May 08 / 14.35 Chester

14.35

Good

Deepbridge Huxley Stakes (Group 2)

  • Prize money: £96407
  • 1m 2f 70y
  • Class 1
  • 9 runners
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Deepbridge Huxley Stakes (Group 2)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

6/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 11154- C

Last run: 237 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Very much at the top his generation last year, winning the Chester Vase at this meeting before going on to classic glory at Epsom and the Curragh (all three wins over 1m4f on good ground); he was undeniably disappointing in the Great Voltigeur (1m4f, good to firm) and St Leger (14.5f, soft), but this looks a good starting point for his 4yo career given the race conditions and he should take the beating if anything like back to his best; cheekpieces are given a go.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

7

(1)

20th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 211y

Class 1

15:05 Ascot

Lambourn

9st 3lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Winner of the 2025 Derby; has worn cheekpieces this season, gamely beating Bay City Roller in the Huxley at Chester (good-ground Group 2) then failing by a long way to confirm the placings in a one-sided Coronation Cup on softer going; behind stablemate Jan Brueghel in that contest and is still a tad inferior to that horse on ratings but it will be interesting to see what he can do in the retained headgear returned to a forecast faster surface.

20/1

3rd

6

(6)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

14:40 Epsom

Lambourn

9st 2lb

J: Wayne Lordan

T: A P O’Brien

Most wins on good ground but has form on soft; held on by only a neck from Bay City Roller on better terms in the Huxley (1m2f Group 2) at Chester on seasonal debut but proved game in first-time cheekpieces and, based on Ryan Moore's post-race comments, will come on for the run; notable contender in the retained headgear returned to the scene of his biggest moment, namely a clearcut success in last year's Derby (followed up in the Irish version).

13/2

OUR TIP

3/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 62241-

Last run: 181 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Showed some high-class form last year including when beaten less than a length by Daryz in the Prix Egene Adam; hit the big time when making all to win the Group 1 Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern by 7l at Munich (1m4f, soft) in November; his 5lb penalty won't make things easy and this should set him up nicely for bigger targets ahead, but he goes well fresh and shouldn't be underestimated.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(4)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 1

14:40 Epsom

Bay City Roller

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: George Scott

Consistent colt whose Group 1 form is non-domestic, namely a success in Germany (1m4f, soft) last November and good second at the Curragh (10.5f, good) latest start; only a neck behind Lambourn on worse terms at Chester on reappearance, albeit with that rival rusty and likely to improve for the run, according to Ryan Moore; needs a personal best to land this prize.

18/1

2nd

2

(3)

24th May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 110y

15:55 Curragh

Bay City Roller

9st 5lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: George Scott

Showed some high-class form last year, including when beaten less than a length by Daryz in the Prix Egene Adam; hit the big time when making all to win the Group 1 Grosser Allianz Preis von Bayern by 7l at Munich (1m4f, soft) in November; huge run at Chester when conceding weight all around, just going down by a neck to last year's dual Derby winner Lambourn; ideally suited by softer ground and a bit to find on ratings but he's clearly in top form.

8/1

3rd
3 (3)
Ice Max

20/1

  • Place: £3.30

Form: 5711-5 BF

Last run: 26 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Ended last season with a pair of 1m victories, the latest in a Nottingham Listed event (soft); not totally disgraced when fifth of eight in a Group 3 at Dusseldorf (1m, heavy) on last month's return, but that does indicate his limitations; races beyond an extended 1m for the first time; stable also runs Royal Rhyme.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(6)

5th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 113y

Class 1

14:40 Epsom

Ice Max

9st 8lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Very useful performer whose good-ground form includes a close second in this race last year and respectable sixth to stablemate Boiling Point at Goodwood latest start; has registered the majority of wins on softer, notably in Group 2 in 2024 and Listed grade in 2025 (both 1m); major player.

5/1

6th

1

(4)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

Ice Max

9st 6lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Won the Celebration Mile at Goodwood in 2024; creditable third, faring best of the runners who came off steady pace, in Group 2 at Chester (good) upped to 1m2f last time; unexposed at this distance and enters calculations despite carrying a 3lb penalty for Listed success (1m, soft) last autumn.

