JenningsBet Grey Horse Handicap: a guide to the race and a 16-1 tip

There is always something special about a grey horse coming home in front and that is guaranteed at Newmarket on Saturday when 11 of them line up against each other in the opening contest at 2.05, the JenningsBet Grey Horse Handicap.

Established in 2003, the 6f contest is the only race exclusively for greys in the country and, despite not being one of the most valuable prizes at the track, is always one locals look forward to with enthusiasm each summer - there is no sight in racing quite like a field of greys thundering down the picturesque July Course!

There have been 22 runnings so far and two horses have won twice, which is still the record. Middleton Grey landed the spoils in 2004 and 2005, whilst Case Key scooped the 2017 and 2019 editions.

There are three horses bidding to join that group this weekend, as the last three winners of the race (Strike, Silver Samurai and Archduke Ferdinand) are all back for more.

Earlier this week, Racing TV highlighted ten special greys that have captivated the public's attention over the years. Is your favourite among them? Take a look below.

Trainer: Seb Spencer.  Age: 6.  Official Rating: 86.  Best odds: 12-1.

Archduke Ferdinand has top weight this year after making all to win the race 12 months ago.

An 11lb higher mark makes his task harder this time, although he won comfortably off 85 earlier this season, so he is not without a chance, especially if allowed an easy lead. Plus, he is effectively lower than that mark as Alex Jary takes 5lb off.

It is the first time this season Jary is on board; he rode him four times last year, with form figures of 1124, the first of those rides coming when winning this race.

The first three home last year were all drawn in the three highest stalls, and this six-year-old is again on the far side in stall 11.

Trainer: Clive Cox.  Age: 3.  Official Rating: 87.  Best odds: 7-2.

Three-year-olds have only won three runnings of the Grey Horse handicap, but there are five from that generation in this year's race, three of whom head the market.

One of those is Addison Grey, who ran a race full of promise on handicap debut in the Racing League at Chepstow last time when finishing third against more experienced rivals.

He has won two of his four starts, with both of those wins coming over 6f, although Saturday's assignment will a much tougher contest than those races, one of which he obliged at an SP of 1-11. Jack Nicholls rides for the first time and takes off a valuable 7lb.

Trainer: Marco Botti.  Age: 8.  Official Rating: 85.  Best odds: 11-1.

Marco Botti's veteran has a 100 per cent record in this race, having won on his only appearance in 2023 off 2lb higher.

The true definition of an old warrior, he has had 18 different jockeys ride him over the years and has ran at 18 different courses.

He has not won since June last year (off 91), but he has steadily been falling down the weights despite some decent efforts and he would not be the first previous winner of this race to take advantage of a falling mark and reappear here with another win or creditable performance.

He does not have the strongest strike rate, however, and the percentage call is to look elsewhere for win purposes.

Trainer: William Haggas.  Age: 3.  Official Rating: 87.  Best odds: 9-4.

The favourite at the time of writing, Binhareer was last seen running out a hugely impressive winner at Ayr on his turf handicap debut when stepped down to 6f for the first time.

The handicapper has put him up 8lb for that success, but there is no reason why he should not be capable of at least going close again over the same trip.

One unknown, however, is his ability to handle quick ground, having yet to race on faster than good to soft. 

Trainer: Richard Hannon.  Age: 3.  Official Rating: 83.  Best odds: 10-1.

This three-year-old son of Earthlight has, frustratingly for connections, finished second on six of his ten starts.

Yet to win over 6f despite going close on so many occasions, his sole victory came over 5f last summer. Gelded after three races in the spring, he reappeared with another second when last seen at Wolverhampton, off the back of a 75-day break.

He is a consistent performer and certainly capable of winning a race at this level, but the excuses are beginning to mount up and he may find one or two too strong again.

Trainer: Edward Bethell.  Age: 4.  Official Rating: 80.  Best odds: 12-1.

This horse's last win came on fast ground almost a year ago over 6f off 2lb higher, so he is not a forlorn hope in this despite having only placed on one occasion since.

He has worn either blinkers or a visor on his last seven starts, but runs without any headgear on Saturday in an attempt to return to winning ways. Likely to be ridden prominently.

Trainer: Dylan Cunha.  Age: 3.  Official Rating: 79.  Best odds: 22-1.

Along with Addison Grey, Sensorium is the only other colt in this year's race. He got off the mark at the fourth attempt in style before then picking up over £60,000 for finishing third in the valuable Goffs sales race at York 12 months ago.

He looked a progressive juvenile to follow at that point in time but presumably then suffered an injury, as we did not see him on a racecourse again until he trailed home tenth of 11 runners at Yarmouth last month.

Has something to prove after that, but that was on soft ground off a long absence, and he may be seen to better effect on Saturday now he is race fit.

Trainers: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole.  Age: 4.  Official Rating: 72.  Best odds: 16-1.

The talented Elizabeth Gale takes off a valuable 5lb when she gets aboard this four-year-old for the first time on Saturday, with the son of No Nay Never also making his stable debut having left Adrian Nicholls for 3,800gns.

In fact, despite having had just seven starts, this is the fourth yard he will have been in training at, having started out with Peter Chapple-Hyam and then Kevin Philippart de Foy.

He showed promise on his first three runs, before then being gelded and getting off the mark on his fourth start in a weak maiden over this trip. 

Beaten three times since then, he is another with something to prove, but is also another who shapes as if a return to quick ground will seem him to better affect. Can pull hard and start slowly.

Trainer: Jonathan Portman.  Age: 7.  Official Rating: 72.  Best odds: 16-1.

A Grey Horse Handicap stalwart, seven-year-old Strike is back for a fourth successive time having won this in 2022, finished sixth in 2023 and finished a neck second in 2024.

His two previous wins both came last summer, where Olivia Tubb rode him on both occasions, and it is Tubb who rides him again on Saturday (claiming 5lb) for the first time since his last win. He is also back down to 72, his last winning mark.

He has finished second twice this season off higher marks and this has clearly been his target yet again.

His trainer Jonathan Portman is having a fantastic season and he looks a live each-way player if you can forgive his no-show at York last time when he trailed home last of 18 runners.

Trainer: Andrew Balding.  Age: 5.  Official Rating: 70.  Best odds: 16-1.

Grenham Bay may only be five, but he has already ran on 36 occasions, with five victories to his name.

He is a solid performer at this level, although his last win on turf came a long time ago and he may be vulnerable for win purposes.

He was, however, only beaten half a length by Archduke Ferdinand when third in this race last year off a mark of 71, by far his best performance outside of the all-weather sphere since his three-year-old season. Retains his usual blinkers.

Trainer: Christine Dunnett.  Age: 3.  Official Rating: 64.  Best odds: 80-1.

Running 12lb out of the handicap, he looks to have no chance on the figures and is usually seen over further than this in a lower grade.

He has been a consistent enough performer for connections, however, and his sole win was over this trip last summer.

Will need a clear career best and others to underperform in order to be in contention, but he is a definite pace angle in this race and the front is often the place to be over this course and distance.

As ever, a fascinating race is in store, not least for how unique it is, but also due to the fact we have a real mixture of proven veterans and up-and-coming types that are still unexposed.

At the early prices, it may pay to side with STRIKE each-way at 16-1. He gets along well with his valuable claimer and went very close to landing this off a higher mark last season.

Sensorium can be forgiven his comeback effort and remains a horse of interest, whilst William Haggas's progressive three-year-old Binhareer is unlikely to be far away either.