Boubyan

The first career win came at Newbury in July 2025, which is always a meaningful landmark, and the more recent victory at Newcastle just four weeks ago suggests this horse is hitting a purple patch at exactly the right time. Racing just yesterday, Boubyan is as active as it gets, and recent form of 9-5-1-7-6-5 — reading from most recent backwards — shows a horse that is a bit inconsistent but very much capable of being competitive. That win tucked in there is the headline.

Class 5 is where Boubyan has done its best work, and the numbers back that up sharply. Two wins from eight races at that level gives a win rate of 25% — roughly 1 in every 4 races — which is genuinely strong. What it tells you is that when the horse is pitched at the right level, it becomes a different proposition altogether. Finding that sweet spot matters enormously in racing, and Michael Appleby's yard at Oakham clearly understands where this horse belongs right now.

Appleby is worth paying attention to as a trainer. His yard has sent out 73 winners already this season, which marks him out as someone who keeps a busy, well-organised stable and knows how to get results. Jockey Hollie Doyle, one of the most recognisable riders in the sport, has been in the saddle for 7 of Boubyan's 17 races, winning once together — a rate of about 1 in 7 when they partner up. That partnership has room to grow, and with Boubyan seemingly coming into form at the moment, the timing could be interesting.