Bathara

That opportunity came at Warwick on 1 October 2025, where Bathara won in what his trainer described as good fashion — not a scrambled, fortunate victory, but a convincing one. The Jonjo and A J O'Neill yard, based near Cheltenham, had backed him to go well that day with a run under his belt beforehand, and the plan worked. It is worth noting that the stable has sent out 52 winners this season, so these are people who know when a horse is ready and tend to be right about it.

Part of the backstory here is a wind operation — a surgical procedure to help the horse breathe more freely during a race. These interventions are surprisingly common in the sport and can transform a horse's ability overnight. The team bought Bathara as a two-year-old and clearly always believed there was ability there; the operation appears to have helped unlock it.

His most recent run, second at Ascot, came in what his trainer called a strange race — the winner essentially bolted clear and left the field running for minor places. Bathara kept on well for second, which is a decent outcome in those circumstances and suggests he is not a horse who gives up when the race gets away from him. He raced just one day ago and is firmly in action right now.

The next step is significant. Bathara has now completed what is essentially a qualifying phase of races on the flat, and the yard plans to send him over hurdles. That is a new discipline and a fresh start — horses can genuinely transform when they find jumping suits them, and his trainer's mention that normal to fast, dry ground suits him well gives the team something to work with when picking his spots.