

(7)

25th Apr 2026

Yielding

1m 6f 0y

15:05 Navan

Layfayette

9st 5lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Noel Meade

Winner of ten races; last of six stakes race wins was in 2023 Royal Whip over 1m2f at the Curragh; however, he proved that he retains considerable ability and enthusiasm when winning a conditions event over this trip at the Curragh on seasonal debut; (Dallas Star third, Emit fourth), that was his first 1m6f attempt, on his 47th outing.

10/1

1st

7

(2)

3rd Apr 2026

Soft

1m 6f 0y

17:27 Curragh

Layfayette

9st 5lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Noel Meade

Winner of nine races; last of six stakes race wins was in 2023 Royal Whip over 1m2f at this venue; best run last season when runner-up to an odds-on chance in 1m2f Group 3 event here in June; first try at this trip.

8/1

Form: 111-2 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Three from three in his first season last year (1m/1m2f); good second in the Earl Of Sefton at Newmarket (1m1f, good to soft; Group 3) on reappearance, losing his unbeaten record but improving further in terms of form; progressive and still has very low mileage; remains of strong interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(8)

4th Dec 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

19:10 Kempton (AW)

Poker Face

9st 6lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

in rear

9/2

1st

4

(8)

4th Dec 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

19:10 Kempton (AW)

Poker Face

9st 6lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

in rear

9/2

12th

5

(7)

19th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:15 Ascot

Poker Face

9st 6lb

J: James Doyle

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

Won a Group 3 and Group 2 in France last season (1m, soft/good to soft); this prominent-racer has run well in defeat in 1m Group 2 races on his last three starts (soft/good) but needs something extra today.

66/1

Form: 14319- D

Last run: 209 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Completely tailed off in the Champion Stakes when last seen; won well at Ayr (1m2f Listed) the time before but his closest pursuers were a couple of 9yos and this looks harder; all wins on good ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(7)

13th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 2f 0y

17:30 Leopardstown

Royal Champion

9st 9lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Won the Group 3 Winter Derby at Southwell (1m3f, AW) in February before creditable fourth in the Group 3 Gordon Richards at Sandown (1m2f, good); down the field in the Prince of Wales's Stakes on Group 1 debut and first encounter with fast ground; brought form to a new level with Group 2 win at York; still plenty to prove in top grade.

14/1

4

(3)

26th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 56y

Class 1

14:40 York

Royal Champion

9st 8lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Won the Group 3 Winter Derby at Southwell (1m3f, AW) in February before creditable fourth under a 3lb penalty in the Group 3 Gordon Richards at Sandown (1m2f, good), when a neck behind Almaqam; down the field at Royal Ascot but in a Group 1 on his first encounter with fast ground; could be thereabouts now back down in grade and with slower ground expected.

14/1

7th

8

(6)

18th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Royal Champion

9st 2lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Won the 1m2f Listed Wolferton at this meeting in 2023; mixed form last autumn in Australia, before registering Listed and Group 3 wins on the British AW this winter for his new stable; close, keeping-on fourth of seven in Sandown Group 3 (1m2f, good; unraced on firmer) in April was another good effort but he needs markedly better to upset the best of today's rivals.

50/1

Form: 649-31 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
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.
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

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.10
Straight Forecast £4.33
Trifecta £27.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Mujtaba

POSTDATA:

Point Lonsdale

NEWMARKET:

Poker Face

TOPSPEED:

Royal Champion

The Times:

Poker Face

RP RATINGS:

Mujtaba

The Guardian:

Mujtaba

Daily Mail:

Mujtaba

Daily Mirror:

Mujtaba

The Star:

Mujtaba

Telegraph:

Point Lonsdale

D Express:

Point Lonsdale

The Sun:

Point Lonsdale

Daily Record:

Point Lonsdale