Henrietta Masterclass kicks off 2026

The Haggas team avoided a winless January with the last throw of the dice when the 58 rated Henrietta Ronner showed vastly improved form to take out a 3yo Handicap at Newcastle.

Just in case anyone needed reminding of the brilliance of the trainer, the previously disappointing filly, fitted with blinkers and ridden without restraint recorded an unlikely victory, which would have secured her paddock value, where she could now be headed for a new career as a broodmare.

This period of February and March can often be the start point for some very useful 3yo horses with several Somerville Lodge future stars seen on the AW tracks.

Generally Newcastle, Wolverhampton and Lingfield are the chosen venues for horses with the most potential – with Kempton and Chelmsford notable for runners that fail to progress.

As a rule horses that fail to show sufficient potential in the winter months will often only have three or four more runs for the yard before being moved on.

Runners in February are few and far between and this year looks no different with the first entry of the month Star Obsession going to post at Kempton in the Novice Stakes at 1.25. She is the only runner entered this week.

Upped in trip from 7f to 8f that still seems to be the bare minimum trip for her on breeding. The form of her debut run has not really worked out and she will probably need to run to a mark in the high 70’s to win this.

First time in a hood on her second outing is also a concern, as is the performance of the yards Novices running at Kempton in the AW months of January February and March. Over the last 6 years, the record is 1 from 9 and of those runners only 1 has gone onto to win a race in the future, whilst representing the yard, and that was a Class 6 handicap.

I suspect there is likely to be support in the initial market and hopefully she can buck the trends, but from a betting point of view it is a race to watch.

Refa HagTag 3/02/2026