Dorney Lake

The headline stat is his record at Great Yarmouth, where he has won 2 of just 3 visits. That is a remarkable conversion rate, and it is the kind of thing that makes trainers look forward to the entries. His first career win came there in May 2024, and clearly something about the track suits him. He also won at Doncaster as recently as April this year, so the horse is no spent force. On normal ground he has won 2 of 4 races — a 50% record that tells you when conditions are right and the track suits, Dorney Lake is a genuine threat.

His recent form reads 8-6-5-3-9-9, meaning he has not won in his last six outings, but the third place in that sequence shows he has not been disgraced either. Regular pilot Billy Garritty has yet to find the winning formula in six rides together, which is one of those frustrating streaks that racing throws up without obvious explanation. Liam Bailey's yard has sent out 17 winners this season, so the operation is in fine form around him.

What makes Dorney Lake genuinely worth following is what might be coming next. Bailey has spoken openly about the possibility of running him at Royal Ascot — either in the Wokingham, one of the most competitive sprint races of the year, or the Buckingham Palace, a seven-furlong race where the yard finished third last season with another horse. Bailey believes stepping up to seven furlongs could unlock something new in Dorney Lake, and given the horse has spent most of his career over shorter distances, that is an intriguing prospect. Getting a Royal Ascot runner is no small thing for a yard, and Bailey's enthusiasm is clear: he describes Dorney Lake as a real fun horse and is confident he will give everyone a day to remember. Whether or not he gets into the race, this is a horse worth keeping an eye on.