Exciting three-year-old Portcullis returns to action in the feature Midnite Ain't Your Grandad's Bookie Handicap (6.15pm) over a mile at Southwell on Saturday, October 31.
Owned by His Majesty The King & Her Majesty The Queen, Portcullis made a striking debut at Newmarket’s Craven meeting in April, when he won the Wood Ditton maiden by five and a half lengths.
The son of Frankel remained unbeaten for John & Thady Gosden in a mile novice at York’s Dante Festival the following month, after which a minor setback ruled out any summer targets.
The Gosdens landed the same Southwell contest in 2024 with another 97-rated colt in Sardinian Warrior (pictured), who went on to win the Listed Paradise Stakes at Ascot and finish second in the G1 Prix d’Ispahan.
Portcullis’ jockey Robert Havlin said: “I gave Portcullis a breeze on Wednesday morning. He felt in good order and, even though he should improve a bit for the run, it will be nice to get him back on the track.
“He had been quite a lazy work horse prior to his debut at Newmarket, so while he was not totally unfancied, it was a bit of a surprise when he won by five and a half lengths. Then he showed a good attitude when winning under a penalty at York.
“He is stepping into a handicap now against some seasoned opposition, which will be something new for him, but we think he is a horse on the way up and I would expect him to give a good account.”
Two other three-year-olds in the lineup include the William Haggas-trained Princling, who was an unlucky third in a classified stakes at Ascot recently on his first start since a gelding operation.
McMurray completed a hat-trick of handicap wins on his comeback at Chester’s May Festival, although George Boughey’s contender was down the field on his only subsequent start at Ayr last month.
Smart filly Chantilly Lace heads the weights with a rating of 103. Trained by Ralph Beckett, the half-sister to July Cup winner Ten Sovereigns was fifth behind Desert Flower in the 2025 G1 1,000 Guineas and filled the same position on her only outing so far this year in the G2 Dahlia Stakes.
Lightly raced five-year-old Murashah is unbeaten in two starts since joining Ed Bethell from Charlie Hills, winning a seven-furlong handicap at Thirsk and a mile handicap at Ripon.
Two Tempting chased home First Principle in this race 12 months ago, with Jonathan Portman’s seven-year-old going on to win a similar contest at Kempton Park and finish third in the Listed Tandridge Stakes during a consistent winter campaign.
Twisting Physics, a novice winner over the course and trip in 2024, makes his first appearance for Oli Cole since finishing fifth in the Chesterfield Cup Handicap at Glorious Goodwood.
The Ian Williams-trained Ozat had some useful form in France, including an impressive conditions race success on the all-weather at Chantilly, and has posted a couple of good efforts at Ascot this year.
Harry Charlton’s Tremolo has won two of her three starts at Southwell, while seven-time all-weather scorer Whitcombe Rockstar completes the field for Keiran Burke.
