Havana Sky

The key to understanding Havana Sky is the distance. Over 5 to 6½ furlongs — the sharp, sprint end of the sport — he has won 8 from 23 races, a win rate of 35%, or better than 1 in 3. That is the profile of a horse who knows exactly what he is doing when the race is run at his pace. Southwell, the all-weather track in Nottinghamshire, has been particularly kind to him: 2 wins from just 4 visits, which is the kind of record that makes punters pay attention when they see that course name in the entries.

Trainer Ed Dunlop, whose Newmarket yard has sent out 36 winners already this season, described Havana Sky as his all-weather winter horse — and last year that role suited him perfectly. He won six races across the season, took Horse of the Month in December and earned a bonus for it, before an injury interrupted his momentum. He had a two-month break after January, is back in light work, and Dunlop says he is looking forward to seeing him on turf again. The horse is owned by a group of enthusiasts who are clearly fond of him, which tells you something about the kind of character he must have around the yard.

His most regular partner in the saddle is Hector Crouch, who has won 3 of the 10 races they have shared — a 30% win rate that puts them well above average as a combination. His last win came at Lingfield Park in October 2025, so it has now been seven months since he hit the winner's enclosure, and his last six runs have not produced a victory. But Dunlop sounds relaxed rather than concerned, and a horse with this kind of course form and sprint record does not need many things to fall right before he is competitive again. When Havana Sky turns up over six furlongs on a track he likes, he is worth a second look.