Bellum Justum

Newmarket is the spiritual home of flat racing in Britain, and Bellum Justum has made it something close to a personal fiefdom. Two wins from four races there is a remarkable record — half of all visits have ended in victory at one of the sport's most prestigious venues. Add a top-level win at Epsom Downs in April 2024, and you have a horse that has repeatedly turned up on the grandest occasions and delivered. That Epsom victory in particular matters: it is one of the most storied tracks in the world, and winning there at the top level is not something most racehorses ever manage.

The partnership with jockey Oisin Murphy is worth highlighting. In seven races together, Murphy has ridden Bellum Justum to all three of its wins — a win rate of 43%, or nearly 3 from every 7 rides. That kind of consistency between horse and jockey is rare, and it suggests Murphy knows exactly how to get the best out of this particular animal. The horse also has a clear preference for normal ground conditions, winning 2 from 5 races on a standard surface, which is a 40% win rate and well above its overall average.

Behind the scenes, trainer Andrew Balding's yard at Kingsclere has been in exceptional form this season — 204 winners is a genuinely impressive total and speaks to an operation firing on all cylinders. Bellum Justum raced just yesterday, so it is right in the thick of a busy campaign. Recent form has been patchy — a win sandwiched between some mid-field finishes — but a horse that won at the top level at Newmarket as recently as May 2025 clearly retains its ability. The question is simply whether it can rediscover the consistency to match those headline moments.