Gibbs Island

The most recent of those victories came at Chepstow on 11 October 2025, in one of the top races on the day — a Class 2, which means high-quality company with serious prize money attached. That followed another Class 2 win at Haydock Park back in February 2025, so Gibbs Island has now won twice at that level within the same year. For context, plenty of horses spend their entire careers trying to win a single race at that standard and never manage it. Gibbs Island has done it twice, at two different tracks, in two different seasons.

The distance record is quietly striking too. In the 1 mile 6 furlongs to 2 mile range — the longer end of the spectrum, where stamina starts to matter as much as speed — Gibbs Island has won 1 from 3, which is a 33% win rate. That is a remarkable return at this level, and it suggests the horse simply comes alive when asked to stay the trip. The three attempts at Class 1 level, the absolute top tier of British racing, have not yet produced a win, but getting into those races at all speaks to genuine ability.

Trainer Tom Lacey, based at Woolhope in Herefordshire, has had 37 winners already this season — a yard clearly in strong form. Regular jockey W J Lee has ridden Gibbs Island eight times for one win together, which on paper looks modest, but that Chepstow victory in October was among those eight, and it came in a race that mattered.

Recent form — 7th, 7th, 5th, 11th and an 8th before that last win — shows the inconsistency that comes with a horse operating near the top of its ability. The signs are that when the distance is right and the race suits, Gibbs Island can still produce the goods. Having raced just 16 days ago, the horse is clearly in active training, and with two Class 2 wins already banked this season, another big day is not out of the question.