In the thrilling world of horse racing, you can already feel the excitement for the upcoming season. While horse racing has already gotten off to an incredible start, racing lovers are eagerly awaiting the performances of the year’s potential standouts.
Here, we are going to take a look at some of the most promising prospects of 2024 – we have put together a select group of horses that we believe will leave a mark on the tracks this year – so let’s see exactly who they are!
Henry Longfellow
The first name we have to mention is Henry Longfellow, a son of Minding who has already shown some serious potential. Expected to campaign at a mile, Henry Longfellow has the French and Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes as his obvious early-season races.
His previous season closed with an incredible five-length victory in the Group One National Stakes at the Curragh.
Ylang Ylang
Another horse worth looking out for is Ylang Ylang, a juvenile wonder who already boasts three wins from five starts. Emerging as a leading contender for middle-distance races, Ylang Ylang’s main target is likely to be the Oaks.
The filly showed off her undeniable skills in the Group One Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket.
King of Steel
In the Amo Racing stable, King Of Steel looks set to be a colt that will enjoy some seriously thrilling battles with Auguste Rodin. With the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes and Coronation Cup the most likely targets, King Of Steel will want to retain his Champion Stakes crown after being crowned champion at Ascot under the guidance of world-class jockey Frankie Dettori.
I Am Maximus
I Am Maximus is a quirky Willie Mullins-trained gelding – and another exciting prospect this year. With a victory in the Irish Grand National and a very solid fourth-place finish in the Savills Chase, I Am Maximus is potentially looking towards the Aintree Grand National, where he can show off his versatility.
Monty’s Star
Monty’s Star, trained by Henry de Bromhead, looks as though he is going to fly over those fences in 2024. A half-brother to Monalee, Monty’s Star managed to defeat his stablemate Hiddenvalley Lake in the Grade Three Novice Hurdle at Clonmel. He also made a very encouraging chasing debut at Fairyhouse – setting the scene for what could be a very exciting season.
Vandeek
Next, we turn our attention to Vandeek, trained by Simon and Ed Crisford. This incredible horse managed to secure a very impressive victory in the Group One Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket. Indeed, the unbeaten colt looks likely to go for a sprint campaign this year – with the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot likely to be the main goal.
Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope looks set to be another hugely exciting prospect this year. This stunning horse is bred to be top class and has already made a great debut performance at Lingfield, which puts her as a contender in the ante-post UK horse racing betting markets for both the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks.
Burdett Road
Burdett Road is a former Royal Ascot winner on the Flat, and he has already made an incredible start to his hurdling career. A leading contender for the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, his impressive performance in a Grade Two juvenile hurdle at Cheltenham in November definitely made people sit up and take notice.
Stage Star
Last on our list – but definitely not least, Stage Star, a Festival winner (Grade One Turners Novices’ Chase), has returned to action as favourite in the prestigious Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham. Looking toward the Ryanair Chase in the spring, Stage Star has shown impressive resilience by regaining momentum to power up the hill after almost falling at the final hurdle.
This year undoubtedly looks set to be incredible – with equine talents looking to capture the hearts and souls of horse racing fans across the country. Will they live up to their potential in 2024? We’ll just have to wait and see…
