Oolong Poobong

Her form figures of 4-1-2-2-9-1 tell an interesting story. That solitary 9 sticks out, and Bethell has been candid about why: she ran at Royal Ascot's Sandringham, was drawn wide and away from the action, then had to travel down in the heat, race, and travel back all in a day. That's a tough ask for any horse. Strip that run out and her record looks even better — two wins bookending a pair of runner-up finishes. She was arguably unlucky at Ascot too, with Bethell suggesting a more favourable draw might have put her right in the mix against some of the best horses in the country at that level.

She has raced most often at what are called Class 5 races — the bread and butter of British racing — and has won 1 of her 3 starts at that level, a 33% win rate. Her first win came at Newcastle in August 2024, and her most recent came at Haydock Park in May 2025. Now she returns from a ten-month break, which is a long time off — long enough that fitness will be a question mark on her first run back, but Bethell speaks about her with real enthusiasm, describing her as a progressive horse who is great to have around the yard.

The plan, it seems, is to aim her at a fillies' race at Goodwood in late July. Goodwood is one of the most beautiful and well-attended meetings of the British summer, and if Oolong Poobong comes back from her break in the same form she left, she will have every right to be competitive. Bethell's yard has sent out 59 winners this season alone — this is a trainer who knows how to have a horse ready at the right time.