South Downs Water Handicap (GBBPlus Race)
Course: Newbury
Date: 1st Jun 2026
Distance: 2m (2m)
Type: Flat
Going: Good To Firm
Class: Class 4
Prize: £7,328
Runners: 8
Going Detail: GOOD TO FIRM (GoingStick: 5.9) (Watered)
Weather: Light rain
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Naval Tribute
5yo b Gelding (GB)Connections
Jockey: Cieren Fallon
Trainer: James Owen
Newmarket, Suffolk
Owner: J Melville And A Mehrad
Breeding
Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE)
Dam: Ruscombe (GB)
Damsire: Dansili (GB)
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms Ltd
Ratings & Stats
Spotlight
Has done well since switched to Flat turf for his last two starts with the visor added, winning at Beverley (1m4f, good to firm) in April before second of 12 in an apprentice handicap at Ascot (2m, good) last month (winner followed up at Chester on Saturday); up just another 1lb and high on the list.
Comment
Has done well since switched to Flat turf for his last two starts; high on the list
Previous Owners
- Efex Racing Club (until 2025-02-27)
Race History for Naval Tribute
Calvert
5yo b Gelding (GB)Connections
Jockey: Jack Callan(3)
Trainer: Roger Teal
Lambourn, Berks
Owner: Mrs H I Jinks
Breeding
Sire: Golden Horn (GB)
Dam: Criteria (IRE)
Damsire: Galileo (IRE)
Breeder: Cheveley Park Stud Limited
Ratings & Stats
Spotlight
1-20, but no doubting his consistency and was only just behind Naval Tribute when third of 12 in an apprentice handicap at Ascot (2m, good) last month; has had more chances than his old rival, but should again go well from the same mark.
Comment
Only just behind Naval Tribute when third at Ascot last month; should go well again
Stable Tour
"He's going to be a fun dual-purpose horse. He ran in a decent race on his hurdles debut when a promising fourth at Huntingdon and we can mix and match between jumping and the Flat. He just lacks a gear to get him to win again on the Flat but he runs a solid race every time. 29-04-26"
Medical History
Wind Surgery (2025-03-03)Race History for Calvert
Now The Eagle
4yo ch Gelding (FR)Connections
Jockey: Jack Dace(5)
Trainer: Luke Dace
Billingshurst, W Sussex
Owner: Michael Watt
Breeding
Sire: Adlerflug (GER)
Dam: Now Forever (GER)
Damsire: Tiger Hill (IRE)
Breeder: Mrs W Engelbrecht-Bresges
Ratings & Stats
Spotlight
Ex-French; no questioning his stamina with the form of his last three starts at Kempton (2m, AW) reading 122; has something to prove under these conditions, though.
Comment
Form of last three starts at Kempton reads 122; something to prove under these conditions
Previous Trainers
- N Clement & F Hermans (until 2025-10-04)
Previous Owners
- Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (until 2025-10-04)
Race History for Now The Eagle
Personal Best
4yo b Filly (GB)Connections
Jockey: Rob Hornby
Trainer: Jonathan Portman
Upper Lambourn, Berks
Owner: Hot To Trot 1 & Mrs R Pease
Breeding
Sire: Time Test (GB)
Dam: Spring Run (GB)
Damsire: Nathaniel (IRE)
Breeder: The Hon Mrs R Pease
Ratings & Stats
Spotlight
Consistent since handicapping including a win at Ffos Las (1m6f, soft) just under a year ago; may have needed last month's Salisbury return (1m6f, good), but good to firm ground would be a concern.
Comment
May have needed last month's Salisbury return but good to firm ground would be a concern
Stable Tour
"He's a lovely staying type who ideally would want a bit of give in the ground. She disappointed a bit at Sandown, but I think she's a bit better than that and hopefully she'll be out when there's a bit more ease in the ground. She's a nice horse to follow. 20-08-25"
Quotes
"We had to talk the co-owner into running Personal Best. Dear Rosa Pease, she's been with me for 26 years and she's the breeder of Personal Best. She probably told me about six times not to run. Thank God the filly has done her well. I just thought they'd need the run today. On this [heavy] ground, you don't know quite what's going to happen. They've not had anything too demanding asked of them at home so I didn't have huge expectations - Jonathan Portman, trainer, speaking on Racing TV."
2024-10-08 - LeicesterRace History for Personal Best
Vaguely Royal
6yo br Gelding (IRE)Connections
Jockey: Jamie Spencer
Trainer: Ian Williams
Alvechurch, Worcs
Owner: Eventmasters Racing
Breeding
Sire: Galileo (IRE)
Dam: Danilovna (IRE)
Damsire: Dansili (GB)
Breeder: Bjorn Nielsen
Ratings & Stats
Spotlight
Third in his last three starts, but may not have achieved that much and remains without a win on the Flat since the end of 2023; others more compelling.
