Horse racing is full of surprises, something to look out for if you’re placing a bet on them, so make sure you can tune in to live racing events. There has been some top-tier racing already this year and we have some highlights alongside some of the horses to keep an eye out for this year.
Best horse racing performances
- Goodwood
The crowds were left in a state of shock after witnessing Qirat go from pacesetting front-runner for favourite Field Of Gold to 150-1 winner of the Sussex Stakes left the whole of Goodwood in a state of shock.
People were expecting an outcome of the favorite becoming the winner of the race, but instead they witnessed the longest-priced winner of a Group 1 in Britain.
He has already been beaten by 26 of his 29 rivals in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot making his chances of regaining one of the top spots impossible. He was rated 24lb inferior to Field Of Gold but still managed to snap the win.
Beckett, Qirat’s trainer, was surprised to be in the winners enclosure but not entirely shocked as some of the people watching were. He told reporters that, “We set out to go 12-second furlongs,” he said. “That was the plan and what he did. It is as simple as that.
- Royal Ascot
Another shocking win came at Royal Ascot this year. Cercene was a real shocker as it came in with a shock 33-1 Ascot win. There was drama from start to finish as the winning jockey Gary Carroll was headed by the French-trained favourite Zarigana. However, he managed to fight back to win by half a length.
The 33-1 outsider Cercene shocked everyone and said that this had been 50 years in the making. It was difficult not to get emotional watching his speech as he finally managed to bag the win he had been looking for. This thrilling finish has become the longest-priced winner of the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Horses to watch in 2025
- Lazzat
How could we start off this list without mentioning Lazzat again after that incredible win with Cercene on his back at Ascot. Lazzat is one of the horses that has managed to quickly establish himself as one of the most exciting sprinters. This was shown best in his performance in the Betfair Sprint Cup Festival.
He had been undefeated in his early career as he brought together raw speed and professional composure. It’s looking like he could be a serious contender at Haydock which bodes well for future competitions.
Lazzat was trained in France but has had his eyes set on major UK based sprints. The combination of training and racing in different countries has made him malleable and makes him set to be an easy winner.
The biggest talent that Lazzat has is the acceleration in the final furlong. This burst at the final finish makes him come out of nowhere and blind contenders who might have been in the running for the winning spot.
- More Thunder
More Thunder is another horse to look out for as we head into the Betfair Sprint Cup Festival. He has managed to build up a reputation as being a top class sprinter and is definitely one to look out for in the future. All of the performances in recent months have shown his speed and ability to sustain pressure throughout the race.
People who are looking to place bets are taken in by More Thunder because of his tactical versatility. You can see him break quickly and take up a top position, or set the pace before producing a powerful finish.
There’s no shortage of talent but More Thunder has that perfect late-race acceleration that ensures he is in the running to win.
- No Half Measures
Another horse to look out for is No Half Measures as he has shown a slow but steady improvement in his races this year.
He might be lacking slightly in experience but he has already proven that he thrives under pressure. He is another horse that has mastered the art of accelerating late, making him a natural fit for Haydock’s six-furlong test.
The fighting spirit is one thing that sets him apart as well and it’s not something you get every day on a horse. Resilience is key when it comes to horse racing and there’s no shortage of that here.
- Time For Sandals
Last but not least is Time For Sandals who is a name gathering some attention ahead of the Betfair Sprint Cup Festival. He is already well-regarded in training circles for his work ethic and adaptability and some of his recent competitive performances have set his name steadily in the list of top contenders.
He has a consistency that a lot of horses lack under certain conditions so he’s definitely a stable bet.
Who is your favorite on this list of contenders? Make sure you keep your eye out for them on race day.
