The 2024 flat racing season has already seen remarkable performances from numerous contenders, but four British-trained horses have particularly stood out, capturing the attention of enthusiasts and analysts alike. These equine athletes have demonstrated exceptional speed and stamina on the track and have been added to many punter’s trackers on horse racing betting sites.
As the season progresses, the anticipation surrounding their future races continues to build, promising thrilling competitions throughout the remainder of the campaign. Here, we look at these impressive horses and their standout achievements so far.
Charyn
Charyn has had a fantastic season for Roger Varian, taking home over £615,000 in prize money from his four starts at the time of writing.
The classy four-year-old placed in some big races last season, including the Sussex Stakes and the St James’s Palace Stakes, but has aged like a fine wine going into this campaign.
He won the Listed Doncaster Mile by over three lengths on reappearance in March and followed up with a Group 2 success in the Sandown Mile.
After finishing second to Audience in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury in May, Charyn returned to winning ways with the biggest victory of his career in the top-level Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Inisherin
A novice winner on the all-weather at Newcastle on his second start as a two-year-old had many punters and pundits alike under the assumption that Inisherin was going to be out of his depth in the 2000 Guineas.
However, the Kevin Ryan-trained horse certainly didn’t disgrace himself when finishing in midfield at Newmarket despite odds of 40/1.
The three-year-old has come on leaps and bounds from the Guineas as well, winning the Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock by almost four lengths from Orne.
It was his most recent win that earned him a place on this list though, as Inisherin landed the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot last month.
Isle Of Jura
While Isle Of Jura has raced just twice on British soil so far this season, the George Scott-trained horse did come into the campaign on the back of a taxing stint in Bahrain that saw him win four of his five starts from December to March in the Middle East.
Given the four-year-old has been so busy, he has carried on performing admirably back on home turf with back-to-back wins at Goodwood and Ascot.
He appeared at the former in May, lining up for the Listed Festival Stakes and beat William Haggas’ Mujtaba by half-a-length from odds of 6/1.
Onto the Royal meeting and Isle Of Jura secured his biggest win on British soil when landing the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes by almost four lengths from Goliath at 16/1.
Haatem
Another Royal Ascot winner, Haatem has been a consistent performer for Richard Hannon so far this season.
The three-year-old kick-started his season with a win in the Group 3 Craven Stakes at Newmarket in April and returned to HQ for the 2000 Guineas the following month, finishing a respectable third in the Classic.
Haatem was then shipped across the Irish Sea to the Curragh for a crack at the Irish 2000 Guineas, and he went down by a slender margin when headed by Rosallion in the closing stages.
One of six horses bought by Wathnan Racing ahead of Royal Ascot, the acquisition of Haatem has paid off as he won the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at the iconic meeting.
