WATCH OUT FOR XMAS MADNESS

Racing Ahead

December 2025

Andy Ayres shares notes on eye-catchers poised to warm the winter action

KEMPTON October 22 (standard to slow)
1m7f218y handicap (Class 2)
Fair form
DUKE OF OXFORD (Michael Bell) loves this track but looked ring-rusty after a 116-day sabbatical and ran out of gas before the furlong pole. It looks like there's a bit of fire left in this marathon man's belly, and he should find an opening soon.

NEWBURY October 25 (soft)
1m two-year-old fillies' novice (Class 4)
Race that will produce winners
MY OPHELIA (William Haggas) cost enough to make Bill Gates wince – 1.7m guineas – and paid a few quid back by routing a decent field on her debut. Tom Marquand couldn't pull the filly up until halfway down the back straight, and there are worse bets than the 25-1 available for next year's 1,000 Guineas.

EARTH SHOT (William Haggas) wasn't unfancied behind her stablemate (14s to 10-1) and caught the eye running on into second. She's bred to improve – dam won over 1m6f – and is odds-on to win races next summer.

QUEEN'S COMPANION (Ralph Beckett) is a big old lump and stepped-up on her debut effort to finish a rock-solid third. She's got bags of scope and should be a money maker in 2026.

KEMPTON October 29 (standard to slow)
1m two-year-old fillies' novice (Class 5)
Ordinary form
SUPPLICATE (Roger Varian) ran a remarkable race to finish fifth after taking 40-winks when the stalls opened. She's got longer legs than a supermodel but should fill out over the winter and will win a race or two.

ASCOT November 1 (good, good to firm in places)
2m1f handicap chase (Class 1)
Weak race for the grade