Damascus Steel

The level Damascus Steel operates at tells its own story. Class 5 is the bread-and-butter tier of British racing, and that is where this horse does its best work: 5 wins from 21 races at that level, meaning it wins nearly 1 in every 4 times it lines up there. That is a genuinely good record at the grade. Find the right race at the right class and Damascus Steel delivers.

The course record at Newcastle is the real standout. Two wins from just four visits to that track is remarkable — it means Damascus Steel has won half its races there. For context, most horses never win at any single track, let alone dominate one. Something about Newcastle — whether the layout, the surface, or the way the races tend to be run — simply suits this horse. Trainer John Ryan, based at Newmarket, will know that. His yard has sent out 12 winners already this season, so this is a team operating with confidence.

Recent form gives further reason for optimism. Damascus Steel has won 2 of its last 6 races, including a victory at Lingfield Park as recently as January 2026. The current run of form reads 5-–-2-1-1-10, which shows a horse that was winning back-to-back before finishing fifth last time out. Blips happen — what matters is the pattern underneath, and that pattern is positive.

The one note of caution involves jockey Robert Havlin, who has partnered Damascus Steel five times without getting his head in front together. That does not mean either horse or rider is doing anything wrong — racing partnerships can take time, or sometimes they just do not click — but it is worth watching whether the combination is persisted with. Given the horse's form when things fall right, whoever is in the saddle on a good day at Newcastle would be very glad to be there.