Banderas

The most significant moment of his career came at Chester on 12 May 2023, where he won a Class 2 race — one of the top races in Britain — on what was also his first-ever win. That's a striking way to open an account. Chester is a tight, unusual track that rewards horses with a particular kind of balance and intelligence, and Banderas clearly had both. Former trainer Michael Bell was effusive afterwards, calling him a "nice stayer for the future" with a great temperament and a pedigree to match. He was right.

What makes Banderas genuinely interesting is his versatility with conditions. He wins equally well on normal ground and on wet or muddy ground — 2 wins from 5 races in each case, a 40% win rate both ways. The trainer Sam England has been candid that he's not entirely sure Banderas is built for all-weather surfaces — and described his win in fog at Wolverhampton as a genuine surprise — but on turf, particularly when there's some give underfoot, he's a real handful. He also thrives over long distances of two miles or more, winning 3 of his 9 races at that trip, which is 1 in every 3 — strong numbers at any level.

The yard itself is in excellent shape, sending out 49 winners this season, so Banderas is operating within a confident, well-run operation. Jockey Jonathan England — likely a family connection to the trainer — has partnered him in 6 races, winning once together, though that modest figure understates what a useful horse Banderas has become. His Class 4 record of 1 win from 10 races at that level looks unimpressive on the surface, but his big-race win and his current run of form tell a more interesting story. This is a horse who has found his best form at six, and he's worth watching.