May 09 / 14.35 Chester

14.35

Good

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

  • Prize money: £73723
  • 1m 2f 70y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV4
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Ire-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Huxley Stakes (Group 2)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

11/8 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 9514-2 D

Last run: 82 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Won the Dante in 2023 and tapped back into that promise with easy Listed win at Newcastle (1m2f, AW) last November; has subsequently shown very strong form in defeat in Hong Kong Group 1 and Qatar Group 3, and he's a leading player this afternoon.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

(1)

9th May 2025

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 1

14:35 Chester

The Foxes

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

led, headed and prominent after 1f, ridden and edged right over 1f out, led final 110yds, won going away

11/8

1st

7

(1)

9th May 2025

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 1

14:35 Chester

The Foxes

9st 3lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

led, headed and prominent after 1f, ridden and edged right over 1f out, led final 110yds, won going away

11/8

8

(10)

16th Nov 2024

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 1

15:15 Newcastle (AW)

The Foxes

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Won the Dante at 3; wasn't far off his best when third in 1m3f Southwell conditions race in February (AW debut) but comfortably held in Group races on turf since, albeit he might have needed his latest run at Newmarket after six months off.

15/2

33/1

  • Place: £10.40

Form: 72-626

Last run: 69 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Group 3 and Listed winner for Aidan O'Brien earlier in his career; runner-up in two Group races at Meydan in the winter but that form still leaves him with something to find in today's company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(11)

17th Jun 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:30 Ascot

Cairo

9st 2lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Alice Haynes

Ex-Ballydoyle horse who has finished runner-up on five occasions for current yard, most recently in Group 2 at Chester (1m2f); however, back up in class today he's very unlikely to achieve the same position, let alone go one better; comfortably held in this contest last year and again has a stiff task; wears new headgear.

50/1

2nd

2

(5)

9th May 2025

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 1

14:35 Chester

Cairo

9st 3lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Alice Haynes

pressed leader, led narrowly over 1f out, headed final 110yds, kept on

33/1

7/1

Form: 0212-5

Last run: 41 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Defied top weight in the Cambridgeshire (1m1f, soft) last September and Group 3 runner-up over same C&D (good to soft) in October; also effective on good ground and went close over 1m2f last year; below par on reappearance in March but may have needed the run; key player if back on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

(3)

16th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:25 Newbury

Liberty Lane

9st 2lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Usually races prominently; a mostly solid 2025 included 1m2f Listed wins in May and November; 2026 started in downbeat fashion (similar to last year) in Listed race and his top three ratings have been registered on softer than good; this is also a new trip (unraced beyond an extended 1m2f) but he's bred to get it and has a chance on best form; ground the chief worry.

10/1

1

(4)

1st Nov 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

15:25 Newmarket

Liberty Lane

9st 9lb

J: Shane Gray

T: K R Burke

Won the Cambridgeshire here (1m1f, soft) last autumn; also scored in a Listed race at Goodwood (1m2f, good) this May and respectable 2l fourth of six to Damysus in 1m1f course Group 3 (good to firm) three weeks ago; unlikely to be far away despite his 3lb penalty.

7/2

OUR TIP

6/1

Form: 47211- D

Last run: 188 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Has a very healthy 6-11 strike-rate, including three 1m2f handicap wins last year (soft/good to soft) and a Listed triumph at Newmarket (1m2f, soft) in November when last seen; in the mix on his best form but his peak efforts have come on slow ground and he's unlikely to have such a surface today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(8)

1st Nov 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

15:25 Newmarket

Bolster

9st 6lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: K R Burke

Ended last season with a couple of soft-ground wins, including edging out Peace Man in this; back to near best when fourth off top weight in warm Glorious Goodwood handicap (good) and not disgraced when fifth in Longchamp Group 3 and Goodwood Listed event since; one of two solid contenders for connections.

9/1

2

(8)

1st Nov 2025

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

15:25 Newmarket

Bolster

9st 6lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: K R Burke

Ended last season with a couple of soft-ground wins, including edging out Peace Man in this; back to near best when fourth off top weight in warm Glorious Goodwood handicap (good) and not disgraced when fifth in Longchamp Group 3 and Goodwood Listed event since; one of two solid contenders for connections.

9/1

Form: 12244- D

Last run: 261 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Ran well in defeat last season in Group 2s at Royal Ascot (1m4f, good to firm) and at York's Ebor meeting (1m4f, good to firm); this lightly raced 4yo is in top hands and, having been gelded in the off-season, he could be the type to go to a new level this year; respected on his reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

10

(1)

21st Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Space Legend

9st 3lb

J: James Doyle

T: William Haggas

Ran well in defeat last season in Group 2s at this meeting (1m4f, good to firm) and at York (1m4f, good to firm); gelded in the off-season; this lightly raced 4yo is in top hands and may have needed last month's reappearance run at York, but improvement is required in first-time cheekpieces.

6/1

5th

6

(2)

9th May 2025

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 1

14:35 Chester

Space Legend

9st 3lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

took keen hold, towards rear, brief headway inside final furlong, never dangerous

4/1

5th

6

(2)

9th May 2025

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 1

14:35 Chester

Space Legend

9st 3lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: William Haggas

took keen hold, towards rear, brief headway inside final furlong, never dangerous

4/1

6/1

Form: 1221-3 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 3lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
9yo who was better than ever last year, winning a Group 3 at Longchamp (1m2f, soft) in September; reappeared with creditable third of five in hot Group 2 there (1m2f, good) last month; has run well in defeat on both previous visits here (including this race in 2022) and firmly in calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

(8)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

Certain Lad

9st 3lb

J: George Bass

T: Jack Channon

Multiple winner down the years but 2025 figures suggest age may be catching up with him to some degree; hasn't won a domestic race since 2023 and it's an even longer time since he made a successful seasonal debut.

14/1

3

(3)

19th Oct 2025

Yielding

1m 2f 0y

15:26 Leopardstown

Certain Lad

9st 7lb

J: George Bass

T: Jack Channon

Strike rate of 11-49 reads well although hasn't won in over a year and this season has been restricted by quick ground; had his favoured soft ground but still good bit below best at Ayr last month so must be doubtful he can run to current mark and ideally wants a bit further.

8/1

3

(1)

20th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Ayr

Certain Lad

9st 5lb

J: George Bass

T: Jack Channon

9yo whose form has been mixed across three starts this year; however, they've all been on good ground and his last five wins have come on good to soft and slower ground, the latest a Group 3 at Longchamp (1m2f, soft) last September; could bounce back with a big run if conditions are in his favour.

6/1

Non-runners

Deepone

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £52.70
Straight Forecast £52.92
Trifecta £229.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

The Foxes

NEWMARKET:

Space Legend

Daily Mail:

Deepone

TOPSPEED:

Liberty Lane

POSTDATA:

Certain Lad

The Guardian:

Space Legend

Daily Record:

Deepone

RP RATINGS:

The Foxes

LAMBOURN:

The Foxes

The Times:

The Foxes

Telegraph:

The Foxes

D Express:

The Foxes

Daily Mirror:

The Foxes

The Sun:

The Foxes

The Star:

The Foxes