Royal Zabeel

His recent record tells a telling story. After a fourth-place finish and a fifth-place finish earlier this autumn, Royal Zabeel bounced back with a win at Southwell just days ago, showing he can recover quickly from disappointment. Earlier in the year, he won at the top level — a Class 1 race at Wolverhampton in March and then a Class 2 win at Newmarket in August, suggesting he is genuinely comfortable competing against strong fields. The Newmarket win came on faster, drier ground, which suited him well after he had struggled slightly on a heavier track at Haydock.

Michael Appleby, his trainer at Oakham in Rutland, has shown real faith in the horse since his debut win at Pontefract in August 2023. The yard has been prolific this season with 71 winners, and Appleby's comments suggest he sees real potential in Royal Zabeel — not a horse he expects to be there simply to make up the numbers. Alistair Rawlinson, the jockey who rides him most often, has a winning record of three from seven races together, a 43 per cent return that is far better than average. That partnership seems to work: Rawlinson's racing sense and Royal Zabeel's willingness have combined to produce several important victories. He may never be a top-class horse, but he is genuinely useful, and on normal ground he is a proper threat.