Max Of Stars

What makes Max Of Stars genuinely interesting is how good he looks on the right ground. On normal conditions — not too wet, not too firm — he has won 7 from 19 races, a rate of 37%, or better than 1 in every 3. That is a significant jump from his overall average, and it tells you something important: when the track is playing to his strengths, he becomes a different proposition entirely.

He is also a proper course specialist at Newton Abbot, having won 3 of his 5 races there. That is the kind of record that makes bookmakers nervous. His first career win came at that track in June 2023, and he has clearly never forgotten the place. He backed it up with a Class 2 win at Market Rasen in September 2023 — one of the better races in Britain at that level — which showed he could step up in class and deliver when it mattered.

The partnership with jockey Brian Hughes is worth noting too. In 14 races together, Hughes has ridden him to 4 wins — a win rate of 29%, or roughly 1 in every 3.5 rides. That is meaningfully better than Max Of Stars' overall average, and when the two are paired up, it tends to be worth paying attention. Trainer Ollie Pears, based in Norton, North Yorkshire, has sent out 13 winners already this season, so the yard is clearly in good form behind the scenes.

His last win came at Wetherby in October 2025, about six months ago, and his recent form reads a little mixed — two wins from his last six races, with a couple of mid-pack finishes sprinkled in. But he raced just yesterday, so he is very much live and active. A horse who wins 1 in 4, loves normal ground, and has a course record like the one at Newton Abbot is never far away from causing a problem for someone.