Eupator

Both wins came in quick succession in January 2026, just three days apart — and the second one was the more striking of the two. Richard Hannon's yard, based at Herridge in Wiltshire and one of the most prolific operations in British racing this season with 118 winners, had been piecing together the puzzle of what Eupator actually needs. After that Wolverhampton win, Hannon was candid: the team had tolerated the slightly shorter distance because the weights favoured the horse, but they believed a mile and a quarter was where he would really thrive. The fact he won by five lengths that day — and won twice in the same week — suggested they were onto something. His record at that distance backs it up: 2 wins from 8 races, a 25% win rate.

The jockey Sean Levey has been the one to unlock him. In 9 races together Levey has ridden Eupator to both of his wins, a partnership that converts at roughly 1 in every 4 or 5 rides — a strong return for a horse that elsewhere finds winning elusive. Normal ground also suits him well, with those same 2 wins coming from 10 races in standard conditions, a 20% win rate.

The concern now is that Eupator has not won in 6 races since late January, and his recent form — two placings mixed in with some faded efforts — suggests the spark has been harder to find away from his favourite venue. Hannon acknowledged after a flat run at Yarmouth that the horse had pulled too hard early and still had more to offer. He races at Class 5 level, the bread-and-butter end of the sport, and at that level a horse with his profile at Wolverhampton should be winning more often. He raced just yesterday, so the yard will be watching closely to see whether he has come through it well — and whether a return trip to Wolverhampton is next on the agenda.