Kingdom Of Stars

The five-year-old is trained by Kerry Lee, whose yard in Byton, Herefordshire has sent out 12 winners already this season — a useful reminder that this is a stable that knows how to get horses fit and ready to run. Lee tends to campaign Kingdom Of Stars at Class 4 level, which is solidly mid-tier racing, and over distances of a mile and six furlongs to two miles. At those longer trips, the record reads 1 win from 7 races — roughly 1 in 7, or around 14% — which is actually a respectable conversion rate for a horse at this level. The stamina trip is clearly where Kingdom Of Stars is pointed, and that focus suggests the team know exactly what they have.

Recent form has been a mixed picture. The last six outings show a second place and a third sandwiched around some quieter efforts, and Kingdom Of Stars has not won in those six races. The Kempton win now sits ten months in the rearview mirror. But — and this is worth noting — the horse raced just one day ago, meaning it is very much in active training and being kept busy. Horses that are still running regularly are horses whose trainers still believe in them. Kerry Lee has not put this one away. That in itself is a quiet vote of confidence, and with a horse that has shown it can find the line ahead of rivals at least once, there is no reason to think that Kempton win will be the last chapter in the story.