May 02 / 16.05 Newmarket

16.05

Good

Betfred Jockey Club Stakes (Group 2)

  • Prize money: £70887.5
  • 1m 4f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 4 runners
ITV
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Betfred Jockey Club Stakes (Group 2)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sunny

OUR TIP

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50

Form: 7321-5 C

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Finished about 10l behind Ambiente Friendly in the 2024 Derby and 7l behind Divina Grace at Newbury on reappearance; showed very useful form in between those defeats but his chance of landing this prize depends on how well he responds to first-time headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(5)

2nd May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:45 Newmarket

Bellum Justum

10st 0lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Seemingly ring-rusty on Group 3 return at Newbury two weeks ago, the same story as in 2025 when he followed that race with a win at this meeting in a four-runner 1m4f Group 2 with first-time cheekpieces; they were kept for two modest efforts last June but have not been called on this season; this is his first handicap and he has a big chance if springing back to his best.

7/1

5th

4

(7)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:35 Newbury

Bellum Justum

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Won Group 2 at Newmarket (1m4f, good) last May in first-time cheekpieces, which were kept for two modest efforts in June but not today; first run since a gelding operation in September; ring-rusty on his 2025 reappearance in this race and the market may reveal whether the same is expected this time.

12/1

9th

3

(9)

21st Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Bellum Justum

9st 3lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Displayed improved form in first-time cheekpieces (retained since) when winning the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket (1m4f, good) last month; flopped in the Group 1 Coronation Cup at Epsom subsequently but was reportedly unsuited by the good to soft ground; he could be just the type of older horse his trainer excels with and he's not ruled out.

25/1

Form: 1133-1 C

Last run: 62 days

W: 9st 5lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Very smart performer who has seen a lot of the world; dual Group 3 scorer in Britain as a 2yo and completed a US Grade 2 hat-trick last season; justified favouritism in UAE Group 2 in sole run this year; leading contender in this first British start for two years.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(8)

23rd May 2025

Good

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:50 Goodwood

Silver Knott

9st 10lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Very smart performer who has seen a lot of the world; Group 3 scorer in Britain and Group/Grade 2 winner in UAE/USA; beaten favourite in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket most recently but wasn't disgraced on form; major contender back down in class, even with 7lb penalty.

11/4

3rd

1

(8)

23rd May 2025

Good

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:50 Goodwood

Silver Knott

9st 10lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

Very smart performer who has seen a lot of the world; Group 3 scorer in Britain and Group/Grade 2 winner in UAE/USA; beaten favourite in the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket most recently but wasn't disgraced on form; major contender back down in class, even with 7lb penalty.

11/4

2nd

3

(1)

2nd May 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

16:05 Newmarket

Silver Knott

9st 5lb

J: William Buick

T: Charlie Appleby

travelled strongly, raced in second, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final 110yds

11/8

Form: 5149-1 CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Useful for Rae Guest; took her form to a new level with a game success in Newbury Group 3 on stable/seasonal debut, taking record to 6-21; faces a stiffer task in this grade but may rate higher still and she's the sole C&D winner in the field; very hard to dismiss.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(3)

31st May 2025

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:15 York

Divina Grace

9st 5lb

J: David Probert

T: Andrew Balding

Took her form to a new level with a game success in Newbury Group 3 on stable/seasonal debut; not so good front-running in a four-runner Group 2 at Newmarket (also 1m4f on good) three weeks later; player if reverting to the Newbury form but her three attempts at this sort of trip (summer 2023) were not as good as that year's runs at 1m4f.

5/1

6th

1

(3)

31st May 2025

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:15 York

Divina Grace

9st 5lb

J: David Probert

T: Andrew Balding

Took her form to a new level with a game success in Newbury Group 3 on stable/seasonal debut; not so good front-running in a four-runner Group 2 at Newmarket (also 1m4f on good) three weeks later; player if reverting to the Newbury form but her three attempts at this sort of trip (summer 2023) were not as good as that year's runs at 1m4f.

5/1

3rd

4

(2)

2nd May 2025

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

16:05 Newmarket

Divina Grace

9st 2lb

J: David Probert

T: Andrew Balding

Useful for Rae Guest; took her form to a new level with a game success in Newbury Group 3 on stable/seasonal debut, taking record to 6-21; faces a stiffer task in this grade but may rate higher still and she's the sole C&D winner in the field; very hard to dismiss.

6/1

Form: 2305-4 D BF

Last run: 17 days

W: 9st 5lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Faded into fourth in the Earl Of Sefton here on stable/seasonal debut, running below par for the third start in succession; impressive in the Lingfield trial then ran well, beating all bar City Of Troy, in last year's Derby; big player provided he's back to that very smart form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

(12)

19th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:40 Ascot

Ambiente Friendly

9st 12lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: James Owen

His second in the 2024 Derby is feeling pretty distant now and on latest outing he was second of four in a handicap hurdle at Fakenham; hooded throughout that hurdles campaign and sometimes on Flat, but that is now replaced by cheekpieces; this is also his first ever Flat handicap.

33/1

2nd

2

31st May 2026

Good

2m 0f 3y

Class 4

16:07 Fakenham

Ambiente Friendly

11st 13lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Smart 3yo on the Flat; just 1-5 over hurdles, and his habit of racing far too freely remains a worry, but he wasn't beaten far in a valuable novices' handicap at Sandown (2m, good) last month and is in much calmer waters here.

11/10

8th

13

25th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

13:45 Sandown

Ambiente Friendly

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Showed smart Flat form as a 3yo; managed to win in December but has otherwise broadly been too free for his own good since switched to hurdles; ideally needs to settle better.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.90
Straight Forecast £11.12
Trifecta £19.50

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Silver Knott

SPOTLIGHT:

Ambiente Friendly

LAMBOURN:

Bellum Justum

Daily Mail:

Divina Grace

TOPSPEED:

Ambiente Friendly

POSTDATA:

Ambiente Friendly

The Guardian:

Ambiente Friendly

The Star:

Ambiente Friendly

NEWMARKET:

Silver Knott

The Times:

Silver Knott

Telegraph:

Silver Knott

D Express:

Silver Knott

Daily Mirror:

Silver Knott

Daily Record:

Silver Knott