Valedictory

The win came at Chelmsford on 9 October 2025, and looking at the recent form — 6-2-1-4-3 reading from most recent back — there is a picture of a horse that has been competitive more often than not. A sixth last time out is the one blip, but sandwiched around that are placings and that win, so it would be premature to read too much into a single below-par run. The fact that Valedictory raced just one day ago tells you this is a horse very much in the middle of its campaign, not one being dusted off after a long break.

The training operation behind Valedictory is among the most respected in British racing. John and Thady Gosden, based at Newmarket, have sent out 140 winners already this season — a number that reflects a yard operating at the very top of the sport. When a stable of that size and quality keeps running a horse, it tends to mean they believe there is more to come. Valedictory, still only four and with just five races on the clock, looks very much like a horse being developed rather than one that has already shown everything it has got.