UK Flat Season Preview: Young Stars and RaceShare Runners to Watch

The British Flat turf racing season commences with the Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster next Saturday and with it brings huge excitement. We highlight five horses to follow and we also delve into the form and prospects for our RaceShare Flat horses, who offer our owners plenty to look forward to this season.

Promising Horses to Follow

1. Cathedral
Trainer: Ralph Beckett
Age: 3-year-old filly
Pedigree: Sired by Too Darn Hot out of War And Peace
Performance: Impressive debut win over six furlongs at Lingfield, finishing four and a quarter lengths ahead of the runner-up.
Potential: Cathedral's dominant debut earned her a crack at the Group 3 Oh So Sharp Stakes at Newmarket, where she was beaten half a length in second. That was only her second racecourse appearance, so she should progress as a three-year-old.

2. Ruling Court
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Age: 3-year-old colt
Pedigree: Sired by Justify, out of Inchargeofme
Performance: Two starts: one win and one third-place finish​
Potential: Ruling Court, owned by Godolphin, has shown significant early promise. His pedigree combines the Triple Crown-winning prowess of Justify with the stamina influence of High Chaparral. With an official rating of 112, he could progress into Group races this season.

3. Almeraq
Trainer: William Haggas
Age: 3-year-old colt
Pedigree: Sired by Dark Angel, out of Manaajim​
Performance: Improved for second place on debut to win a Yarmouth novice in great style.
Potential: An impressive winner last time out, he should progress nicely into handicaps and perhaps beyond in 2025.

4. Acapulco Bay
Trainer: Aidan O'Brien
Age: 3-year-old colt
Pedigree: Sired by American Pharoah, out of Je Ne Regretterien
Performance: Dominant maiden victory at the Curragh​ on his second start.
Potential: Acapulco Bay's commanding performance at the Curragh hints at a bright future and he has a host of eye-catching early entries.

5. Grey Charger
Trainer: William Haggas
Age: 3-year-old colt
Pedigree: Sired by Caravaggio out of Isabella
Performance: Four career starts with two wins and one second-place finish. ​
Potential: Grey Charger is already officially rated 100 and ran a blinder considering the huge step up in class to Group 2 company at Saint-Cloud when last seen. He had previously only won a novice, so this shows the regard which he is held in and he should have a good season ahead.

RaceShare’s Flat Horses – Form and Season Outlook

RaceShare’s syndicate horses have been giving their owners plenty to cheer for, and each comes into the new season with realistic targets and optimism. Below is an overview of all five RaceShare Flat horses, including their recent form and what to expect next:

Treasure Time (William Haggas) – 4-year-old gelding by Time Test, Treasure Time progressed markedly through last season. He got off the mark in June with an impressive maiden win at Newmarket, then later scored a breakthrough victory in a valuable £100,000 Heritage Handicap at York’s Ebor Festival. That big-field triumph confirmed him as a talented miler on fast ground. He ended the year rated in the 90s after a solid fourth in another Class 2 handicap. With his strong finishing kick and improving profile, Treasure Time will be aimed at further major handicaps around 1 mile - including the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot – and William Haggas may even consider stepping up to Listed class if he continues to thrive.

Breathe Easy (Andrew Balding) - By Bated Breath (a high-class sprinter stallion) out of Rely On Me (by Kyllachy), Breathe Easy was acquired as the latest RaceShare100 yearling purchase and has since been named by his RaceShare owners. He is now in training with Andrew Balding at Kingsclere, a top yard known for producing Group 1 winners​, and his team reports that he has settled in well and is blooming​. The plan is to start him in a maiden or novice race when ready, with the hope that he can develop into a contender for bigger juvenile prizes later in the season if all goes well. His owners can look forward to an exciting debut and, with luck, a successful two-year-old campaign.

Ann Terry (John & Sean Quinn) - By Mohaather (a Group 1-winning miler) out of Oeuvre d’Art (by Marju), Ann Terry was purchased at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale in Doncaster last spring. The Quinn stable has a fine record with young horses, and they have guided Ann Terry from an unraced breeze-up prospect to a winner within her first season. That came at Leicester when she scored her first victory in a 6-furlong novice stakes, drawing 5½ lengths clear of the field. Ann Terry now enters her three-year-old season with high hopes - she has strengthened over the winter and should benefit from her experience.

La Pulga (Charlie Johnston) – One of the more experienced in the string, La Pulga is a 6-year-old gelding (Kodiac x Nijah) who excels as a middle-distance handicapper. He notched his sixth career win last autumn when carrying 10st 2lb to victory in a 1m4f Class 4 event at Thirsk. La Pulga’s 2024 campaign saw him hit the board multiple times on turf and all-weather, and he stays as far as 1¾ miles. Consistent and game, Charlie Johnston could target him at staying handicaps in the North – even races like the Northumberland Plate consolation or the 1m6f series finals – where his blend of stamina and tenacity will make him very competitive.

Robusto (Eve Johnson Houghton) – Robusto is a 5-year-old stayer (by Churchill) who hit a rich vein of form on the all-weather over winter. After joining Eve Johnson Houghton’s yard, he broke his maiden in July with a strong win over 1m7f at Kempton. He has since proven ultra-consistent at similar marathon trips: across January to March 2025 Robusto rattled off three runner-up finishes out of four in handicaps on the all-weather. Clearly thriving, he could be a big player in staying races. Connections might eye regional Cup races or series qualifiers at 2m (he wasn’t beaten far in a Class 3 over 2m at Southwell) and he remains on the upgrade. With his gritty attitude and current form, Robusto’s next win is hopefully just around the corner.

Buccabay (Stuart Williams) – New to the RaceShare roster last season, Buccabay is a 5-year-old sprint handicapper who showed a flash of talent in 2024. Then trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, he finished a neck second in a 5f Ascot handicap and went on to land a competitive 6f Class 3 handicap at Haydock Park in June. That win underscored his ability on quick ground against quality fields. He also put in a respectable effort at Chester’s summer meeting, beaten only two lengths in a Class 3 sprint on fast going. After a yard switch to Stuart Williams, Buccabay will aim to recapture that mid-season form. A speedy gelding by Saxon Warrior, he has three career wins and plenty of upside off his current mark. Look for him in 5f-6f sprint handicaps

Red Mirage (John & Sean Quinn) – 7-year-old sprinter/miler by Showcasing out of Duchess Dora. He enters his third season for RaceShare and provided a thrill with a spring win at Catterick, where he handled soft ground well to take a 7f handicap last season. Red Mirage’s current mark gives him opportunities to pick off another race or two. He tends to produce his best on easier ground and sharp tracks, so expect the Quinn yard to place him in handicaps at courses like Catterick, Chester or York. As one of RaceShare’s longest-serving horses, “Big Red” remains a fan favorite and is expected to continue giving his owners enjoyable days at the races.

RaceShare owners can feel the buzz of anticipation as the Flat turf season soon kicks into gear. Racing fans and owners alike will be following these names closely, hoping to witness breakout performances and plenty of visits to the winner’s enclosure in the months ahead.