MAY REVIEW
We have enjoyed a fantastic month, with 26 winners, just short of a million in prize-money and six black-type successes to celebrate.
See The Fire followed up last year’s success in the Group 2 Middleton at York, winning cosily under Oisin Murphy in what was a slowly-run affair. Unbeaten in two starts this term, she has finished in the frame on six of 12 career starts at the top level and has several possible Group 1 targets in the months ahead.
Fellow five-year-old Kalpana won her second Group 1 Champion Fillies & Mares at Ascot in October and it is such a privilege to have both her and See The Fire staying in training this year. It was very pleasing to see her make a winning return, defying a 7lbs penalty to land the Group 3 Aston Park at Newbury under Colin Keane. The Hardwicke at Royal Ascot will probably be next, and looking further ahead her big target for the season is likely to be to try and win a third Fillies & Mares on Champions Day.
Item had won both of his starts in maiden/novice company last season, but a decisive victory in the Group 2 Dante on his return to action at York has seen him emerge as one of the leading contenders for next month’s Derby. Given a well-judged ride by Colin Keane, the son of Frankel and Group 1 winner Capla Temptress is a top-class prospect and we are now all greatly looking forward to heading to Epsom with him.
Flora Of Bermuda had a fine campaign last term despite not getting her head in front, finishing third in Group 1s at Royal Ascot and Haydock, and she made a successful reappearance in the Listed Ellen Chaloner at Newmarket for James Doyle. Another tilt at the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee at Royal Ascot could be next on the agenda.
Blue Bolt was highly progressive throughout his three-year-old campaign, winning two novices, a Listed contest and then finishing the season with a second in the Group 1 Sun Chariot at Newmarket in October. She made the perfect seasonal reappearance at Goodwood, justifying favouritism in the hands of Colin Keane to win the Listed Conqueror Stakes in good style and in doing so, setting herself up for an exciting year ahead.
A winner at both Group 3 and Group 2 level last season and narrowly denied in the French Guineas in between, Jonquil won the Listed Paradise Stakes at Ascot on his first start of 2026 in good style under Colin Keane and set up a tilt at the Lockinge. Things didn’t go his way there, but he remains a very high-class colt with plenty more to come this season.
Respond has proved very progressive already this year and he was winning for the second time in 2026 when running away with what had looked a competitive handicap at Chester, having finished a good third in the Rosebery at Kempton Park on his previous start. He could have a big prize in him this summer.
Double Rush maintained his unbeaten start to the campaign with a second win at Newmarket, scoring impressively in a valuable handicap in the hands of Shane Foley. He very much looks a Group performer in the making, but the Wokingham could be next for the exciting son of Blue Point.
Conclave had run to a high level when runner-up in a conditions contest at Kempton Park on his second start, and he made it two wins from three outings with a narrow front-running success in a valuable novice at Hamilton, with P J McDonald on board. He looks a classy prospect going forward.
Dance In The Storm made a winning reappearance at Chester, winning snugly despite not really having the run of the race under Oisin Murphy. She is from a family we have enjoyed so much success with and hopefully there is a big handicap for her this summer. Shrimp Shady was another to win on the Roodee, landing the Chester Plate under a good ride from Rob Hornby and there is plenty more to come from him, particularly given that was just his third start in turf.
Who’s Lope made it third time lucky with a novice success at Beverley under P J McDonald and the son of Lope De Vega looks a useful middle-distance prospect going forward, as does Galiyan, who was one of four winners for us at Chester’s May meeting and couldn’t have been much more impressive in winning his maiden at the second attempt under Oisin Murphy.
The beautifully-bred Dream Camp took a couple of starts to find her feet, but won very nicely at Southwell under Jason Watson and the daughter of Siyouni can make her mark in a nice handicap this summer, with Bright Summer another well-bred filly to follow in the months ahead, following a ready front-running success on the All-Weather at Lingfield Park for Oisin Murphy.
Sintra made his first start in handicap company a winning one, making all at Ascot under Oisin Murphy. He wasn’t able to follow up in a valuable handicap at Newbury next time but the son of Kingman retains plenty of potential. Spanish Voice won very nicely at Newmarket on his first turf outing of the year, making most and coming home clear, but was another that couldn’t match that form at Newbury next time. He is a talented colt and can bounce back off what remains a workable mark.
A novice winner at Doncaster last July on what proved to be his final start of the campaign, The Cursor had been gelded prior to his reappearance at Newcastle and was impressive in victory, scoring by 11 lengths under a motionless P J McDonald. He has been hit with a 12lbs rise by the handicapper, but the son of Frankel is a very exciting prospect.
Mythical Valentine built on two placed efforts on his first two starts of the year with a game victory at Windsor under Callum Hutchinson and he is a young middle-distance handicapper with potential, as is Littlecote, who scored with a bit to spare at Newcastle for P J McDonald and has plenty more to offer this term.
Machadadorp stepped up on her Ascot debut at the beginning of the month with a taking success at Chester four weeks later and the daughter of Mehmas should continue to progress, as should Rouane, who has taken a step forward with each of three runs, culminating in a comfortable win at Catterick in the hands of Silvestre De Sousa.
Jolivette became our first two-year-old winner of the year, making a very promising winning debut at Newmarket under David Probert. A half-sister to Jonquil, she is a beautiful filly with a bright future and all being well, will be heading to Royal Ascot next.
Moonrise became our second winning debutante, making all the running at Kempton Park under Oisin Murphy to win with plenty to spare. That looked a smart performance and she is another exciting filly with the credentials to step up in class next time.