The Notebook - 7th May 2026

Not every big performance results in a headline victory. Sometimes it is the subtle runs, the late headway, the eye-catching move through the field, or the effort despite unfavourable conditions, that signal a horse ready to strike next time. Here are four runners who caught the eye this week and may be worth adding to your tracker for future races...

I’m The One

I was much more positive about I’m The One’s second in the Chester Oaks, as opposed to most who thought her efforts was disappointing. I’d put my optimism down to two key areas: firstly, she is still very in-experienced, green, and absolutely hated Chester, as some horses tend too. She stumbled out the gates and cornered horribly as they began to quicken, drifting five or six wide and losing significant ground. The second point I cling on to, is this was the first time she has been involved in a proper race and she did quite well to get so close to the eventual winner Amelia Earhart. We didn’t learn much from her Newbury maiden win, other than she is obviously full of talent, but attributes such as attitude and how she responds to pressure were not tested. She is very good and you will be hearing about her for a long time.

Rosy Affair

As a Rosy Affair backer this weekend at Newmarket, it was agonising she was caught in the final strides after leading the entire race. She looks a really progressive mare winning twice last season at Pontefract and Deauville and evidently continuing her progress in this listed contest. This latest effort was off the back of a 245-day break which gives you license to mark it up and she will be a live player in any race she lines up in next time out. It appears a six-furlong contest on a straight course may suit her best, similar to her Prix de Meautry victory and with her being versatile ground wise, her straight-forward nature makes her an attractive proposition.

Land Girl’s Luck

Aptly named ‘Land Girl’s Luck’ could have done with some luck at Fontwell on Wednesday, after a mistake two out saw her break the partnership with Freddie Mitchell. She was a running a big race at the time of the unseat, moving stylishly from a prominent position to lead and appeared to be going best before they parted ways. Her consistency is one of her biggest strengths, winning three times over hurdles from 19 starts, but placing a further seven times over a variety of different trips. She seems suited by a strong stamina test and good ground. Annoyingly, if the handicapper is feeling extra harsh, she may get a rise of a couple of pounds which would be slightly frustrating seen as she never completed. Nevertheless, a win shouldn’t be far away and I would keep her on-side moving forward.

Imperial Alex

Finally, in the Sean Bowen Champion Jockey Handicap Chase at Ffos Las, it should have been apparent that Sean Bowen himself was never going to win a race named after him. He finished third on The Boola Boss, but I was most taken by Imperial Alex, who finished a closing second behind Galop De Chasse. It was a performance that indicated he is returning to form, after a couple of lacklustre efforts in higher grades at Warwick and Sandown. This horse’s best day came back in May 2024, winning a valuable prize at Uttoxeter in a Class 2 contest. He is rated two pounds lower now from that success, so suggests he is well in on historical data. There should be more races in him.