Surrey Lord

The recent form tells the story well. Of his last six races, he has won three, finishing first, first, and first in the middle of that sequence before a latest disappointing fourth at Wincanton. But trainer Toby Lawes isn't reading too much into that. From his Surrey base at Beare Green, Lawes has been candid about that run — it came too soon after his previous race, and Wincanton's tight, turning track simply doesn't suit a horse who needs time and space to build momentum. Eight winners sent out by the yard this season suggests a team in good health, and Lawes clearly knows this horse well.

What really stands out is what Surrey Lord does at Kempton Park. He has won 2 of his 3 races there — that's a remarkable two-thirds of the time at a single track, which is the kind of record that makes professionals sit up and take notice. Kempton's long straights and flat, galloping nature are clearly a perfect match for him. His most recent win there came on Boxing Day 2025, and that's the version of this horse the trainer is clearly hoping to bring back.

Lawes believes Surrey Lord has simply taken time to grow into himself mentally, but that the penny has now dropped. He also hints at stepping him up in distance at some point — a suggestion worth remembering, because a horse whose trainer thinks he'll stay further is often one that hasn't yet shown everything he has.

He returns here after a three-month break, which is worth watching. Horses can come back rusty or they can come back freshened up. Given that his last race looked like an honest mistake rather than a sign of anything wrong, and given what he does at a track that genuinely suits him, Surrey Lord is the sort of horse you'd want on your radar. Jockey Kevin Brogan, his most regular partner, has won 2 of their 10 races together — 1 in every 5 — and knows the horse well. The pieces are in place for a big run.