Dino Bellagio

His record at Class 4 level tells part of the story. In eight races at that tier, he has never won, sitting firmly in the middle ranks of competition. His sole recent victory came at a lower class, which might sound ordinary until you consider the margin. Eight lengths is not a narrow squeak — it suggests he was genuinely better than his rivals that day, running in a way that made his trainer confident enough to target the Aintree bumper next. Before that, his last win came at Chester on 20 September 2025, eleven months earlier, so this Doncaster success marks a genuine return to form after a long spell without a victory.

Donald McCain, his trainer at Cholmondeley in Cheshire, has had an excellent season with 55 winners from his yard, and he appears to see real potential in this horse. The plan is hurdle racing next season, with Dino Bellagio already schooled over jumps. Brian Hughes, his regular jockey, has ridden him in six races with one win, much in line with the horse's overall record. What makes Dino Bellagio worth following is not his win percentage — roughly one win in every five races — but the sudden spark of form and the clear direction his the yard are taking him. He is a horse heading somewhere, rather than going nowhere slowly.