Comment
Remains without a win on the Flat since the end of 2023; others more compelling
Quotes
"I rode Vaguely Royal at Chepstow last time, we made the running and a combination of him still being green and getting lonely in front cost us the race. We were very confident coming here today, I just wanted to make sure I got a lead. William was going pretty steady in front, I wound him up in plenty of time but he won cosily. He's not a slow horse and I wouldn't see him getting much further than a mile and a half - Kieran Shoemark, jockey."
2023-06-18 - DoncasterPrevious Trainers
- Syd Hosie (until 2026-01-31)
- Anthony Charlton (until 2025-09-13)
- John & Thady Gosden (until 2024-10-11)
Previous Owners
- Eventmasters Racing & Syd Hosie (until 2026-01-31)
- Syd Hosie (until 2025-05-07)
- Syd Hosie & David Keith Tye (until 2025-03-12)
- B E Nielsen (until 2024-10-11)
Race History for Vaguely Royal
Baileys Khelstar
6yo b Gelding (FR)Connections
Jockey: Harry Davies
Trainer: Charlie Johnston
Middleham Moor, N Yorks
Owner: Baileys Horse Feeds (F H Nash Ltd)
Breeding
Sire: Cloth Of Stars (IRE)
Dam: Khelwa (FR)
Damsire: Traditionally (USA)
Breeder: Haras Des Trois Chapelles
Ratings & Stats
Spotlight
Missed the whole of 2025; needs to put a lesser effort in a 0-95 contest at Hamilton (1m5f, good) last month behind him, but this is easier and he is just 1lb higher than for his last win, which came over this trip.
Comment
1lb higher than for his last win, which came over this trip; this is easier than last time
Quotes
"Baileys Khelstar was always quite raw last year, he went back home for the winter and came back a different horse. He's going to be a nice staying handicapper for the year ahead. Hopefully the handicapper doesn't get too carried away, but the manner he did it in was impressive - Charlie Johnston, trainer."
2024-04-28 - Southwell (AW)Previous Trainers
- Charlie & Mark Johnston (until 2023-04-05)
Previous Owners
- G R Bailey Ltd (Baileys Horse Feeds) (until 2023-06-29)
Race History for Baileys Khelstar
John Galt
4yo b Gelding (FR)Connections
Jockey: William Carver
Trainer: Jamie Osborne
Upper Lambourn, Berks
Owner: Rupert Lowe
Breeding
Sire: Elvstroem (AUS)
Dam: Nantucket (IRE)
Damsire: Sea The Stars (IRE)
Breeder: Charles Green
Ratings & Stats
Spotlight
Showed a fine attitude when just getting the better of a subsequent winner to make it seventh-time lucky on turf debut at Leicester (1m4f, good to firm) last month; 3lb higher, but remains unexposed and is shortlisted if seeing out the longer trip (stays 1m6f).
Comment
3lb higher than when narrowly off the mark last time; shortlisted if staying longer trip
Race History for John Galt
Barenboim
8yo b Gelding (GB)Connections
Jockey: Ashley Lewis(5)
Trainer: Tom Dascombe
Upper Lambourn, Berks
Owner: T Dascombe
Breeding
Sire: Golden Horn (GB)
Dam: Labise (IRE)
Damsire: Azamour (IRE)
Breeder: Stetchworth & Middle Park Studs Ltd
Ratings & Stats
Spotlight
Just 1lb above his last winning mark, but is 6-31 on the AW and 0-18 on turf, including six starts over hurdles; others more solid.
Comment
6-31 on the AW and 0-18 on turf, including six starts over hurdles; others more solid
Quotes
"I think the break has done Barenboim the world of good. He had a busy time of things and, while his last run was solid, he probably struggled to see out the two miles - Jason Watson, jockey, speaking on Sky Sports Racing."
2023-03-02 - Newcastle (AW)Medical History
Wind Surgery (2024-07-10) Wind Surgery (2022-08-13) Wind Surgery (2021-04-14)Previous Trainers
- Jamie Snowden (until 2024-12-07)
- David O'Meara (until 2024-08-26)
- Fergal O'Brien (until 2022-08-11)
- Michael Bell (until 2022-04-12)
Previous Owners
- Graham Newton (until 2025-11-25)
- T Dascombe (until 2025-08-01)
- M Sample E Sample G Williams (until 2025-06-09)
- Richard D A Hames & Mark Russell (until 2024-08-26)
- The Gredley Family (until 2022-04-12)
Race History for Barenboim
