Senor Cortez

Trained by John Butler at Newmarket, one of British racing's great training centres, Senor Cortez is a five-year-old who has found his best racing at longer distances. Over a mile and six furlongs to two miles, he has won two of six races — roughly one in every three — which is a seriously healthy number at any level. It suggests the extra distance genuinely suits him, giving him time to travel and pick up late where shorter trips might catch him out before he gets going.

The Butler yard has sent out 27 winners this season, so this is not a quiet backwater operation — there is clearly intent behind how Senor Cortez is being placed and managed. His first career win came at Great Yarmouth in August 2025, followed by a second at Lingfield Park later that same month. Two wins in a matter of weeks signals a horse that had found its feet and was being campaigned confidently. He raced just one day ago, which means he is firmly in the middle of his season and in form right now.

Most of his races have come at Class 5 level, which sits towards the lower end of the British racing pyramid — these are competitive enough races, but not the top shelf. His win rate there is one from six, or 17%, which is modest. The more interesting question is whether the consistency he has shown lately — finishing in the top three in five of his last six runs — earns him a step up. A horse running this reliably tends to attract attention from trainers looking to place him somewhere he can win again. Whether John Butler decides to push him up in class or keep him competing where he is comfortable will be the story worth following as the season continues.