May 29 / 19.05 Sandown

19.05

Good

Star Sports Henry II Stakes (Group 3)

  • Prize money: £45368
  • 2m 0f 50y
  • Class 1
  • 4 runners
RTV
View Course
Star Sports Henry II Stakes (Group 3)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

5/6 (Won)

  • Win: £1.80

Form: /323-5 D BF

Last run: 54 days

W: 9st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Can front-run; peak days in 2023 and 2024 saw him go head to head with the best stayers around, last term when second in the Gold Cup at Ascot; below-form favourite in the Dubai Gold Cup on his return this season but should build on that and he's very much the one to beat on 2024 form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

(2)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 1

16:15 Ascot

Trawlerman

9st 4lb

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

High class, a thorough stayer and a right battler, the powerful combination of which were seen to prime effect here as a 7yo last year when he made the running (he doesn't have to) to win the Gold Cup on good to firm by 7l, having been a close second the year before; just as good when he won here on final start last term; it's seemingly been touch and go whether he defends his crown, as he has been denied a preliminary run this time round and has developed a rare eye problem which makes him sensitive to sunlight, but he's the one to beat if judged on those sterling performances of 2025.

7/2

3

(2)

18th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 209y

Class 1

12:55 Ascot

Trawlerman

9st 9lb

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

Battling 7yo who can front-run (doesn't have to) and did so to pulverising effect in the Gold Cup here (2m4f) this June, winning by 7l; that's his career-best form but several runs are not far behind it, including his two other wins this season; latest was from Sweet William at York (2m); won this race in 2023, fair third last year and very much the one to beat this time.

4/9

1st

1

(4)

22nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

14:25 York

Trawlerman

9st 8lb

J: William Buick

T: John & Thady Gosden

Battling 7yo who can front-run (doesn't have to) and did so to pulverising effect in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot (2m4f, good to firm) two months ago, winning by 7l; favourite that day, having gone head to head with the best stayers around in 2023 and 2024; the one to beat, though the 3lb penalty and probably the shorter trip make his task a bit more difficult.

4/7

9/2

Form: 5643-2 CD BF

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Won well on his only appearance at this track (2022); stalwart of the top staying races who was at his best in 2023 but not far off it on two occasions in 2024, in a very mixed campaign; turned over at 4-6 in Group 3 Sagaro at Ascot four weeks ago, when going for a hat-trick in that race, but he was much better last term on second compared to first start; not dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(3)

12th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:00 Doncaster

Coltrane

9st 7lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Andrew Balding

Stalwart of the staying scene, including with a win in this race in 2022 and a creditable fourth in 2024; both were on good to soft (beaten nearly 4l by Sweet William last year) and there was a lesser show on soft ground in the 2023 renewal; not quite as good as he was and he was dropped to a Listed race when winning ten weeks ago when last seen; major place contender if the ground isn't soft.

12/1

3

(5)

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

16:45 Sandown

Coltrane

9st 2lb

J: William Buick

T: Andrew Balding

Four-time Group winner; well held in the Gold Cup most recently; two attempts over C&D comprise a success in this contest in 2022 and respectable second in Group 3 on penultimate start; solid chance back down in class.

9/2

5th

1

(6)

19th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 1

16:20 Ascot

Coltrane

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Stalwart of the top staying races who was at his best in 2023 but not far off it on two occasions in 2024, in a very mixed campaign; runner-up in two four-runner races this season, with latest start better than the first but he was still no match for Trawlerman; second and fifth in the last two Gold Cups and others will have to underperform if he's to win it.

33/1

Form: 2D15-58

Last run: 54 days

W: 9st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Runner-up last year in the Dubai Gold Cup in March and Group 2 at York (both 2m on good) in August, but he lost his wide-margin Listed win at Newmarket (2m, soft) due to a banned substance; big shout if returning to that form but the Dubai Gold Cup in April was a disappointing latest start this term.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(1)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 210y

Class 1

16:15 Ascot

Al Nayyir

9st 4lb

J: James Doyle

T: Tom Clover

While his form since has not quite reached the heights of 2024, he's still been pretty reliable and got back on the scoresheet at Meydan (1m6f Group 3) in February; however, he twice found Trawlerman far too strong for him in Britain last season and couldn't match Rahiebb late on in last month's Yorkshire Cup; unraced beyond 2m but it's hard to envisage the new trip working sufficiently in his favour.

66/1

2nd

1

(1)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

16:05 York

Al Nayyir

9st 3lb

J: James Doyle

T: Tom Clover

While form since has not quite reached the heights of 2024, he's still been pretty reliable and got back on the scoresheet at Meydan (1m6f Group 3) in February; third in a 2m Group 2 there in March when last seen; wore cheekpieces on last four starts; should be thereabouts.

13/2

3rd

2

(6)

22nd Aug 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 56y

Class 1

14:25 York

Al Nayyir

9st 5lb

J: James Doyle

T: Tom Clover

So nearly sprung a 33-1 surprise on stable debut in this race last year (good) when his strong finish took him within short head of victory; backed up that form the following month (2m, soft); a notch or two below it this year, including when nearly 10l behind Trawlerman at Sandown (2m) in May but his short-head defeat with first-time cheekpieces there last time was more like it; could be on his way back and needs a second look.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 50416-

Last run: 222 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Won well from the front in five-runner Listed race at Newmarket (1m4f, soft) last September, his best Flat form; attempts at big races over 1m6f and 1m7f last year were scuppered by racing too freely but his very smart hurdles form since offers hope that he may still do better in this sphere too.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(2)

4th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Newmarket (July)

Burdett Road

9st 12lb

J: Luke Morris

T: James Owen

2023 Royal Ascot winner who has also tasted the high life in top hurdle races; his attentions were turned back to the Flat for four races (UAE and Saudi Arabia) this January-March and he wasn't in peak form, before 12l tenth at Royal Ascot (1m4f; restless in the stalls) continued that trend; falling in the weights but needs a revival.

40/1

10th

1

(11)

19th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 2

15:40 Ascot

Burdett Road

9st 12lb

J: Luke Morris

T: James Owen

Won 1m2f handicap at this meeting in 2023 and has also tasted the high life in top hurdle races; attentions were turned back to the Flat for four races (UAE and Saudi Arabia) this January-March and he wasn't in peak form, but edged down the weights as a result and this drop back in trip can help.

28/1

2

19th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:50 Kempton

Burdett Road

11st 6lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: James Owen

Not in top form since returned to the Flat but solid hurdles record (1121322) suggests a resurgence is likely; ran creditably, albeit fortunate to finish second the way things panned out, in the Champion Hurdle when last seen in this sphere; has the best chance at the weights.

4/5

Non-runners

Tashkhan

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.50
Straight Forecast £6.64
Trifecta £11.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Trawlerman

LAMBOURN:

Coltrane

Daily Mail:

Burdett Road

RP RATINGS:

Trawlerman

TOPSPEED:

Trawlerman

POSTDATA:

Trawlerman

NEWMARKET:

Trawlerman

The Times:

Trawlerman

Telegraph:

Trawlerman

The Guardian:

Trawlerman

D Express:

Trawlerman

Daily Mirror:

Trawlerman

The Sun:

Trawlerman

The Star:

Coltrane

Daily Record:

Coltrane