Gentleman Bill

His best results have come on slightly wet ground, where he has won 2 of his 6 races (33%) — a noticeably better record than on other surfaces, and something his yard will be keeping a close eye on when entries are made. He tends to run in Class 4 company, the solid mid-tier of British racing, and at that level he has won 2 from 5 (40%), which is a genuinely impressive ratio. The partnership with jockey Henry Brooke has been particularly fruitful — together they have won 3 of their 5 races, a 60% win rate that is remarkable by any standard and suggests the two simply suit each other.

His last win came at Doncaster in December 2024, and he has not troubled the scoreboard in the six races since, his recent form reading 4th, 5th, 8th, a no-show, 3rd, and 5th. But context matters here. His trainer, Oliver Greenall — part of a yard that has fired in 43 winners already this season — has been deliberately stepping Gentleman Bill up in ambition. The horse made what the trainer described as a really pleasing debut over fences at Aintree, and the team believe there is still improvement to come. A valuable race at Haydock is the immediate target.

The big question hanging over him is whether he can make the jump from reliable Class 4 performer to something more special. The Cheltenham Festival — the sport's most prestigious meeting — has been floated as a possibility, though even his own trainer is measured about it, happy to wait and see. What is clear is that Gentleman Bill is a horse whose best days may not be behind him at all. At eight, with a new challenge over fences and a trainer who clearly believes in him, the next few months could be the most interesting of his career.