7/2

3rd

3

(3)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 1

14:35 Chester

Ice Max

9st 3lb

J: Sam James

T: K R Burke

Ended last season with a pair of 1m victories, the latest in a Nottingham Listed event (soft); not totally disgraced when fifth of eight in a Group 3 at Dusseldorf (1m, heavy) on last month's return, but that does indicate his limitations; races beyond an extended 1m for the first time; stable also runs Royal Rhyme.

20/1

Form: 8381-0 CD

Last run: 40 days

W: 9st 0lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Admirable mare who is 12-21 on turf including wins at Group 3/Listed level; has winning form over C&D, but will need to improve plenty on her reappearance effort at Saint-Cloud in March if she is to play a part here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

(2)

6th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 0f 113y

Class 1

14:05 Epsom

Sparks Fly

9st 11lb

J: Laura Pearson

T: David Loughnane

Four-time Listed winner who made Group 3 breakthrough at Saint-Cloud (1m, very soft) last October; ran well when 2l fourth in Group 2 Huxley Stakes at Chester (10.3f, good) four weeks ago; third in this last year and a penalty shouldn't prevent her being competitive again.

11/4

4th

9

(1)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 1

14:35 Chester

Sparks Fly

9st 0lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: David Loughnane

Admirable mare who is 12-21 on turf including wins at Group 3/Listed level; has winning form over C&D, but will need to improve plenty on her reappearance effort at Saint-Cloud in March if she is to play a part here.

33/1

7/1

Form: 3/35-6 D BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 3lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Did well early in his carerer including when beating three rivals in the 2024 Brigadier Gerard (1m2f, soft); 0-8 since, albeit twice placed at the highest level; pulled too hard when beaten over 6l into sixth of 12 behind Starford on his return in a Group 3 at the Curragh (1m2f, soft) last month, but that should have taken the freshness out of him; could probably do with the ground easing, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(6)

3rd Jul 2026

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

15:35 Sandown

Royal Rhyme

9st 9lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Hindered by major traffic issues when behind two of today's rivals at Royal Ascot last time; losing run is mounting up but he's 1-1 over C&D, namely a win in the 2024 Brigadier Gerard Stakes; interesting back here.

6/1

14th

14

(11)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Royal Rhyme

9st 5lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: K R Burke

Did well initially in his career, including when beating three rivals in the 2024 Brigadier Gerard at Sandown (1m2f, soft); 0-9 since, albeit twice placed at the highest level; pulled too hard when beaten about 6l into sixth of 12 on return in a Group 3 at the Curragh (1m2f, soft) in April; never featured at Chester in a Group 2 on good since; good to firm ground is a worry.

16/1

Form: 217-51 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Progressive in handicaps last season but took his form to a new level when getting the better of a stablemate in a Group 3 at the Curragh (1m2f, soft) last month; may yet be capable of even better, but he could do with some rain.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(1)

30th Jun 2026

Good

1m 4f 17y

20:00 Roscommon

Starford

10st 0lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

4-10 on turf including a handicap win here off 74 last July (10.5f, yielding); won the Group 3 Alleged Stakes at the Curragh in April (1m2f, soft); not a bad run in 10.5f Chester Group 2 latest (10.5f, good), shaping as though ready to step back up to this sort of trip; leading claims.

13/8

6th

7

(9)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 1

14:35 Chester

Starford

9st 3lb

J: Dylan Browne McMonagle

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Progressive in handicaps last season but took his form to a new level when getting the better of a stablemate in a Group 3 at the Curragh (1m2f, soft) last month; may yet be capable of even better, but he could do with some rain.

15/2

1st

8

(11)

19th Apr 2026

Soft

1m 2f 0y

15:35 Curragh

Starford

9st 5lb

J: Scott McCullagh

T: Joseph Patrick O’Brien

Three-time winner, progressive in handicaps last season; unplaced in a race won by stablemate Beset on his only stakes race attempt; plenty to prove as a result.

20/1

Form: 12044-

Last run: 186 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Highly tried after his winning Newmarket debut in April last year and ran well on a couple of occasions, as when beaten a neck in the Dee Stakes over C&D (good); has a bit to find to mix it with the majority of these, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(5)

22nd May 2026

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:17 Goodwood

High Stock

9st 3lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Andrew Balding

Record of 0-5 since debut win (Wood Ditton) but he's useful and ran creditably in sole C&D attempt, namely fourth to Naqeeb in Listed event; could go well with Chester (Group 2) reappearance under his belt.

