February 22 / 15.15 Southwell (AW)

15.15

Standard

BetUK Winter Derby Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £56710
  • 1m 3f 23y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
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BetUK Winter Derby Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Cloudy

6/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50
  • Place: £1.40

Form: /6201-

Last run: 53 days

W: 9st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Grade 1 placed in October 2023; failed to win during a spell in Australia but showed no ill effects from his travels when comfortably seeing off a solid AW performer, who has won since, in a Listed event at Lingfield on New Year's Eve (stable debut); this will be the longest trip he's tackled so far but he's bred to stay 1m4f and he's the pick of the weights.
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

15/8

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 1121- D

Last run: 110 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Improved his RPR with each of his four runs last year, impressive at Kempton when last seen in November (1m4f; Listed; AW debut); stayed on strongly on that occasion and interesting that connections have since gelded him, and are adding cheekpieces for the first time; surely has more to offer in 2025 and the Gosden stable has won four of the last six runnings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(4)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:45 Newmarket

Military Academy

9st 10lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

AW Listed winner for the Gosdens in November 2024 but he hasn't been near that form since a Listed second last June; second and third places early this year came in small fields and other options look more solid.

20/1

5th

3

(4)

6th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 1f 219y

Class 1

14:55 Kempton (AW)

Military Academy

9st 3lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Latest win came in a Listed race over 1m4f here for the Gosdens in November 2024 but he hasn't been at his best in five starts for this yard; needs a major revival.

12/1

12th

1

(5)

28th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 2

14:42 Kempton (AW)

Military Academy

9st 12lb

J: Alexandra Egan

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Ex-Gosden 5yo; something of a revival with his second and third in small fields at Lingfield (1m2f) on last two outings for current yard, the latter a Group 3; bit more to prove back in the different scenario of this handicap but, with 7lb claimer recruited, he's not entirely dismissed.

12/1

Form: 6121-1 CD

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Progressive performer on AW, taking his record on synthetics to five wins and a second from six runs when readily landing the trial for this event over C&D three weeks ago; others in the field have achieved more but he's on the up and probably hasn't reached his ceiling just yet.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(4)

11th Oct 2025

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 2

14:05 York

Champagne Prince

8st 13lb

J: George Wood

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Superior on AW but handicapped accordingly and he was a promising fifth over 1m4f here (good to firm) in August, when he raced wide early and was in the lead at the furlong pole; again faded when last of five in Listed race at Chester last time (1m4f, good to soft; tough task at weights) and this drop back in trip could prove ideal; drawn low and one to consider seriously.

9/1

2

(3)

13th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 1

14:05 Chester

Champagne Prince

9st 5lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Best form on AW, on which he's 5-7 (including a 1m4f Listed win from the front last December) whereas 0-8 on turf; has shown easily his best turf form in two of his last three starts (gelded before latest) but much better is seemingly required today.

33/1

5th

6

(10)

22nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 188y

Class 2

13:50 York

Champagne Prince

9st 2lb

J: David Egan

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Best form on AW, on which he's 5-7 (including a Listed win from the front) whereas 0-7 on turf; he now has a 10lb lower turf mark and managed sixth of 16 at Royal Ascot (1m6f, good to firm) on penultimate start, but that's easily his best turf form; gelded since a poor show on latest outing.

9/1

66/1

Form: 057-21 C

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Second and first on his two runs here this year, latterly winning a Class 4 handicap over 1m6f by a neck; has since left Lawrence Mullaney (same owners); pitched into much deeper waters and shouldn't be good enough.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

29th May 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

18:05 Wolverhampton (AW)

Pleasant Man

11st 0lb

J: Mr Simon Walker

T: Joey Ramsden

On a losing run and he beat only one in 11.5f Lingfield handicap ten days ago; not ruled out though if back on his A-game.

16/1

7th

2

(4)

19th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 133y

Class 5

14:10 Lingfield

Pleasant Man

9st 9lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Joey Ramsden

Five wins from 43 starts, the most recent at Southwell (1m6f, AW) last January off a mark 10lb higher than today's; bounced back from a disappointing run when fourth of six at Doncaster (1m4f, good to firm) 17 days ago and has place claims.

10/1

OUR TIP

50/1

Form: 636-93

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 3lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Still capable of useful form but he was the thick end of 6l behind stablemate Champagne Prince over C&D three weeks ago and no obvious reason why the tables would be turned today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(2)

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 39y

Class 2

13:30 Carlisle

Claymore

9st 6lb

J: Sorin Moldoveanu

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Campaigned in the UAE this winter, last seen finishing tailed off at Meydan; still 4lb higher than for his last win in Britain and probably best watched after three months off.

20/1

2

(2)

14th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 2

20:00 Windsor

Claymore

9st 11lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Career highlight was at Royal Ascot 2022 but he capitalised on a career-low mark to win at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm) last month; long list of possible excuses next time and not disgraced at Ascot last Saturday, so he needs a second look.

10/1

2

(5)

9th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

14:45 Ascot

Claymore

10st 1lb

J: Suraj Narredu

T: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Career highlight was at Royal Ascot 2022 but he capitalised on a career-low mark to win at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm) last month; long list of possible excuses at Yarmouth 12 days later, so he remains of interest.

6/1

50/1

Form: 66468-

Last run: 134 days

W: 9st 0lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Capable of fair form for Thomas Gibney from 1m to 1m2f; makes her stable debut in a hot race though and she looks up against it at the weights; promising on AW in France as a 3yo.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(6)

22nd Feb 2025

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 1

15:15 Southwell (AW)

Alanya

9st 0lb

J: David Egan

T: Miss Natalia Lupini

raced in second

50/1

8th

1

(10)

11th Oct 2024

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

16:45 Newmarket

Alanya

9st 5lb

J: David Egan

T: Thomas Gibney

Reliable mare but yet to make the breakthrough at Listed level (five attempts) and this second attempt at a Group race is even tougher.

40/1

6th

6

(9)

15th Sep 2024

Good

1m 2f 0y

17:55 Curragh

Alanya

9st 4lb

J: Gavin Ryan

T: Thomas Gibney

towards rear

10/1

Form: 01318-

Last run: 126 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Mare

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Progressed well at around 1m2f as a 3yo, taking a step forward when winning a Listed race at Ayr's Western meeting last September; flying high in the Champion Stakes when last seen; this should be more suitable and this trip likely to prove within range; handles Polytrack, unraced on Tapeta.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.80
Straight Forecast £3.60
Trifecta £11.70

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Royal Champion

Telegraph:

Champagne Prince

SPOTLIGHT:

Military Academy

Daily Mirror:

Champagne Prince

The Star:

Champagne Prince

Daily Record:

Champagne Prince

TOPSPEED:

Military Academy

NEWMARKET:

Military Academy

POSTDATA:

Royal Champion

The Times:

Royal Champion

The Guardian:

Royal Champion

Daily Mail:

Royal Champion

D Express:

Royal Champion

The Sun:

Royal Champion