Pellitory

David O'Meara, who runs a prolific operation from Upper Helmsley in North Yorkshire with 101 winners already this season, has identified distance as the key to unlocking Pellitory's potential. The horse spent his early career attempting races over a mile, but appears to be a seven-furlong specialist — a distance that suits his temperament and speed better. His first win came at Great Yarmouth in August 2024, and the impression from the stable is that recent adjustments have clicked. Jockey James Doyle got on well with him at Doncaster, and his victory at Newmarket, though described as a learning curve, suggests Pellitory belongs in stronger company than he had been competing in before. His last six races tell the story of a horse finding form: two wins sandwiched among some tough runs, but currently active and improving.

The stable's ambition for him is substantial. Pellitory has an entry in the French Guineas, one of Europe's leading races for four-year-olds, and while that remains to be decided, it reflects genuine belief that he is more than just a handicap winner. For now, he is likely to be stepped up through Listed races and the better handicaps at the spring Newmarket meetings — the sort of proving ground where a horse of his size and ability can either confirm he belongs among the elite or settle into a useful middle tier. Either way, he has clearly caught his trainer's eye.