16/1

7th

2

(4)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 1

14:35 Chester

High Stock

9st 3lb

J: David Probert

T: Andrew Balding

Highly tried after his winning Newmarket debut in April last year and ran well on a couple of occasions, as when beaten a neck in the Dee Stakes over C&D (good); has a bit to find to mix it with the majority of these, though.

25/1

4th

7

(11)

24th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

15:35 Goodwood

High Stock

8st 13lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Absent since heavy defeat in Group 3 at Royal Ascot; has otherwise shown highly notable promise, namely a success in the Wood Ditton at Newmarket (1m) and close second in the Dee Stakes at Chester (1m2f Listed); may still have more to offer.

10/1

Form: 111-21 D

Last run: 76 days

W: 9st 0lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Smart on the AW (1111121), her latest success coming in the Group 3 Winter Derby at Lingfield (1m2f) in February; her winning racecourse debut came on turf (7f, soft), but this looks a tough task on her return to grass.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(3)

26th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 42y

Class 1

18:53 Newcastle (AW)

Sky Safari

9st 10lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Fanshawe

Made it 6-7 on AW (including a victory on Tapeta) when winning the Group 3 Winter Derby at Lingfield (1m2f, Polytrack) in February; not at her best in Group 2 at Chester since but that was a hotter race than this and she can give a good account back in a Group 3 and back on the AW; 3lb penalty.

13/2

8th

8

(6)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 1

14:35 Chester

Sky Safari

9st 0lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Fanshawe

Smart on the AW (1111121), her latest success coming in the Group 3 Winter Derby at Lingfield (1m2f) in February; her winning racecourse debut came on turf (7f, soft), but this looks a tough task on her return to grass.

20/1

1st

5

(5)

21st Feb 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

14:00 Lingfield (AW)

Sky Safari

8st 13lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: James Fanshawe

Tasted defeat on AW for the first time when second of ten, beaten a head, in a good fillies' handicap over C&D five weeks ago; beaten by a good filly, rather than the trip, on that occasion and she is still improving; shouldn't be underestimated.

6/1

Form: 6352-2 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
No wins since landing two of his first four starts having been highly tried in the meantime, but he has a consistent record in Group/Listed company shy of the top level (22363522); again ran well when chasing home the smart Damysus on his return in the Earl Of Sefton at Newmarket (1m1f, good) last month; shortlisted with the run under his belt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(4)

4th Jul 2026

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 1

15:35 Sandown

Kings Gambit

9st 9lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Harry Charlton

Capable of very useful form but he is 0-12 since landing a major handicap at Newbury over two years ago and was unplaced in the Listed Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot last month; supplemented at a cost of £50,000, possibly to act as pacemaker for fellow Wathnan Racing runner Gethin.

66/1

7th

10

(6)

16th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 212y

Class 1

17:35 Ascot

Kings Gambit

9st 5lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Harry Charlton

No win since landing two of his first four starts but has a largely consistent record in Listed/Group company since, including third to Haatem and Galen in this race on good to firm 12 months ago; again ran well when chasing home Damysus in Group 3 at Newmarket (1m1f, good) on reappearance in April; a subsequent Chester run was disappointing but his record suggests he's unlikely to stay down for long.

11/1

9th

4

(5)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 1

14:35 Chester

Kings Gambit

9st 3lb

J: James Doyle

T: Harry Charlton

No wins since landing two of his first four starts having been highly tried in the meantime, but he has a consistent record in Group/Listed company shy of the top level (22363522); again ran well when chasing home the smart Damysus on his return in the Earl Of Sefton at Newmarket (1m1f, good) last month; shortlisted with the run under his belt.

13/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.70
Straight Forecast £7.91
Tricast £74.43
Trifecta £79.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Lambourn

NEWMARKET:

Bay City Roller

Telegraph:

King's Gambit

The Times:

High Stock

D Express:

Starford

The Guardian:

Royal Rhyme

RP RATINGS:

Lambourn

TOPSPEED:

Lambourn

POSTDATA:

Lambourn

The Star:

Lambourn

Daily Record:

Lambourn

Daily Mirror:

Bay City Roller

The Sun:

Bay City Roller

Daily Mail:

King's Gambit