Two entries for the Haggas team this week and no real signs that a second win of 2026 is in sight. It is of no concern as the yard enters a transformational year when in the words of the Somerville Lodge master – ” I will be more like a National Hunt trainer”. That comment was made following the decision to retain a significantly increased number of older horses in training. The renowned patience of Haggas will undoubtedly be rewarded with many winners.
A vast majority of the runners so far this year have been 3yo’s sent to post with the objective of gaining racecourse experience with a future in handicaps in mind.
There have only been six older horses campaigned in handicaps 4 geldings and 2 fillies
Time Loop had 3 very promising runs on the AW followed by her running off a a mark of 86, in a competitive handicap at Newcastle in January.
She ran with great credit finishing 4th , suggesting there was more to come on the turf. The handicapper dropped her a pound to 85 and that looks workable for her to win more races and possibly progress to earn some black type.
Wujjood ran in the listed Class 2 Winter Oaks Handicap at Lincoln where she was supported from 8/1 into 10/3. She ran well, beaten just under 2L, finishing third behind Morrephore and Sky Safari. The latter giving the form a huge boost when winning the Winter Derby next time out.
Maybe her owners will be happy with the listed ‘black type’ earned in the race and she will be off to the paddocks. If she stays in training, she can win races off a 5lb higher mark of 94. Sky Safari who ran off 99 in the Winter Fillies Oaks is now rated 106.
Carbine Harvester is a 4yo sprinter with a distinct preference for the AW surface running up a total of 4 wins in the 24/25 AW Winter season that resulted in a 22lb rise in his rating from 68 to 90. He was given a break and gelded but that mark of 90 looks beyond him as his performance levels have regressed.
His mark has come down to 87 and I expect he will have a few more runs and when it gets down to below 85 he will be of interest again on the AW in the summer months.
Dramatic Star has been kept in training as a 5yo following a frustrating career to date where he was expected to win at least one major handicap over a distance in excess of 12f.
Often through circumstances outside of his control he has been unable to deliver, yet he remains a highly talented gelding that has more ability than his current mark of 94 suggests.
His run on the AW over 12f at Kempton was proof that he needs a greater test of stamina and at first glance it was a surprise that he was returned to the trip after appearing to stay 2m on a previous visit to the course.
One of his only two wins was on the AW at Newcastle where he showed an abundance of stamina to win over 12f+. It is that performance which I suggest holds the evidence for a tilt at the AW Weather Finals Stayers Championship race over 2m back at Newcastle on Good Friday.
Well handicapped and proven at the track – this year’s contest looks unlikely to feature many unexposed types with the possible exception of Ribble Vibe.
On a line through Cabello De Mar on his running in the Old Borough Cup and then linked to Duke of Oxford , the probable favourite for this years race, Dramatic Star has the clear beating of all the likely candidates.
Once the entries are made and the Ante Post market formed, if he remains on course, I will be taking the early prices and then go in again, once the final declarations are made.
Already a winner of a Newcastle Class 2 Handicap over the 6f course and distance off a mark of 95, Wiltshire followed that up with a narrow defeat over 5f put up to a mark of 101.
He suffered a setback and missed the 2025 season but has had three eye-catching runs on the AW this winter. Very slowly away on each occasion but running with credit on his second outing at Newcastle, where he made rapid late headway over 6f and again over 7f at Lingfield.
The handicapper has dropped him down to a mark of 96 just 1lb higher than his previous win at Newcastle and the Good Friday AW Sprint Handicap final, over 6f, looks to be the target.
Once the Ante post market is formed I will get involved, although the bookies will not take any chances with the early prices. The usual suspects from the yards of Burke and Balding will line up but in Haggas we trust.
The other 4yo handicapper of note was First Principle who started his 2026 campaign in the Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton. He was left to make the running not through choice, and ran extremely well to finish second behind The Lost King . Most of the talk after the race focused on La Botte who was given a typical Jamie Spencer ride, finishing fast from the back of the field to finish 4th, after which the 4yo was cut to 8/1 second favorite for the Lincoln.
Those rides by Spencer can give a false impression and although he clearly has a chance at Doncaster on the 28th March, the running of First Principle was more than good enough to suggest his stable mate and current Ante-Post favourite Eternal Force has a leading chance.
The 4yo gelding by Dubawi out of a Galileo mare, surprised the Haggas team when winning first time out in a handicap at Newbury when he drifted from 7/2 to 10/1 but won with plenty in hand. He followed up at Haydock when well supported, winning even more impressively, looking every inch a possible Lincoln Handicap contender.
He was duly entered and alongside stable mate Crown of Oaks ( recently withdrawn from the race) has been at the head of the market ever since.
The race is still nearly 3 weeks away and there is plenty of time for things to be disrupted but if everything goes to plan I can see him going off at around 3/1.
This weeks two entries are the 3yo filly Caraway who has a third career outing in 5.40 at Southwell the 1m fillies novice race. This trip looks inadequate for her and she is one to look out for in handicaps on the turf.
On Friday Al Maslool in the 5.10 at Wolverhampton has been entered to have his third run in quick succession. He was still green last time out and although he is likely to be relatively favoured in the market, I think the aim is for handicaps on the turf and a win here will be a bonus rather than a plan.
REFA HAG TAG 2026
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