Minstrel Knight

Bethell trains out of Middleham in North Yorkshire — a yard that has sent out 59 winners already this season — and he clearly has this horse well figured out. Minstrel Knight opened his account at Carlisle in June 2024, then kept improving through the year. The highlight so far came at York in October 2024, where he won one of the top races in Britain — a Class 2 — prompting Bethell to describe the prize as "a great prize to win" and note how well the horse handled the ground. He followed that up with a win at Doncaster in January 2026, meaning he has won twice in his last six outings. That kind of consistency at the top level is what separates a useful horse from a very good one.

He also has a particular liking for staying the distance. Over two miles or more he has won 2 of his 5 races — 40% — which suggests there's even more to come when races stretch his stamina properly. Bethell has already sketched out an ambitious summer ahead, mentioning the Old Newton Cup, a £100,000 race at the Newmarket July festival, and — if the ground comes up soft — potentially the Ebor at York, one of the most famous long-distance races in the British calendar. After a short break of around 75 days, Minstrel Knight will be fresh and ready. If the skies open up this summer, keep his name in mind.