Five horses to follow in the second half of the season

As we approach the mid-season highlights of the King George and Glorious Goodwood, Racing Post reporters look beyond the horizon to identify a horse to follow for the second half of the Flat season

NameGarcia
Age 4
Trainer Richard Fahey

Why he's worth following Garcia was tipped for the top by connections last year but after early wins at Beverley and Haydock he failed to come up to scratch in big handicaps at Royal Ascot and Ayr.

There have presumably been setbacks since, as it was not until this month's John Smith's Cup that he ran for the first time as a four-year-old.

He caught the eye in that race more than any other runner, coming from a lot further back than the other principals to finish fifth in a modestly run race. That was also Garcia's first run over a mile and a quarter and his pedigree suggests trips beyond a mile will be the making of him.

Garcia remains unexposed after just seven starts and is a three-time winner on good to soft ground, so connections might be tempted to work backwards from something like the Cambridgeshire or November Handicap.

Keith Melrose

NameRacing History
Age 5
Trainer Saeed Bin Suroor

Why he's worth following Racing History usually comes alive in the second half of the season, but not by design as he's usually laid up with one ailment or another in the spring.

The five-year-old has mustered only seven outings in four seasons in training for Saeed Bin Suroor but, when he does run, he is capable of high-class form, for example his fourth in the Champion Stakes in 2015.

The son of Pivotal is well on the comeback trail from his latest setback and he goes best fresh and with plenty of ease in the ground.

David Milnes

NameSpeedo Boy
Age 3
Trainer Ian Williams

Why he's worth following This Listed-winning son of Vision D'Etat caught the eye on day two of Newmarket's July meeting when staying on nicely from an unpromising position to finish seventh in a 1m2f handicap.

Although he handles good to firm ground, Speedo Boy is better suited by ease in conditions and may well enjoy a fruitful autumn with a step up to a mile and a half likely to benefit the Paul Williams-owned three-year-old, who landed the Prix Maurice Caillault on very soft ground at Fontainebleau in March.

His current mark of 100 appears fair with improvement to come when conditions are in his favour.

Jack Haynes

Name Mount Moriah
Age 3
Trainer Ralph Beckett

Why he's worth following After just seven starts this Mount Nelson colt is far from exposed and, according to the handicapper, he has come of age this year – he's been raised 21lb for his two wins!

The latest was a 9lb rise after he made a mockery of the previous 12lb hike, and it was fully deserved after the way he won at Ascot this month on his first try at 1m6f.

What makes him so appealing for the autumn is the fact his trainer feels good ground is the fastest he wants, so a seasonal end to the turf season will suit and, with his connections, he would be first on my list for the valuable Marathon on all-weather finals day 2018 considering he won on standard to slow at Kempton last year.

Bruce Jackson

Upcoming big-race entries and betting

NameSpirit Of Valor
Age 3
Trainer Aidan O'Brien

Why he's worth following Although he has already raced five times this year, it's only in the past few weeks that Spirit Of Valor's true potential has come to the fore.

In between finishing eighth in the 2,000 Guineas, he was well beaten in the UAE Derby and Irish 2,000 Guineas and was so unfancied to do any better at Royal Ascot that he was sent off a 66-1 chance for the Jersey Stakes.

At Ascot he produced a career best in going down by a head to Le Brivido, winning his own race on the stands' side, but then followed that up with an impressive victory in the Group 2 Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh.

Now connections have established that a mile stretches him, he could be a major player in key 6f and 7f races in the second half of the season, with the Lennox Stakes his next likely stop.

Jon Lees

Read more: six horses to watch out for at Galway next week